Detroit Tigers Sign Top Prospect Colt Keith to Critical Long-Term Extension
The Detroit Tigers have signed infielder Colt Keith to a six-year contract extension, the club announced Sunday morning.
Keith, who is 22 years old, has yet to appear in an MLB contest. The second and third baseman only reached Double-A for the first time in 2023, but he ended the season in Triple-A.
Detroit decided to lock Keith up through at least 2029, despite his lack of experience at the higher levels. His new contract also includes club options for the 2030, 2031 and 2032 seasons.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Keith is guaranteed $28.6 million over the next six years with an additional $15 million available in escalators. His option years are worth $10 million, $13 million and $15 million, respectively, giving the deal a maximum value of $81.6 million over nine years.
The Tigers took Keith in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. In 239 minor league appearances, Keith is a .300 hitter with 38 home runs, 164 RBI and an .894 OPS.
MLB Pipeline ranked Keith as Detroit's No. 2 prospect in 2023. In the updated Top 100 rankings, Keith was pegged as the No. 22 prospect in all of baseball.
Keith is just the latest prospect to sign a long term extension before ever reaching the big leagues. The Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Jackson Chourio to a historic deal earlier this offseason, guaranteeing him $82 million with a maximum payday of over $142 million.
With Keith's signature now officially on the dotted line, he is much more likely to make the Tigers' Opening Day roster. The left-handed batter could even be in line to start at second base, depending on how Spring Training goes.
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