Justin Verlander

Houston Astros, Starting Pitcher
Age: 41-219d (Feb 20, 1983)
Exp: 18.002 Years
Country: US
College: Old Dominion (VA)
Drafted: Round 1 (#2 overall), 2004
Agent(s): Mark Pieper, Mike Milchin (ISE Baseball)
2024 Payroll Salary

$22,544,808

2024 Cash

$47,544,808

Career Earnings

$398,466,363

2023-2024 free-agent-xxb (CURRENT)

Justin Verlander signed a 2 year , $86,666,666 contract with the New York Mets, including $86,666,666 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $43,333,333. In 2024, Verlander will earn a base salary of $22,544,808, while carrying a total salary of $43,333,333. Verlander's adjusted salary with the New York Mets is $22,544,808
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $86,666,666
Average Salary:
$43,333,333
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2023 40 $43,333,333 - - - -
2024 41 $22,544,808 $15,000,000 6.33% $22,544,808 $22,544,808
2025 42 $17,500,000 $17,500,000 - $17,500,000 $22,544,808
2025 43
UFA
Retained Salary
2023 40 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 18.60% $43,333,333 $43,333,333
2024 41 $25,000,000 $28,333,333 11.96% $25,000,000 $68,333,333
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2023 40 17.002 $43,333,333 - - $43,333,333 -
2024 41 18.002 $43,333,333 - - $22,544,808 $15,000,000
2025 42 - $35,000,000 - - $17,500,000 $17,500,000
2025 43 --
UFA
Retained Salary
2023 40 $43,333,333 - - $43,333,333 $43,333,333
2024 41 $25,000,000 - - $25,000,000 $28,333,333
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2023 40 - - - - -
2024 41 $22,544,808 $22,544,808 $22,544,808 $11,272,404 $40,044,808
2025 42 $17,500,000 $17,500,000 $22,544,808 $13,348,269 -
Retained/Dead Cash
2023 40 - $43,333,333 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 $43,333,333 $34,166,667
2024 41 - $25,000,000 $25,000,000 $68,333,333 $34,166,667 $25,000,000
Contract Notes
  • 2025 Player Option: $35M, vests with 140 innings pitched in 2024
    Mets retain $35M from 2023-2024
    $17.5M of the 2025 option if it vests
    (criteria not met)
Source: AP

2022-2023 free-agent-xxb

Justin Verlander signed a 2 year , $50,000,000 contract with the Houston Astros, including $50,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,000,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $50,000,000
Average Salary:
$25,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2020-2021 Extension

Justin Verlander signed a 2 year , $66,000,000 contract with the Houston Astros, including $66,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $33,000,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $66,000,000
Average Salary:
$33,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2013-2020 Extension

Justin Verlander signed a 7 year , $180,000,000 contract with the Detroit Tigers, including $180,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,714,286.
Contract Terms:
7 yr(s) / $180,000,000
Average Salary:
$25,714,286
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2010-2014 Arbitration Extension

Justin Verlander signed a 5 year , $80,000,000 contract with the Detroit Tigers, including $500,000 signing bonus, $80,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $16,000,000.
Contract Terms:
5 yr(s) / $80,000,000
Average Salary:
$16,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$500,000
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2009-2009 Arbitration

Justin Verlander signed a 1 year , $3,675,000 contract with the Detroit Tigers, including $3,675,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,675,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,675,000
Average Salary:
$3,675,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2005-2009 Rookie

Justin Verlander signed a 5 year , $4,450,000 contract with the Detroit Tigers, including $3,150,000 signing bonus, $4,450,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $890,000.
Contract Terms:
5 yr(s) / $4,450,000
Average Salary:
$890,000
Signing Bonus:
$3,150,000
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Career Earnings thru 2024

