https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2024/01/15/mizerly/
Mizerly.
Totally Tigers
Let the speculation begin.
Last week was the deadline for MLB teams to exchange arbitration numbers with their eligible players. And the Detroit Tigers finalized contracts with 3 out of 4 players.
All except for Casey Mize.
Remember him? The #1 draft pick back in 2018 who has only pitched 1 full season and a handful of games over an additional 2 years.
Mize last pitched almost 2 years ago. A lifetime in baseball.
They are going to arbitration over a difference in salary. The Tigers offered $815,000. Mize wants $840,000.
A difference of $25,000.
But don?t think that this is an instance of the Tigers being cheap. Don?t make that automatic assumption.
The Tigers are anything but cheap under the post-Covid, post-tear down and new leadership.
Fans don?t see it but Chris Ilitch has poured millions into the franchise?s infrastructure.The first owner to do such dating back to before we were born. Expanding departments, buying tons of new expensive technology and hiring the best executives, managers, coaches and specialists.
He?s even green-lighted huge expansions of personnel in multiple departments like player development, analytics, scouting and drafting.He is also funding the increase from 5 coaches to 11.
Ilitch hired both a President of Baseball Operations and a GM. He didn?t have to. An extra person and an extra multi-million dollar salary.
So it doesn?t make sense that the team would balk at a measly extra $25,000.
There is something else going on. And it?s why the Tigers are making a statement by staying put in their salary offer.
Let?s explore what possibly could be going on.
