Let's put Kevin McGonigle's huge contract with Detroit Tigers in historical perspective

Detroit — Kevin McGonigle has barely played, and now he's getting paid.

That's the trend in Major League Baseball these days, and McGonigle added to that in a monster way Wednesday by agreeing to an eight-year extension that will pay the Tigers shortstop at least $150 million through 2034. The extension comes less than three weeks into his major-league career.

Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle agreed to an eight-year extension less than three weeks into his MLB career.

The deal marks the most guaranteed money for a player with fewer than 100 days of MLB service time, surpassing the previous record, which lasted less than a week. Last week, shortstop Konnor Griffin, the No. 1 prospect in baseball (McGonigle is No. 2) signed a nine-year, $140-million extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Where does Kevin McGonigle's contract rank in MLB history?

Here's a look at some of the biggest contract extensions, by guaranteed money, in MLB history for players with less than a year of major-league service time, not including veteran international free-agent signings. H/T to MLB.com and Baseball-Reference for help with the research:

• Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners: 12 years, $210 million (141 days of service time)
• Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers: Eight years, $150 million (20 days of service time)
• Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates: Nine years, $140 million (five days of service time)
• Roman Anthony, OF, Red Sox: Eight years, $130 million (58 days of service time)
• Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks: Eight years, $111 million (38 days of service time)
• Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Braves: Eight years, $100 million (165 days of service time)
• Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners: Eight years, $95 million (zero days of service time)
• Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers: Eight years, $82 million (zero days of service time)
• Michael Harris, OF, Braves: Eight years, $72 million (81 days of service time)
• Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles: Eight years, $67 million (five days of service time)
• Kristian Campbell, 2B, Red Sox: Six years, $60 million (six days of service time)
• Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers: Eight years, $50.75 million (zero days of service time)
• Luis Robert Jr., OF, White Sox: Six years, $50 million (zero days of service time)
• Ceddanne Rafaela, OF, Red Sox: Eight years, $50 million (49 days of service time)
• Eloy Jimenez, OF, White Sox: Six years, $43 million (zero days of service time)
• Colt Keith, IF, Tigers: Six years, $28.7 million (zero days of service time)
• Paul DeJong, IF, Cardinals: Six years, $26 million (124 days of service time)
• Chris Archer, SP, Rays: Six years, $25.5 million (156 days of service time)
• Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox: Six years, $25 million (115 days of service time)
• Evan White, 1B, Mariners: Six years, $24 million (zero days of service time)
• Scott Kingery, 2B, Phillies: Six years, $24 million (zero days of service time)
• Brandon Lowe, 2B, Rays: Six years, $24 million (58 days of service time)
• Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays: Six years, $17.5 million (24 days of service time)
• Matt Moore, SP, Rays: Five years, $14 million (17 days of service time)
• Jon Singleton, 1B, Astros: Five years, $10 million (zero days of service time)

Why are MLB teams signing rookies to big contracts?

Four of those contracts (McGonigle, Griffin, Emerson and Pratt) have been signed this year and three (Anthony, Basallo and Campbell) last year as a possible lockout looms next winter. There's no telling what the game's financial picture (salary cap? salary floor?) will look like in 2027 in beyond. That said, in recent years, more organizations and players have begun seeing more value in these kinds of deals. They provide lifetime financial security for players, while potentially providing massive savings for teams on the back end (in what would be expensive arbitration and free-agent years), especially if players become superstars.

This is the second deal of this type for the Tigers, who before the 2024 season signed infielder Colt Keith to a six-year deal worth at least $28.7 million. The deal could max out at $82 million over nine years.

McGonigle, 21, has played in each of the Tigers' first 17 games of 2026, starting 16 of them at shortstop and third base. A first-round draft pick in 2023, he's hitting .311/.417/.492 with eight RBIs. He had four hits in his major-league debut on Opening Day, and on Sunday, he hit his first major-league home run.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Let's put Kevin McGonigle's huge contract with Detroit Tigers in historical perspective