Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, right, shakes hands with team president, CEO and general manager Dave Dombrowski during a news conference after a spring baseball exhibition game on Friday, March 29, 2013, in Lakeland, Fla., where Verlander talked about his new seven-year, $180-million contract. Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws during the first inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Lakeland, Fla. Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, right, looks at team president, CEO and general manager Dave Dombrowski during a news conference after a spring baseball exhibition game on Friday, March 29, 2013, in Lakeland, Fla., where Verlander talked about his new seven-year, $180-million contract. Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, second from left, is seen in the dugout with teammate Doug Fister, right, during the first inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, March 29, 2013 in Lakeland, Fla.Verlander agreed Friday to a $180 million, seven-year contract, topping Felix Hernandez for the richest deal for a pitcher in baseball history. (AP) - For Justin Verlander, $180 million was enough. No need to wait two seasons, become a free agent and find out how much baseball's biggest spenders would offer. "I wondered what it would be like to test free agency, but the pull of Detroit was too much," the Tigers' ace said Friday after agreeing to a seven-year contract, the richest deal for a pitcher in baseball history. Once spring training started I knew I wanted to stay. Verlander's deal broke the record for pitchers set just a month earlier when Seattle's Felix Hernandez agreed to a $175 million, seven-year contract. "It's a very exciting day," Tigers President Dave Dombrowski said. It's a big day for us. He's as fine a pitcher as there is in baseball. His record speaks for itself. He can be one of the greatest, if not the greatest pitcher in Tiger history. "The city of Detroit is committed to winning," he said. I'm so excited to be playing in Detroit. I was never shy about saying I wanted to stay in Detroit. It's tough to put into words how much I love Detroit. We have the best fans in baseball. "He is never going to be content," Dombrowski said. He wants a World Series, and he wants the Hall of Fame. Verlander's teammates were pleased for their star pitcher. "First, he deserves it because it means a lot for all of us," pitcher Max Scherzer said. From now on, every time we go out to dinner, I am not even going to make a token effort to pull out my credit card. Every dinner this year is on him.