One of the Detroit Tigers’ all-time pitching greats returned to Detroit this season, hoping to help the team make one more postseason run. But injuries derailed the homegrown star’s comeback. As a result, his contribution has been limited to just one start so far. So, he chose to make the biggest decision of his career public, and in doing so, Justin Verlander deliberately kept his teammate and friend, Tarik Skubal, in the dark. But, for good reason.

Before Verlander made the big announcement, the Tigers were preparing to host the Athletics for the series opener, with Skubal scheduled to start. The 43-year-old informed the clubhouse of his retirement plans but intentionally left Skubal out. He also said that he was talking to a few other teammates, and they weren’t mad at him. And then he addressed Skubal directly, who was sitting toward the back of the conference room. 

“Were you really mad or kinda mad?” the starting pitcher inquired, and “I’m still disappointed,” was Skubal’s reply. 

And both chuckled at the same time, while the people in that room burst into a short laugh. However, just before this exchange, Verlander detailed the reason for his choice.

“I was going to announce this today because I wanted them to hear from me before it went out, but Scoob was pitching. And I didn’t say anything to him,” Verlander said in the press conference after disclosing that 2026 will be his final season. “He found out second-hand, and he was mad at me.” 

“Disappointed, even worse,” Verlander acknowledged, happily accepting the rebuttal from his friend. 

Justin Verlander began his MLB journey in 2005 and spent more than a decade in Detroit before stints with the Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. He returned to the Tigers this season and built a résumé that includes 10 All-Star selections, three AL Cy Young Awards, an AL MVP, a Triple Crown, three no-hitters, and two World Series titles.

The 43-year-old has recorded 3,554 career strikeouts, the most among active pitchers and eighth-most in MLB history, while also leading active pitchers in wins. Shortly after MLB named him to the American League All-Star team as a “Legend Pick,” Verlander announced that the 2026 season would be his last.

“I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar,” Verlander wrote in his retirement announcement. “I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come.”

“A two-or three-week thing turned into a couple-month-long thing and then right when I was about to get back, something else happens,” Verlander said. “I feel like I am plugging the holes in the boat.”

He was initially sidelined with left hip inflammation before suffering a left hamstring strain while preparing for his return, delaying his comeback even further.

“The writing was on the wall,” Verlander admitted. “My body is just sending signals that it’s just not quite capable. My arm feels great… that’s not what’s failing me.”

Despite announcing his retirement, Verlander made it clear he still intends to return before the end of the season. “This isn’t me just saying goodbye and just sitting on the bench the rest of the year,” he said. “That’s not who I am.”

Justin Verlander remains the blueprint for Tarik Skubal

Although the duo hasn’t played together for long, Skubal has always held Verlander in high regard, and they share a playful relationship built on mutual respect. That’s why the veteran was hesitant to share the retirement news with his teammate before his scheduled start on Wednesday.

“I was talking to him today, and he was giving me a hard time about it,” Verlander said. “And I was just saying, ‘Come on, man, I’ve been alluding to this for like a month now. Like we’ve been having these conversations.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t really want to bring it.’”

Skubal attended the press conference not to speak, but simply to support his mentor.

“He’s one of the game’s best pitchers. Ever,” the 29-year-old said. “I know that decision is tough for him and you kind of want to support him and let him know that you have his back.”

Skubal also revealed there was plenty to learn simply by listening to Verlander explain his decision. “There is a ton of knowledge to take away from how he speaks, what he says and how he goes about his business,” he said. “Just being there was all of those things kind of put together.”

The locker-room neighbors even play chess together, and Skubal routinely leans on his childhood idol for advice. “It’s always fun competing against him in that,” Skubal said of their chess battles. “You can kind of see him start to lock in on that stuff.” He studies Verlander’s preparation and techniques and openly admits he hopes to achieve the same level of success.

Skubal has also embraced the old-school mentality that defined Verlander’s career. “As a starting pitcher, you take pride in eating innings and throwing a ton,” he said. “The old school in me, I want quantity.”

That’s why Justin Verlander’s legacy can’t be measured solely by the innings he pitched or the trophies he collected. It will also be remembered through the pitchers he influenced, with the Tigers’ current ace carrying forward many of the lessons learned from one of the greatest starters of his generation.