
Kevin McGonigle has signed an eight-year contract worth over $100 million with the Detroit Tigers, making it the eighth such deal in the team's history. This contract ranks among the largest in the franchise, alongside notable deals for players like Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder.
Rookie Kevin McGonigle’s eight-year deal agreed to on Wednesday, April 15, is just the eighth contract worth at least $100 million handed out by the Detroit Tigers in either free agency or as an extension. The deals, and the seasons they started in:
The buzz: This extension was signed in March 2014, ahead of a 52-homer season from Cabrera, but didn’t kick in till 2016. Miggy played the full contract, reaching Hall of Fame milestones in homers (511) and hits (3,174), but his 2016-23 stretch, plagued by injuries, was easily the worst of his career.
[ Kevin McGonigle might be an all-timer. His contract is a steal for Tigers ]
The buzz: Fielder, signed as a free agent when DH Victor Martinez suffered an offseason leg injury, lasted just two years in Detroit – hitting .295 with 55 homers and 214 RBIs in 324 games – before the Tigers shipped him to the Texas Rangers. Fielder only lasted five years on this deal, retiring after his age-32 season with neck issues.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The buzz: JV won two AL Cy Young awards (and finished second in another season), threw a third no-hitter and won two World Series … but he did all of that with the Houston Astros, after the Tigers traded him away in the second season of this extension.
The buzz: The deal carries an average annual value of $18.75 million, which would make him the 13th highest-paid shortstop in MLB – just ahead of fellow rookie Konnor Griffin, who signed a nine-year, $140 million contract earlier this month.
The buzz: This deal has been underwater almost from the moment it was signed, as Báez was one of the worst hitters in baseball over his first three seasons of the contract. Last year, however, he made the All-Star Game as a center fielder, and he’s hitting .293 in 12 games so far in 2026.
The buzz: Signed at age 28, Upton hit 59 homers in 278 games over parts of two seasons with the Tigers before they dealt him to the Los Angeles Angels in July 2017 as part of a massive teardown in Detroit. He played out the contract, but saw his power drop way off at the end.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez (59) takes the field in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
The buzz: We’re just four starts into this one, with Valdez posting a 3.75 ERA – a mark grossly ballooned by his eight runs allowed to the Twins in start No. 3 – in 24 innings. Valdez has an opt-out in the final year, which means this could be just a two-year, $65.7 million deal in the end.
The buzz: In his first five appearances as a Tiger, Zimmermann allowed two earned runs in 33 innings, for a 0.55 ERA. Over his final 94 appearances as a Tiger, he allowed 320 runs in 481⅓ innings – a 5.98 ERA. He did finish the deal in Detroit, at least, despite numerous injuries.
Ryan Ford is acting sports editor for the Free Press and has been with Freep Sports since January 2006. Contact him at rford@freepress.com or follow him on X @theford and on BlueSky at @theford.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kevin McGonigle contract and Detroit Tigers' most expensive deals
Kevin McGonigle's contract is worth over $100 million for eight years.
It is the eighth contract worth at least $100 million in Detroit Tigers history, following significant deals for players like Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder.
The contract was agreed upon on April 15 and is set to begin in the upcoming season.
Other players include Miguel Cabrera, who signed for $248 million, and Prince Fielder, who signed for $214 million.


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