Justin Verlander gets bleak update on MLB feat last accomplished by Giants' Randy Johnson

It's been 17 years since a Major League pitcher reached 300 career wins. Randy Johnson did so in 2009 with the San Francisco Giants. 

Justin Verlander is the closest active pitcher to the 300-win mark, but he may be running out of time to accomplish the feat. He turns 43 later this month. 

"The problem for Verlander is he only earned four wins in 29 starts in San Francisco last year. That puts him at 266 for his career, meaning he needs 34 more wins to get to 300," Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly wrote Sunday.

"At this stage of his career, that may require him pitching well into his 40s in a Jamie Moyer-esque manner. Given the amount of times Verlander's career seemed to be on the ropes only for him to emerge on the other side, we won't rule that out." 

Will Verlander reunite with the Giants? 

Pitchers and catchers report to camp in less than two weeks, and Verlander remains unsigned. He had a strong second half of the 2025 season with the Giants, posting a 2.99 ERA in 14 starts after the All-Star break. 

Reports indicate a return to the Detroit Tigers or Houston Astros is possible for Verlander. Still, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported last month that the Baltimore Orioles also have interest in the future Hall of Famer's services. 

The Giants have added starters Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser to join a projected rotation that includes Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landen Roupp. There may not be enough room for Verlander. 

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