The Tigers announced today that they have extended their infield interest Colt Keith on a six-year contract with club options for the 2030, 2031 and 2032 seasons. Each club option includes salary increases. The deal guarantees Keith $28.6425 million and could be a maximum of $82 million over nine years if all three options are escalated and exercised. In addition to a $2 million signing bonus, Keith will receive a salary of $2.5 million for the 2024 campaign, $3.5 million in 2025, $4 million per season in 2026 and 2027 and $5 million per season in 2028 and 2029. Before escalators, the 2030 club option is worth $10 million with a buyout of $2.6425 million, while the 2031 option is worth $13 million. $ with a $1 million buyout and the 2032 option is worth $15 million with a $2 million buyout.
Keith, 22, was selected by the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2020 draft and has since risen quickly through the minor leagues with a .300/.382/.512 slash line at all levels, including a .306/.380 /.552 slash line in 126 games split between Double- and Triple-A last season. The youngster has emerged as one of the game's top 30 prospects, with MLB.com ranking him at No. 22 and Baseball America ranking him at No. 28. Both President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris and Keith himself commented on the extension in a press release following the announcement.
“This is a very exciting day for the Detroit Tigers, Colt, his family and our fans,” Harris said in the press release. “This agreement demonstrates our confidence in Colt and this organization’s commitment to attracting, developing and retaining young talent.”
“I am thrilled about this agreement, which secures my place in this organization for years to come,” added Keith. “There's a reason I'm passionate about making a long-term commitment to being here, and the fact that I'm surrounded by incredibly talented teammates and coaches is a big part of that… I know that's one thing “It's a big accomplishment, but ultimately my mission is to be the best player possible and help win a World Series Championship for Tigers fans around the world.”
For Keith, the deal secures the 22-year-old a significant windfall after he signed for just $500,000 out of the draft, while also giving him peace of mind that he will remain part of Detroit's long-term plans as they try to build on theirs Building surprise Second place in the AL Central last year. For the Tigers, the deal not only provides the club with cost certainty regarding Keith's arbitration years, but also gives the team an additional three seasons of team control over the infielder, potentially allowing him to remain in a Tigers jersey through his age-30 season, if all three Options in question will be exercised. It's the fourth-largest deal in MLB history for a prospect who hasn't yet made his major league debut, behind only the guaranteed White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. And Eloy Jimenez as well as the deal the outfield prospect agreed to Jackson Chourio and the Brewers earlier this winter.
Keith was already expected to make the big league roster as the Tigers' second baseman at some point in the year, but today's deal all but guarantees he will be on the Opening Day roster if healthy. The deal deprives the Tigers of the opportunity to secure an additional year of team control over the infielder, while also allowing the club to qualify for a draft pick from the potential promotion incentive if Keith earns a full year of service in 2024 and wins either that AL Rookie of the Year award or finishes in the top three of MVP voting before he would have been eligible for arbitration.
With Keith likely to be the Tigers' keystone early in the season, players like Zack McKinstry, Nick Maton, Andy IbanezAnd Matt Vierling to compete for playing time at third base when camp opens for spring training next month. While the keys to the position need to be handed over to another top prospect Jace Jung At some point in the future, the 23-year-old has yet to appear at the Triple-A level and is unlikely to forgo ties with the Tigers. Keith and Jung are considered the latest in a string of top prospects to reach the majors for the Tigers in recent years, joining starters like Tarik Skubal And Casey Mize as well as batsmen Spencer Torkelson And Riley Greene.
As their young talent begins to reach the majors and establish themselves in the big leagues, the Tigers have looked to bolster the big league club with short-term veteran additions that won't prevent the club's young players from earning regular playing time. This offseason, the team struck early and brought in the outfielder Mark Canha in a deal with the Brewers before bolstering their rotation with free-agent right-handed deals Kenta Maeda And Jack Flaherty. The club has also added reinforcements to its bullpen in the form of Andrew Chafin And Shelby Miller. These experienced additions are intended to bolster the club's burgeoning young core as they prepare for a run in what is expected to be a relatively weak AL Central Division, although the Twins remain the favorite on paper even after adding both Maeda and Ace Righty Sonny Gray leaving via free agency this winter.