The Detroit Tigers are heading toward another postseason berth and it has created an exciting summer. While fans are checking their phones to see how the Tigers are doing every night, they will also start keeping an eye on some of their competitors as they chase their first American League pennant since 2012.
The first piece of news dropped on Wednesday morning as an American League contender tried to keep a star player for the long term. But a recent decision has put both sides at a stalemate and could have long-term implications for the Tigers.
Jeremy Peña’s Contract Negotiations Could Forshadow Tigers Duo’s Future
According to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, the Houston Astros were “deep” in negotiations on a new contract with star shortstop Jeremy Peña. Alexander noted that the Astros’ most recent offer was a five-year, deal worth over $105 million but the negotiations reached a stalemate after Peña switched his reputation to Boras Corp., hiring super-agent Scott Boras to oversee contract negotiations.
The Astros have the right idea to extend Peña as he’s in the midst of a career season. The 27-year-old is posting a career-high batter’s line at .326/.382/.495 and has 11 home runs and 40 RBI with 15 stolen bases over 79 games. His 4.6 wins above replacement (WAR) are also second in the American League to Aaron Judge (5.8) and getting him locked up before he’s set to hit free agency in 2028 is a wise move.
However, the change in representation is bad news for Houston. Boras has advised his clients to wait for free agency to maximize their value and Astros fans already saw this play out with former shortstop Carlos Correa, who turned down Houston in 2022 to sign a three-year, $105.1 million contract with the Minnesota Twins.
While the move doesn’t directly affect the Tigers’ pennant chase, it’s something to keep an eye on. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson could both begin extension talks with the Tigers this offseason as they approach their first year of arbitration. While both players could sign a team-friendly, long-term deal such as the six-year, $28.6 million contract Colt Keith signed last winter, they could also opt to build their resume and cash in when they hit free agency in 2029.
This year’s performance suggests that the price will only go up. Greene is having his own career season, hitting .299/.352/.538 with 17 homers and 61 RBI entering Wednesday’s game with the Athletics. Torkelson is also breaking out, hitting .223/.330/.470 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI in 74 games. It’s also worth noting that Torkelson and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal are both represented by Boras, increasing the likelihood both players wait until free agency to get as much money as possible.
Greene could be a top priority as a player that will likely become a two-time All-Star by the end of the month and while it’s not something fans should worry about now, Peña’s situation could be a cautionary tale that could turn a recipe for long-term success into a flash in the pan.