SF Giants manager Bob Melvin welcomes the return of veteran pitcher in 2026

Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander made his final start of the season in an SF Giants uniform. Could he return in 2026? Manager Bob Melvin told Maria Guardado of MLB.Com that he would like to see Verlander return to the Giants next season.

SF Giants manager Bob Melvin welcomes the return of veteran pitcher in 2026

Melvin expressed that Verlander should get a nice offer in free agency, and could even see a multi-year deal. That might be a stretch for the 42-year-old pitcher, but he has earned another contract with how he finished the year.

Verlander has conveyed his desire to continue pitching after this season. He told Guardado that the door is open for a return to San Francisco.

The Giants signed him to a one-year, $15 million pact late in the spring. He was coming off an injury-plagued season, where he pitched to a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts with the Houston Astros. He was healthy to finish that season, but the Astros left him off the playoff roster.

The start of this year felt like a continuation of last season. Verlander posted a 4.99 ERA through his first 16 starts. It was not until his 17th start of the year that he tallied his first win with San Francisco.

Verlander has expressed his desire to keep pitching until he reaches 300 wins. He might be one of the last pitchers to ever do it. That said, his stint with the Giants did not give him much of a boost in that category.

The right-handed hurler recorded a 4-11 record with a 3.85 ERA, 3.85 FIP, and an 8.11 K/9 in 29 starts this season. He pitched better than his win-loss record would indicate, and he gave the Giants more innings than they anticipated.

On Saturday, it was more of the same for Verlander. He was in line for the win after allowing just two earned runs in six innings against the Colorado Rockies. The bullpen has blown several Verlander wins this year, and nearly did it again on Saturday.

That unit managed to save the game and preserve the win for Verlander. That was career win No. 266, and he needs 34 more to reach 300 wins.

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