Tarik Skubal Celebrates Verlander's Return to Tigers

Young Tigers pitcher shares excitement over future Hall of Famer's signing.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal expressed his enthusiasm on social media after the team signed veteran Justin Verlander, a future Hall of Famer who previously spent 13 seasons with the Tigers. Skubal posted a celebratory GIF, mirroring the excitement of Tigers fans over Verlander's homecoming.

Why it matters

Verlander's signing bolsters an already strong Tigers rotation that includes Skubal, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize. With this veteran addition, the Tigers are positioning themselves as a top contender in the American League.

The details

Skubal, who recently won his $32 million arbitration case against the Tigers, has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason. However, the team has instead focused on building a formidable pitching staff, first signing Valdez to a record-breaking deal and now bringing back Verlander, who spent the first 13 years of his career in Detroit.

  • Verlander signed with the Tigers on February 10, 2026.
  • Skubal posted his celebratory reaction on social media shortly after the news broke.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A 25-year-old starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who recently won his $32 million arbitration case against the team.

Justin Verlander

A future Hall of Fame pitcher who spent the first 13 years of his MLB career with the Detroit Tigers, winning a Cy Young Award and MVP award during his time with the team.

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What they’re saying

“Skubal posted a GIF of Verlander celebrating in the Tigers dugout from his previous stint with the team.”

— Tarik Skubal, Tigers Pitcher (Twitter/X)

What’s next

The Tigers' rotation with Verlander, Skubal, Valdez, Flaherty, and Mize is expected to be one of the best in baseball, positioning the team as a top contender for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Tarik Skubal's enthusiastic reaction to the Tigers signing Justin Verlander highlights the excitement around the team's offseason moves, which have transformed their pitching staff into a potential juggernaut and made them a popular pick to contend for the World Series.