Tigers invest in their future with $80 million, 5-year contract for ace Justin Verlander

Tigers invest $80 million in ace Justin Verlander

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have invested in their future.

Ace Justin Verlander and the Tigers finalized an $80 million, five-year contract on Thursday, a deal that avoids a salary arbitration heading.

Verlander’s deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus, $6.75 million this season, $12.75 million next year and $20 million in each of the following three seasons. Verlander would have been eligible for free agency after the 2011 World Series.

“I have one goal and that’s to make it to the Hall of Fame,” Verlander said.

The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year tied for the major league lead with 19 wins last season. He led the majors with 269 strikeouts, 240 innings and 35 starts, and had a career-best 3.45 ERA.

Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said it was “a very happy moment for the organization” at news conference.

“He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and someone who can anchor our staff over the next five years,” Dombrowski said.

Detroit began appeasing some upset fans by signing closer Jose Valverde with a $14 million, two-year deal last month. The Tigers likely won back more of them by signing Verlander to a long-term deal instead of possibly trading the right-hander or risking losing him in free agency.

Verlander and the team agreed to bypass salary arbitration with the contract. When figures were exchanged last month, Verlander asked for $9.5 million for next season and the team offered $6.9 million. He made $3,675,000 last season.

The two-time All-Star got $2 million more than a comparable pitcher, Felix Hernandez, who likewise has played four full seasons in the majors. Hernandez also avoided arbitration with a $78 million, five-year deal with the Seattle Mariners this offseason. Verlander, 65-43 in his career with a 3.92 ERA, turns 27 this month. Hernandez, who is 58-41 with a 3.45 ERA, will be 24 in April.

The hard-throwing Verlander is the only pitcher in baseball history to toss a no-hitter, start a World Series game, be a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in his first two full seasons.

He was 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA in 2006 as a rookie and helped Detroit advance to the World Series for the first time since 1984. He became the first Tigers pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Jack Morris did it during the 1984 championship season.

“The guy throws 95 to 100,” Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder said after Verlander’s no-hitter. “So you’re not looking for a slider, and when he throws it that good for a strike it just kind of buckles you and you have to tip your cap.”

Verlander was 18-6 in his second season and made the All-Star team. Only Dwight Gooden, who won 41 games for the New York Mets during the 1984-85 seasons, had more victories among pitchers in their first two full seasons since 1970.

After struggling two years ago with an 11-17 record, Verlander bounced back with a sensational season in 2009.

He had the highest single-season total of strikeouts in the AL since Pedro Martinez in 2000 and the most wins by a Tiger since Bill Gullickson in 1991. He became the first Detroit pitcher to lead baseball in innings pitched since Morris in 1983.

Former teammate Kenny Rogers said Verlander’s wicked fastball, wildly breaking curve and knee-buckling changeup give him an assortment of pitches that reminded him only of Nolan Ryan.