Scherzer, Porcello Agree to One-Year Deals

Exhale, Detroit. Max Scherzer is staying. For now.

On Friday, Detroit agreed to contracts with five big-name Tigers, all one-year deals: Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Austin Jackson, Al Alburquerque and Andy Dirks.

Scherzer, the biggest name in the latest series of signings by Detroit, agreed to a one-year, $15.5 million dollar deal. Although the contract is short, there is nothing stopping the Tigers from extending that contract at any point before the 2014 season begins. If Scherzer does not receive a new contract by the end of the year, he is set to be a free agent at the end of 2014.

The announcement of Scherzer’s pay raise comes just days after all-star pitchers from around the league agreed to contracts. On Wednesday, it was revealed that the Dodgers had signed NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw to a seven-year, $215 million dollar expenditure. Just last night, David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays signed a one-year, $14 million dollar extension. Both Price and Kershaw were among the 146 MLB players to file for salary arbitration last Sunday.

Back home, other Tigers received the good news of short, but stout pay raises.

Starting pitcher Rick Porcello will receive $8.5 million in 2014, up from his $5.3 million after a 13-8 record and 4.32 ERA that made 2013 the best year of his young career. Outfielder Austin Jackson is set to receive $6 million, a hefty sum from his initial $3.5 million yearly contract. Andy Dirks will take home $1.6 million in another one-year deal. Al Alburquerque rounded out the one-year extensions with a paycheck of $837,000 coming in 2014.

The only Tiger that remains unsigned is catcher Alex Avila, who filed for arbitration and has currently not received a contract offer from Detroit.

With a little help from Avila, Dave Dombrowski will keep his perfect six-year record of not needing arbitrators to settle contracts.


Richie Cozzolino is the host of Tiger Talk for Impact Sports.

Photo: wdfn.com