Justin Verlander Landing Spots: 3 potential destinations for the future Hall of Famer coming off the worst season of his career

Justin Verlander is without question one of the best pitchers to ever take to the mound. That being said, he will soon be 42 years old and his best days appear to be behind him. However, Verlander still has one of the best track records in baseball and if he wants to play in 2025, he will have no problem finding a team.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, however, he has expressed interest in returning for 2025. Over 90.1 innings with the Houston Astros in 2024, Justin Verlander posted a disappointing 5-6 record with a 5.48 ERA with 74 strikeouts.

At this point in his career, Verlander will likely need to sign a one-year deal, particularly given his age. All that being said, Verlander is only two years removed from winning the third Cy Young Award of his career, so he should draw plenty of attention in free agency.

Here's a closer look at 3 potential landing spots for Justin Verlander in free agency

#1 - Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are determined to win sooner rather than later. On Friday, they made a significant splash by landing Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. Well, they could snag another important piece from the team by signing Justin Verlander this offseason.

The Cubs have some solid pitchers in their rotation, so Verlander would not be relied upon to be the ace. Even though Verlander struggled in 2024, putting him next to the likes of Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga could help form one of the best rotations in baseball. On a one-year deal, Verlander could help for this season without any commitment beyond 2025.

#2 - Houston Astros

Sometimes the grass is not always greener, which makes a return to the Houston Astros possible. Even though Justin Verlander is coming off a disastrous 2024 campaign, he not only won the Cy Young Award with the Astros in 2022, but he also earned a World Series title with them that season.

The Houston Astros find themselves at an interesting point in their franchise history. Although they are still one of the strongest teams in the American League, they could lose Alex Bregman in free agency, after trading Kyle Tucker. Bringing in a proven winner like Verlander could help ease the team's transition in several positions.

#3 - Detroit Tigers

Verlander could complete the circle of his career by returning to the Detroit Tigers, the team that drafted him in 2004. After reaching the postseason for the first time since 2014, the Tigers should look to add to their roster this offseason if they want to do it again in 2025. If Verlander can defy Father Time one more time, he could be a steal for Detroit.