The Padres’ rotation is in a tough spot heading into 2026-and that might be putting it lightly. With Yu Darvish sidelined for the season following UCL surgery and only two proven big-league starters on the roster in Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, San Diego is staring down a serious depth issue. The rest of the rotation, as it stands today, would be a patchwork of arms still trying to prove themselves at the MLB level: Randy Vasquez, Kyle Hart, JP Sears, Matt Waldron, Jhony Brito, and Jackson Wolf.
That’s not just a question mark-it’s a flashing neon sign that reads: Help Wanted: Reliable Starting Pitching.
Enter Justin Verlander.
Yes, that Justin Verlander. The three-time Cy Young winner.
The active leader in just about every meaningful pitching category. The future Hall of Famer whose resume stacks up alongside the all-time greats-think Nolan Ryan, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson.
He’s currently a free agent, and while he’s not throwing 98 anymore, there’s still plenty of reason to believe he could be a stabilizing force in a rotation that desperately needs one.
Verlander will be 43 by Opening Day, and that’s going to raise some eyebrows. But let’s look at what he actually did last season in San Francisco.
He made 29 starts, threw 152 innings, and posted a 3.85 ERA with an ERA+ of 103. That’s more than serviceable for a mid-rotation arm-and for a Padres team that cycled through 11 different starters last season, that kind of consistency is gold.
Even more encouraging? He finished strong.
Verlander’s final six starts of the year were arguably his best stretch of the season. Over those outings, he tossed 35 1/3 innings with a sparkling 1.78 ERA.
That’s not the profile of a pitcher limping to the finish line-it’s a veteran who figured out how to finish strong.
Velocity-wise, he’s not the flamethrower he once was, but he’s far from washed. In fact, Verlander’s 2025 velocity and spin rates were up compared to his final season in Houston.
He even touched 96.4 mph in late September and hit 97.8 in August-his second-fastest pitch of the entire season. So no, he’s not living in the upper-90s anymore, but he’s still got enough juice to keep hitters honest.
More importantly, Verlander has evolved. He’s not just leaning on heat-he’s added a sweeper to his arsenal, complementing his already sharp mix of a slider, curveball, and changeup.
That sweeper? Opponents hit just .053 against it last season.
That’s not a typo. It’s the kind of pitch that reminds you why Verlander has been elite for so long-he adapts, he adjusts, and he competes.
This version of Verlander isn’t the overpowering ace from his Tigers or early Astros days. He’s a different kind of weapon now-craftier, more precise, and still highly effective. And for a Padres team with more questions than answers in the rotation, that kind of presence could be invaluable.
Let’s also not overlook the intangible value here. Verlander’s chasing 300 career wins-he’s currently sitting at 266-and while that goal may be a long shot, it’s clear he’s still motivated.
That kind of drive matters, especially on a team that could use a little fire and leadership in the clubhouse. If he’s healthy and pitching like he did last season, the Padres could give him a legitimate shot at adding 10 more wins to that total-and get a rock-solid veteran arm in return.
This wouldn’t be a long-term commitment. We’re not talking about a decade-long deal here. This is a one-year flyer on a guy who still knows how to get big league hitters out, who held up over a full season, and who got stronger as the year wore on.
In a rotation full of uncertainty, Justin Verlander might just be the steadying force the Padres need.