Tigers, Top Prospect Colt Keith Agree to Six-Year Contract Extension
The Detroit Tigers are taking a gamble on infield prospect Colt Keith, as both sides agreed to a six-year contract extension, the team announced on Sunday.
With it, Keith becomes the latest player with no major league experience to sign a long-term extension. Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio holds the record, with an eight-year, $82-million contract signed last month.
Keith is guaranteed $28,642,500 over the first six seasons of his deal, while three club options could increase its value to $64 million across nine seasons, and escalators could bring it to $82 million total in that span.
The 22-year-old lefty, ranked the No. 22 top prospect in baseball and No. 2 in Detroit’s system by MLB Pipeline, receives a $2 million signing bonus as part of his contract.
Here’s the entire year-by-year breakdown of Keith’s historic signing:
- 2024: $2.5 million
- 2025: $3.5 million
- 2026: $4 million
- 2027: $4 million
- 2028: $5 million
- 2029: $5 million
- 2030: $10 million option ($2,642,500 buyout)
- 2031: $13 million option ($1 million buyout)
- 2032: $15 million option ($2 million buyout)
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Tigers have designated right-handed pitcher Devin Sweet for assignment.
Drafted in the fifth round by the Tigers in 2020, Keith has rapidly ascended through the organization, making his Triple-A debut last season during only his third professional campaign. He began the summer at Double-A before receiving a mid-season promotion to Toledo.
The 6-foot-2 left-handed hitter logged 126 combined games across those two levels in 2023, slashing .306/.380/.552 with 27 home runs and 101 RBIs while posting a remarkable 140 wRC+.
Showcasing his defensive versatility, Keith split last season at second and third base, compiling 353.2 and 570.1 innings at each position, respectively.
“I couldn’t be more excited to reach this agreement, securing my place in this organization for years to come,” Keith said in Sunday’s press release. “There’s a reason I felt strongly about making a long-term commitment to be here, and being surrounded by incredibly talented teammates and coaches is a big part of that… I know this is a big accomplishment, but ultimately my mission is to be the best player possible and help win a World Series Championship for Tigers fans everywhere.”
Most felt the Zanesville, Ohio, native was poised to make his MLB debut at some point next season prior to this recent signing. Now that he’s on the books, he projects to open the 2024 campaign as Detroit’s starting second baseman.
Keith’s arrival pushes Andy Ibáñez and Nick Maton – a pair which would’ve shared second base duties come Opening Day – into reserve roles. Zach McKinstry and Matt Vierling will likely compete for reps at third base this spring, buying time until prospect Jace Jung arrives.
Detroit’s lineup is preparing to welcome a fresh wave of youth next season, headlined by Keith and Jung, who’ll join the likes of Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Parker Meadows and Kerry Carpenter.
The Tigers made positive strides in 2023, finishing second in the AL Central at 78-84, albeit enduring a seventh consecutive losing season in the process. But the front office, which has been among the most active this winter, hopes to mercifully end that streak next season.
Management has added to its starting rotation in free agency, signing veterans Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda while strengthening the bullpen with Andrew Chafin and Shelby Miller. They also acquired outfielder Mark Canha in a trade with the Brewers last November.
Even with these additions, Detroit almost certainly slots behind the Minnesota Twins, who’ve won the AL Central in three of the previous five seasons.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Ian D’Andrea. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.