2 extensions the Detroit Tigers should pursue, 2 they should pass on

2 contract extensions the Detroit Tigers should pursue

Spencer Torkelson

Torkelson, the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, has already started to come up big for the Tigers. He rocketed through the minors in 2021 and ended the season in Triple-A, with a .935 OPS on the year across all levels. He was called up in 2022 after 35 more games in Toledo and became the team's everyday first baseman after Miguel Cabrera fully bowed out of duties there after the 2021 season. Torkelson had a bit of a clumsy start to 2022 and saw his power numbers dip significantly from where they were in Triple-A, but he recovered well in 2023 and only missed three games on the entire season.

He batted .233/.313/.446 and hit 31 home runs with 94 RBI, and his consistent presence on the field last year is setting him up as a leader in the Tigers' very young clubhouse, especially after Miguel Cabrera's departure. If Torkelson can improve his strikeout numbers by laying off the ball a little more and work on hitting for average, he could be fearsome at the plate. He's only 24, so he has a lot of life in him as a major leaguer. If the Tigers can make the best of their offseason additions to get the team to the top of the division, and Torkelson can keep being as consistent as he's been, the Tigers should consider making him a Detroiter for life.

Riley Greene

Another first-round pick for the Tigers back in 2019, Greene has been the subject of a lot of Detroit's hopes over the past few years, but he hasn't quite managed to stay healthy. He's only managed to play in just under 100 games for the past two seasons — first because of a broken foot, then because of elbow inflammation that led to Tommy John — but what we've seen from him when he is on the field has oftentimes been thrilling. He's shown incredible range and speed in the outfield, and his .349 OBP was a team-best mark in 2023. And he once hit a leadoff home run off of Shohei Ohtani.

We haven't seen the best of Greene yet, but his .288/.349/.447 line last year gave us a lot to look forward to. The fact that he does seem pretty breakable could be a concern for the Tigers, especially given that he's still only 23, but if his luck turns and he can stay healthy over the next few years, he could be a strong extension candidate. The team is already excited about him and believe in him so much that they've been resistant to signing big free agent outfielders so as not to supplant him. If he can come up in 2024 and perform (and strike out less, as is a common theme for these Tigers), it could endear him even more to the front office and spell a big contract down the line.