» Tigers, Granderson Ink Win-Win Deal

Tigers, Granderson Ink Win-Win Deal

The Detroit Tigers and their lefthanded hitting centerfielder Curtis Granderson struck a $30.25 million, 5 year deal as the Tigers followed suit after the Colorado Rockies’ as the second team this winter to cast service time to the wind.

AP Sports writer Larry Lage reports for Yahoo sports;

A club option for 2013… could make the deal worth up to $43.25 million.

“The Tigers held all the chips and didn’t have to do anything,” Granderson said. “I’m very happy with the way everything happened.”

Tigers president Dave Dombrowski is not known to give long-term deals to players before they are even eligible for arbitration, but Granderson merited an exception.

What makes it different is the quality of player we’re talking about and his makeup as a person,” Dombrowski said.

Manager Jim Leyland said it was “a great deal” for Granderson and the Tigers.

“He’s the kind of player we want, not only in terms of ability but as a quality person,” Leyland told The Associated Press. “He’s as good as it gets on and off the field.”

Granderson had a standout season in 2007 with 23 homers, 74 RBIs, a .302 BA to go long with 23 triples and 26 steals. His 23 triples led the majors and was the highest total since Ty Cobb’s 24 3-baggers for the 1917 4th place Detroit Tigers.

Lage adds;

He joined Willie Mays and Frank “Wildfire” Schulte as the only players in major league history with 20 steals, 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles. Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins became a part of the 20-20-20-20 club later in the season.

Schulte was the first to accomplish the feat in 1911 while playing for the Chicago Cubs, and Mays did it in 1957 with the New York Giants.

The interesting thing about Granderson is that he achieved his 2007 stats while striking out 141 times, the most vulnerable aspect of his game. In 2006, his first full season iin the majors, he hit .260 with 19 HRs and 68 RBIs while striking out 174 times — that’s a mere 7 less than Phillies’ lefthanded slugger Ryan Howard’s 2006 numbers; 181 strike outs while hitting 58 homers and driving in 149 runs.

It seems to me that Granderson could have held out for much more money, after all, Boston is forking over $70 million in its 5 year deal with rightfielder J.D. Drew who bombed royally in his first season with the Sox. Granderson however seems to opted for security over mega-bucks. But, hey $30 million over 5 years is nothing to sneeze at. Managed properly and not squandered, he is set for life.

Granderson is an integral cog on a busy and potentially powerful Tigers squad which includes All-Stars Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria along with Jacque Jones as well as lefthander Dontrelle Willis.

The Tigers also re-signed starters Kenny Rogers, Nate Robertson, closer Todd Jones and excercised their club option on catcher Ivan Rodriguez’s contract. With another fine year from Granderson, the Tigers seem, on paper, sure to provide ample challenge for last season’s Central Division and AL Pennant winning Cleveland Indians.