Where does Colt Keith’s contract with the Detroit Tigers rank with other highest paid MLB prospects?
2024-01-29
Colt Keith might be rated in the teens and 20s when it comes to prospects, but the Detroit Tigers are betting that he’ll be a star. And, be one pretty soon.
The Tigers have signed Keith, who has no major league experience, to a six-year, $22.6 million contract. Who says baseball is in financial trouble?
Kieth is an infielder, who plays mostly at third base and some second base, hit .325 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs in 59 games last year for Double-A Erie then was promoted to Triple-A Toledo on June 26 and batted .287 with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs in 67 games.
Breakdown of Colt Keith’s contract
2024: $2.5 million
2025: $3.5 million
2026: $4 million
2027: $4 million
2028: $5 million
2029: $5 million
2030: $10 million club option or $2,642,500 buyout
2031: $13 million club option or $1 million buyout
2032: $15 million club option or $2 million buyout
So, how unusual is this, signing a player who hasn’t been to the bigs, to a multi-year big-money deal? Not as much as you’d think. Here are some of the other deals like this.