$398,466,363

Career Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2005 22
Active
$3,466,000
$3,466,000
2006 23
Active
$350,000
$3,816,000
AL ROY
2007 24
Active
$400,000
$4,216,000
2008 25
Active
$500,000
$4,716,000
2009 26
Active / Arb Avoided
$3,975,000
$8,691,000
2010 27
Active / Arb Avoided
$7,250,000
$15,941,000
2011 28
Active
$13,250,000
$29,191,000
AL MVP AL Cy Young
2012 29
Active
$20,000,000
$49,191,000
2013 30
Active
$20,000,000
$69,191,000
2014 31
Active
$20,000,000
$89,191,000
2015 32
Active
$28,000,000
$117,191,000
2016 33
Active
$28,000,000
$145,191,000
2017 34
Active
Retained
$4,743,169
$23,256,831
$149,934,169
$173,191,000
Champion
2018 35
Active
Retained
$20,100,000
$8,000,000
$193,291,000
$201,291,000
2019 36
Active
Retained
$28,075,000
$8,000,000
$229,366,000
$237,366,000
AL Cy Young All MLB (1st)
2020 37
Injured
$12,222,222
$249,588,222
2021 38
Injured
$33,000,000
$282,588,222
2022 39
Active
$25,000,000
$307,588,222
Champion AL Cy Young All MLB (1st)
2023 40
Retained
$43,333,333
$350,921,555
2024 41
Active
Retained
$22,544,808
$25,000,000
$373,466,363
$398,466,363
Total      
$398,466,363
$373,466,363
$398,466,363
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2005
22
$316,000
$3,150,000
$3,466,000
$3,466,000
2006
23
$350,000
$350,000
$3,816,000
2007
24
$400,000
$400,000
$4,216,000
2008
25
$500,000
$500,000
$4,716,000
2009
26
$3,975,000
$3,975,000
$8,691,000
2010
27
$6,750,000
$500,000
$7,250,000
$15,941,000
2011
28
$12,750,000
$500,000
$13,250,000
$29,191,000
2012
29
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
$49,191,000
2013
30
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
$69,191,000
2014
31
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
$89,191,000
2015
32
$28,000,000
$28,000,000
$117,191,000
2016
33
$28,000,000
$28,000,000
$145,191,000
2017
34
$4,743,169
$23,256,831
$4,743,169
$23,256,831
$149,934,169
$173,191,000
2018
35
$20,000,000
$8,000,000
$100,000
$20,100,000
$8,000,000
$193,291,000
$201,291,000
2019
36
$28,000,000
$8,000,000
$75,000
$28,075,000
$8,000,000
$229,366,000
$237,366,000
2020
37
$12,222,222
$12,222,222
$249,588,222
2021
38
$33,000,000
$33,000,000
$282,588,222
2022
39
$25,000,000
$25,000,000
$307,588,222
2023
40
$43,333,333
$43,333,333
$350,921,555
2024
41
$22,544,808
$25,000,000
$22,544,808
$25,000,000
$373,466,363
$398,466,363
Total
$394,141,363
$3,650,000
$675,000
$398,466,363
$373,466,363
$398,466,363

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
15 $180,297,831 $3,650,000 $500,000 $184,447,831
7 $145,510,199 - $175,000 $145,685,199
2 $68,333,333 - - $68,333,333

