New Delhi, July 9 -- Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2011 American League MVP, has decided that the 2026 season will be his last in Major League Baseball (MLB). At 43, the right-hander is the oldest active player in the majors and is choosing to walk away on his own terms after a long and decorated career.

In a statement posted to X on Wednesday, Verlander explained the personal and physical reasons behind his choice. He made it clear that he never wanted to leave because of age or a calendar date. Instead, he waited for the game itself to signal that the moment had arrived.

"This season has challenged me in ways I haven't experienced before, both physically and mentally," Verlander said in a statement posted ...