While the Detroit Tigers had a lackluster trade deadline, the main selling point was the retention of their top prospects, Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle. They have yet to make their big league debut, but they are a huge part of the Tigers' future.
Whether it's at the end of the 2025 season, or in 2026 or later, the Tigers are likely to call up both prospects to the Majors. Once they do, their service time begins, which sets a window of six years with the club.
However, as the Boston Red Sox did with their top prospect, Roman Anthony, the Tigers could look to extend their players early. Anthony got an eight-year, $130 million extension to stay in Boston. Tim Britton of The Athletic outlined what that massive extension for Anthony means for other top prospects in baseball.
"The deals for (Corbin) Carrol and Anthony combine to serve as foundations for consensus top prospects in the sport who swiftly show success at the major-league level." Britton wrote.
While the top prospects need to start off hot, if they do, just like Anthony and Corbin Carroll, then a massive extension beyond their arbitration years could be a possibility. For Clark and McGonigle, such a future could be in wait.
"Looking further down the line," Britton writes, "McGonigle and Clark, a pair of 20-year-olds in the Tigers' system who sit first and second in Keith Law's latest prospect rankings, could follow this blueprint with successful debuts."
While neither Tigers' top prospect has made their MLB debut, if their first stint in the Majors goes well, then a similar contract to Anthony's could be in the cards for either Clark or McGonigle.
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According to MLB Pipeline, McGonigle is 5th and Clark is 9th among all prospects in baseball. While both are young and potentially a ways away from their debut, their performance in the minors is pushing the envelope.
McGonigle dominated in High-A this season with a 1.110 OPS in 36 games. In the 20 games at Double-A, he has an .852 OPS. Clark had an. 857 OPS in High-A in 68 games before his promotion to Double-A, where in 20 games, he has an .838 OPS.
Both have been solid in Double-A and likely could see a promotion to Triple-A in the next year, especially if they continue to hit as well as they have so far this season.
With both being 20 years old, their baseball future is bright. Detroit has two incredible prospects waiting in the wings, and based on the Anthony contract, they could be in line to sign both to long-term deals in their rookie seasons.
Such contracts are becoming more frequent in baseball, as waiting until the player hits free agency or is in the final years of their deal will cost the team a lot if that player continues to improve.
While there's a risk, it's one worth taking, especially if the player can be locked up beyond their arbitration years like the Red Sox did with Anthony.
In a few seasons, the Tigers could be looking at two massive deals for their pair of top-ten prospects. Clark and McGonigle are great prospects, and the $130 million Anthony deal is the guideline for the Tigers if they want to lock up these players long-term.
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