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2015 DET Mar 29, 2015 - Jun 13, 2015 Arm
2020 HOU Jul 27, 2020 - Sep 27, 2020 Arm
2021 HOU Apr 01, 2021 - Oct 03, 2021 Elbow (Tommy John)
2022 HOU Aug 30, 2022 - Sep 16, 2022 Calf
2023 NYM Mar 30, 2023 - May 04, 2023 Shoulder
2024 HOU Mar 28, 2024 - Apr 18, 2024 Shoulder
2024 HOU Jun 16, 2024 - Aug 21, 2024 Neck
  • Aug 01, 2023 Traded to Houston (HOU) from New York (NYM) for Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford
  • Dec 07, 2022 Signed a 2 year $86.6 million contract with New York (NYM), including a $35 million vesting option for 2025
  • Nov 10, 2022 Declined a $25 million player option for 2023 with Houston (HOU)
  • Nov 17, 2021 Signed a 2 year $50 million contract with Houston (HOU)
  • Nov 17, 2021 Houston (HOU) extended Qualifying Offer
  • Mar 23, 2019 Signed a 2 year $66 million contract extension with Houston (HOU)
  • Sep 01, 2017 Traded to Houston (HOU) from Detroit (DET) with $16,000,000 and future considerations for Franklin Perez, Daz Cameron and Jake Rogers
  • Mar 29, 2013 Signed a 7 year $180 million extension with Detroit (DET)
  • Feb 04, 2010 Signed a 5 year $80 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Feb 03, 2009 Signed a 1 year $3.675 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Oct 22, 2004 Signed a 5 year $4.45 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Jun 07, 2004 Drafted by Detroit (DET): Round 1 (#2 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2024 HOU 15 15 83 47 46 26 65 14 4 6 0 79.7 5.20 1.37 -0.04
2023 HOU 28 27 139 63 58 45 144 18 13 8 0 162.3 3.22 1.13 2.21
2022 HOU 28 28 116 43 34 29 185 12 18 4 0 175.0 1.75 0.83 5.62
2020 HOU 1 1 3 2 2 1 7 2 1 0 0 6.0 3.00 0.67 0.15
2019 HOU 34 34 137 66 64 42 300 36 21 6 0 223.0 2.58 0.80 7.38
2018 HOU 34 34 156 63 60 37 290 28 16 9 0 214.0 2.52 0.90 6.30
2017 HOU 33 33 170 80 77 72 219 27 15 8 0 206.0 3.36 1.18 5.11
2016 DET 34 34 171 81 77 57 254 30 16 9 0 227.2 3.05 1.00 7.37
2015 DET 20 20 113 56 50 32 113 13 5 8 0 133.3 3.38 1.09 2.36
2014 DET 32 32 223 114 104 65 159 18 15 12 0 206.0 4.54 1.40 0.93
2013 DET 34 34 212 94 84 75 217 19 13 12 0 218.3 3.46 1.32 4.40
2012 DET 33 33 192 81 70 60 239 19 17 8 0 238.3 2.64 1.06 8.09
2011 DET 34 34 174 73 67 57 250 24 24 5 0 251.0 2.40 0.92 8.62

Calculated Market Value

Market Value

  • 1 years, $13,865,850
  • Avg. Salary: $13,865,850
  • MLB Rank: 119
  • SP Rank: 43

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2025
  • Avg. Salary: $43,333,333
  • MLB Rank: 2
  • SP Rank: 2

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Justin Verlander to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Adam Wainwright 1 $17,500,000 $17,500,000 41
Zack Greinke 1 $8,500,000 $8,500,000 39
Charlie Morton 1 $20,000,000 $20,000,000 39
Rich Hill 1 $8,000,000 $8,000,000 42
Averages 1 $13,500,000 $13,500,000 40.3

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Verlander's current age (41), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
1 $13,500,000 $13,500,000

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Verlander statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GS/Yr, IP, K/9, BB/9, ERA, WHIP, FIP, WAR

Player GS/Yr IP K/9 BB/9 ERA WHIP FIP WAR
Adam Wainwright
2021-2022
32.00 6.03 7.15 2.36 3.38 1.17 3.66 3.12
Zack Greinke
2021-2022
27.50 5.50 5.56 1.83 3.92 1.26 4.37 2.27
Charlie Morton
2021-2022
32.00 5.50 10.60 3.06 3.85 1.14 3.72 2.93
Rich Hill
2021-2022
28.50 4.88 8.20 2.90 4.07 1.26 4.13 1.40
Average 30.00 5.48 7.88 2.54 3.81 1.21 3.97 2.43
Justin Verlander
2023-2024
18.50 5.77 8.02 2.58 3.59 1.17 4.42 3.84
Pct Change -38.33 5.29 1.78 -1.57 5.77 3.31 -11.34 58.02
Median Prime % Change 2.55%
Average Prime % Change 2.87%

Calculated Market Value: Justin Verlander

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
1 years, $13,865,850 $13,865,850
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