04/15/26 02:58:00
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04/15 14:24 CDT Tigers and rookie Kevin McGonigle agree to an $150 million,
8-year contract starting in 2027
Tigers and rookie Kevin McGonigle agree to an $150 million, 8-year contract
starting in 2027
DETROIT (AP) --- Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle became the latest young
player to get a big-money deal, agreeing Wednesday to a $150 million,
eight-year contract that starts in 2027.
A 21-year-old infielder, McGonigle had four hits in his major league debut on
March 26 and entered Wednesday hitting .311 with one homer, eight RBIs and a
.417 on-base percentage in 17 games.
"As soon as we saw this kid play and saw the way he commands the strike zone,
fights for every pitch and uses the whole field, it was like, ?Wow, that's
pretty interesting for an 18-year-old kid,'" Tigers president of baseball
operations Scott Harris said. "We knew he could play the infield and he had the
right physical gifts.
"It was just about how quickly everything would come together, and they came
together more quickly than I ever thought."
McGonigle became the fourth top prospect to get a big-money deal since late
March following a $140 million, nine-year contract for 19-year-old Pittsburgh
shortstop Konnor Griffin, a $95 million, eight-year agreement for 20-year-old
Seattle shortstop Colt Emerson and a $50.75 million, eight-year pact for
21-year-old Milwaukee shortstop Cooper Pratt.
"If you think about it, this is a kid who would be eligible for this year's
draft if he had gone to college," Harris said. "Now, he's up here with a
long-term contract, so I guess he made the right decision."
McGonigle has a one-year contact for 2026 paying the $780,000 minimum while in
the major leagues and $127,100 while in the minors.
His new deal calls for a $14 million signing bonus, including $8 million
payable within 30 days of the contract's approval by Major League Baseball and
$6 million on March 31, 2028. He gets salaries of $1 million next year, $7
million in 2028, $16 million in 2029, $21 million in 2030, $22 million in 2031
and $23 million each in 2032, 2033 and 2034.
"I had the confidence to think there was a possibility for something like this
to happen," McGonigle said. "I'm just super pumped and super excited to spend
the next nine years here helping this team win."
Escalators could increase his salaries in the final three seasons, capped at
$25 million in 2032, $26 million in 2033 and $28 million in 2034. The
escalators, based on accomplishments starting in 2026, are $2 million for
winning an MVP, $1 million for finishing second through fifth in voting,
$500,000 for sixth through 10th, $500,000 for making the All-MLB first or
second team, $250,000 for being elected or selected an All-Star and $250,000
for winning a Silver Slugger.
He would get a $5 million assignment bonus each time he is traded.
McGonigle's deal covers the first three seasons after he would have been
eligible for free agency.
McGonigle was selected by the Tigers at No. 37 in the 2023 amateur draft out of
Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill,
Pennsylvania.
"Ever since I picked up a bat, this was always a dream," he said. "Definitely
at a young age, I'd say I knew I had the opportunity to play at a high level."
He has reached base in 13 consecutive starts and 15 of 16 games. He is one of
only 10 players in the major leagues with more walks (11) than strikeouts
(eight) among players with at least 11 walks.
"What he is doing right now is remarkable," Harris said. "We studied young
hitters and their adjustment periods to the majors, and right down the line,
they really struggled for the first 150 plate appearances in the big leagues.
"Clearly, (Kevin) hasn't. I can't remember a debut that I was this impressed
with through 17 games."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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