Isn’t he locked up for a while on his rookie deal?
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The Tigers gained 3 more years of control by doing this deal. We’re talking about it in the Tigers-Royals thread.
Also you should accept my fantasy trade.
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Great move!!!
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Ho-Li-Fuk!
What a great move. I’ve seen enough. I was going to start a thread suggesting that we lock him up like Colt Keith, but this is even better!
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He’s a stud. Good move by the Tigers.
Seattle did it with Colt Emerson a month ago. I love the risk/reward
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Think of it this way.
If you wait. Rookie contract
2026 - $0.75m
2027 - $0.80m
2028 - $0.85m
2028 - $3m
2029 - $12m
2030 - $30m
Then MASSIVE extension
2031 - $40m+
2032 - $40m+
2033 - $40m+
2034 - $40m+
$208m total. (Could be MUCH higher) With all the arbitration headaches like we have with skubal.
OOOOR what they did. $151m total contract.
So at a minimum they saved $50 maximum could be $100m. Over the next 8 years. With 0 arbitration headaches. Bravo Chris and Scott for doing the SMART thing
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They’ve been doing that for a while, not a new thing.
Watching McG for the first month has been worlds different than watching Greene or Tork in their first month. In two years, Tork (and maybe even Greene) are going to be memories.
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Unless he gets a serious injury early or is 2026 version of Chris Shelton (I kid of course). Or he could hold out. In the end, what do I care? It’s not my money. I’m glad we’ve got him locked up for years. He seems like a special talent.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if torkelson is playing at AAA or for a different team by the end of the season. Keith takes over at first permanently. It’s pretty obvious he isn’t going to develop into the franchise hitter we hoped he’d become.
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It also the player gets his money now. Which if has a good advisor he can also come out ahead or at lead even and protects himself from injury.
IMO this is a win all around
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Thats the risk absolutely. Next 8 years
If hes good save $10m AAV.
If hes league average. lose $3m aav at most. If not break even
If hes bad lose $10m aav
So the only way its a REAL bad contract for the Tigers is if hes absolutely unplayable. .
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Interestingly the Pirates just did the same thing with their phenom and it has been praised for it as a smart move. If you don’t want to get into a bidding war and have an insane payroll later on I guess it’s smart and worth the gamble to lock in the elite talent early….but man it’s a gamble isn’t?
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Average infielders get $10+ million on the market. So the risk is marginal at best
Owners are definitely worried about a salary cap situation.
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If nothing else this keeps us from getting involved in messy arb negotiations. If McG is a stud after 5 years this will get reworked to pay him accordingly.
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