The Detroit Tigers officially announced on Sunday morning that they have agreed to a six-year contract extension with 22-year-old infielder Colt Keith. Despite not yet making an appearance in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game, Keith, who primarily plays as a second and third baseman, reached Double-A for the first time in 2023 and concluded the season at the Triple-A level.
In a show of confidence in Keith’s potential, the Tigers have committed to keeping him with the team until at least 2029. Notably, this decision has been made despite his limited experience at higher levels of play. The new contract not only covers the next six years but also includes club options for the 2030, 2031, and 2032 seasons.
According to information from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Colt Keith is guaranteed $28.6 million for the upcoming six years, with an opportunity to earn an additional $15 million through performance-based escalators. The option years in the contract are valued at $10 million, $13 million, and $15 million, respectively, making the total potential value of the deal reach $81.6 million over a nine-year period.
Sign of things to come. ✍️
We have signed INF Colt Keith to a six-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, followed by club options for the 2030, 2031, and 2032 seasons. pic.twitter.com/RzuJTadkvd
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) January 28, 2024
Selected by the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Colt Keith has displayed an impressive performance in the minor leagues. Across 239 minor league appearances, the 22-year-old maintains a solid .300 batting average, along with 38 home runs, 164 RBI, and an impressive .894 OPS.
In 2023, MLB Pipeline recognized Keith as Detroit’s No. 2 prospect, and he climbed to the No. 22 spot in the updated Top 100 rankings, showcasing his standing among the league’s top talents.
Following the trend of signing prospects to long-term deals before making their MLB debut, Colt Keith joins this category. Earlier in the offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers inked outfielder Jackson Chourio to a groundbreaking deal, ensuring him $82 million with a potential maximum payout exceeding $142 million.
Now that Keith has officially committed to an extension with the Tigers, his chances of making the Opening Day roster have significantly increased. As a left-handed batter, he could even find himself in contention for a starting role at second base, depending on his performance in Spring Training.
