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//  Saturday, September 4, 2010

Roaring Victory: Verlander Signs Extension With Tigers

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Posted by Andy Ouriel

Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract extension Wednesday night, according to The Associated Press and NBC Sports.

The contract buys out the pitcher's final two years of arbitration and his first three years of free agency, ensuring Verlander will not be a free agent until the 2014 season concludes.

Verlander, who was entering arbitration for the first time in his career, submitted a $9.5 million salary in 2010. The Tigers countered with a $6.9 million offer, but the figures are now irrelevant because of the new deal.

The Tigers' ace has three seasons of 17-plus victories in four full years. He is 65-43 with a 3.92 ERA in his career, including a no-hitter pitched June 12, 2007 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Verlander had his finest sesaon in 2009 after winning 19 games, striking out a league-high 269 batters while compiling a 3.45 ERA --  all of which earned him a third-place finish in American League Cy Young voting. Zach Greinke won the award with Felix Hernandez the runner-up.

The 2006 Rookie of the Year is also one of the game's best workhorses. He consecutively pitched 200 innings during the past three seasons, including a league-high 240 innings last year.

Verlander went 3-0 in his final three starts, keeping the Tigers' playoffs alive in 2009. The Tigers eventually were eliminated from postseason play when they lost to division-riival Minnesota Twins in a one-game playoff to decide the American League Central Division champion.

The deal is comparible to that of Hernandez's new deal. He signed a five-year, $78 million contract extension with the Seattle Mariners earlier this month.

An official announcement is expected to come regarding the extension on Thursday with a press conference to follow.

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