The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with starter Justin Verlander, according to ESPN.

Verlander, who turns 42 in February, will join the Giants in his 20th MLB season. The deal marks a return to the National League for Verlander after briefly playing for the New York Mets in 2023. He was ranked as the No. 43 free agent in this year’s class by Yahoo Sports.

Verlander is one of the most decorated pitchers of his generation. A nine-time All-Star, he is a three-time Cy Young winner with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. He was named AL MVP in 2011, the same season he won his first Cy Young with the Tigers.

Verlander won his subsequent Cy Young Awards in 2019 and 2022 with the Astros after first joining Houston in 2017. He was a key member of Houston’s pitching staff during its runs to the 2017 and 2022 World Series championships.

Verlander signed with the Mets as a free agent before the 2023 season, but was traded back to the Astros at the trade deadline. He remained with the Astros through the 2024 season before becoming a free agent.

Verlander is no longer the pitcher he once was. He was nearly useless in his 90⅓ innings in 2024, posting a 5.48 ERA and a career-low strikeout rate. Even though he’s been vocal about his desire to pitch until he’s 45, it’s hard to ignore a fastball that continues to lose velocity.

Before last season, Verlander had posted a 4+ ERA in a full season just twice (4.84 in 2008, 4.54 in 2014), and he has a career ERA of 3.30. The Giants are certainly hoping he can return to form next season in San Francisco. He joins a team that includes 2024 All-Star Logan Webb, but lost two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to the rival Dodgers in free agency.