Tigers' youth movement in full effect after pre-arbitration pool bonus reveal

Scott Harris and the Detroit Tigers have been committed to their youth movement. At times, it has led to prospect-hugging and has opened Harris up to criticism when he refused to make a big splash for fear of displacing a young player.

That doesn't seem to change with Harris already hinting that the next wave from the minors will factor heavily into the team's plans soon. And while it can be annoying to see him stop short of going all-in to make this talented roster into a bona fide top-tier contender, there is a flip side.

The Tigers' young core is blossoming, and the league has taken notice with a whopping six pre-arbitration players earning bonuses based on their 2025 performances.

The performance of the Tigers' young core in 2025 is encouraging, and the pre-arb bonus selections affirm their ascent

Per the current CBA, there are a few ways that a player can earn a bonus during his pre-arb years. The first has them either winning or factoring into the race for a major award like MVP, Cy Young, or Rookie of the Year. The second has them receiving a check if they are selected for the All-MLB first team or second team. Lastly, the third way is based on a WAR calculation.

Should a player win or place in multiple awards categories, he'll only receive the bonus for one of them, but he can make extra money based on that WAR calculation.

For the Tigers, it was all about the WAR. Dillon Dingler led the way, but five others were productive enough to earn some extra cash. You can see the full list below:

The headliner here is Dingler, who took home Gold Glove honors and finished tied with Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Will Smith for the third-highest fWAR among catchers at 4.1.

While there are some questions still to be answered by this group — chiefly, can Spencer Torkelson be consistent, and can the Tigers find a permanent home for Colt Keith? — the results are encouraging.

Two players to watch are Reese Olson, who is seemingly on the verge of breaking out every year but can't stay healthy, and Wenceel Perez, who could ascend if given regular playing time.

Regardless, the foundation here is strong, and it will be augmented by the next generation that includes blue-chippers like Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark, as well as high-potential pieces like Max Anderson and Josue Briceño. That quartet will arrive sooner rather than later, giving the Tigers a wide-open window.

With that said, Harris will have to maximize that window by making the right veteran additions to support and lead them through the challenges ahead. Failure to do so will make this a nice story, but it will hold the team back from truly reaching its full potential.