MLB Offseason Roundup: Tigers Extend Top Prospect, Mariners Sign Former Pirates’ First-Rounder

This is one in a series of daily articles highlighting the latest news and notes from the MLB offseason.

It’s not very often you see a team extend one of their prospects before he makes his major league debut, but it does happen.

Earlier in the MLB offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers extended top outfield prospect Jackson Chourio, for example.

It happened again on Sunday with the Detroit Tigers extending one of their top prospects.

Detroit locked up infielder Colt Keith, who reached Triple-A last season, for six years. The deal carries a $28.6425 million guarantee and can max out at $82 million over nine years due to three club options and escalators.

Keith was selected by the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. In his minor league career, the 22-year-old has hit .300 with a .894 OPS in 239 games. Last season between Double-A and Triple-A, he slashed ..306/.380/.552 with 38 doubles, 27 home runs and 101 RBIs in 126 games.

MLB Pipeline rated Keith as their 22nd-best prospect in the league in their most recent update, and he will remain with the Tigers for the foreseeable future.

MARINERS MOVE AND RUMORS

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Cole Tucker, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2014 draft. USA Today’s Bon Nightengale was first to report.

Tucker spent parts of the 2019-22 seasons with the Pirates and combined to hit .211 with a .573 OPS in 154 games. Last season, he appeared in five games with the Colorado Rockies.

Nightengale also notes that Seattle has been discussing a trade involving right-handed starting pitcher Dylan Cease with the Chicago White Sox.

PBN LINKS

Could Pirates Try and Tap Into Dodgers’ Starting Pitching Surplus?

Pirates Land Five Prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100; Skenes Top Pitcher

Jason Delay Could be in Line for Important Role in 2024

Perrotto: Pirates Adding Noah Syndergaard a Good Idea — Five Years Ago

AROUND THE NETWORK

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