The Detroit Tigers already made a tough decision last week.
That’s when the organization informed left-hander Matthew Boyd that they wouldn’t offer him a contract for the 2022 season.
The Tigers have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to make decisions about nine others: Jeimer Candelario, Michael Fulmer, Jose Cisnero, Joe Jimenez, Spencer Turnbull, Dustin Garneau, Harold Castro, Victor Reyes and Grayson Greiner.
Members of the 40-man roster with anywhere between three and six years of MLB service time must be tendered contracts each winter. And if the Tigers don’t offer a contract to any of those nine players by Tuesday’s deadline, the player is considered non-tendered and becomes a free agent.
Some decisions, like Boyd, will be difficult.
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The tender deadline, initially scheduled for ThursdayDec. 2, was moved up to Tuesday ahead of a likely lockout by MLB owners, which would freeze transactions, upon the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
The CBA expires at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
(Projections for next year’s salaries come from MLB Trade Rumors, with estimates based on performance in 2021.)
Age: 28.
Contract details: Four years, 38 days service time; 2021 salary: $2.85 million; 2022 projection: $5.9 million.
2021 season: 149 G, 557 AB, 432 H, .271 AVG, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 65 BB, 135 K, .351 OBP, .443 SLG, 3.2 WAR.
The buzz: The Tigers couldn’t have asked for more from Candelario over the past two seasons. He won Tiger of the Year in back-to-back years by hitting .278 with 23 home runs and 96 RBIs over 201 of a possible 220 games. Eager to make the postseason, the Tigers are confident in Candelario heading into 2022, and he could be a candidate for a contract extension. (He is a free agent after the 2023 season.) Candelario deservers every last dollar the Tigers pay him. After all, he is their starting third baseman.
Age: 28.
Contract details: Five years, 157 days service time; 2021 salary: $3.1 million; 2022 projection: $5.1 million.
2021 season: 52 G (4 starts), 2.97 ERA, 69⅔ IP, 20 BB, 73 K, 3.46 FIP, 1.278 WHIP, 1.6 WAR.
The buzz: Before last year’s tender deadline, the Tigers considered letting Fulmer become a free agent. He had an 8.78 ERA across 27⅔ innings in 10 starts, his first since Tommy John surgery. But Avila’s team eventually decided to stick with the Fulmer project, paying him $3.1 million in salary arbitration. The Tigers recognized Fulmer’s work ethic and, despite years of surgeries, believed he could make an impact. He proved them right in 2021, dominant out of the bullpen after spending his entire career as a starting pitcher. Fulmer becomes a free agent after the 2022 season.
Age: 32.
Contract details: Four years, 20 days service time; 2021 salary: $970,000; 2022 projection: $1.9 million.
2021 season: 67 G, 3.65 ERA, 61⅔ IP, 31 BB, 62 K, 4.13 FIP, 1.330 WHIP, 0.6 WAR.
The buzz: Cisnero had lots of high-leverage innings in relief last season, but he missed the final two weeks with a right elbow laceration. In his final two outings, he allowed seven runs over one inning. For the most part, though, Cisnero provided consistency against both right- and left-handed hitters. He should be back for 2022. He is a free agent after the 2023 season.
Age: 26.
Contract details: Four years, 61 days service time; 2021 salary: $1.5 million; 2022 projection: $1.8 million.
2021 season: 52 G, 5.96 ERA, 45⅓ IP, 35 BB, 57 K, 5.22 FIP, 1.522 WHIP, -0.2 WAR.
The buzz: This could be a tough decision. The Tigers have given Jimenez as many opportunities as possible in the big leagues. So far, he commands a concerning 5.72 ERA in five years. His underlying numbers, though, might lead the Tigers to continue their pursuit of cracking his code. Jimenez, an All-Star in 2018, becomes a free agent after the 2023 season, unless the Tigers let him go early.
Age: 29.
Contract details: Three years, 20 days service time; 2021 salary: $970,000; 2022 projection: $1.9 million.
2021 season: 9 G (9 GS), 2.88 ERA, 50 IP, 12 BB, 44 K, 2.95 FIP, 0.980 WHIP, 1.5 WAR.
The buzz: Turnbull went through a ton of emotions in 2021, from a no-hitter in May to Tommy John surgery in July. When he was healthy, he proved he can handle the duties of a frontline starter. Although Turnbull hopes to return late in 2022, he could be sidelined until 2023. Regardless, the Tigers are expected to tender him a contract. He is the type of pitcher worth paying roughly $2 million to keep around, even if he isn’t going to throw the baseball.
Age: 34.
Contract details: Three years, 15 days service time; 2021 salary: $100,000; 2022 projection: $1.6 million.
2021 season: 20 G, 62 AB, 13 H, .210 AVG, 6 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB, 18 K, .250 OBP, .581 SLG, 0.5 WAR.
The buzz: Although Garneau stepped up when the Tigers needed him last year, it remains unlikely he nets a big-league contract. That means the Tigers probably won’t re-sign him to anything but a minor-league deal. Garneau seems headed for a non-tender tag.
Age: 27.
Contract details: Two years, 141 days service time; 2021 salary: $587,000; 2022 projection: $1.5 million.
2021 season: 106 G, 315 AB, 89 H, .283 AVG, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 14 BB, 72 K, .310 OBP, .359 SLG, 0.5 WAR.
The buzz: Castro actually qualified for salary arbitration under Super Two status, which was set at two years and 116 days of MLB service. The Tigers had two utility players on the roster before cutting Niko Goodrum, so they’re likely to bring Castro back for another year. He has played eight positions in his career, making 59 starts at second base and 26 starts at shortstop. Manager AJ Hinch did a nice job picking and choosing offensive situations for Castro last season.
Age: 27.
Contract details: Three years, 75 days service time; 2021 salary: $587,000; 2022 projection: $1.3 million.
2021 season: 76 G, 209 AB, 54 H, .258 AVG, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 8 BB, 55 K, .284 OBP, .416 SLG, 0.3 WAR.
The buzz: The Tigers could use a player like Reyes in 2022. He plays all three outfield positions, is a switch-hitter and played well after last season’s All-Star break. In his final 49 games, he hit .325 with four home runs and a .516 slugging percentage. The Tigers have outfield options in Riley Greene, Robbie Grossman, Derek Hill and Daz Cameron, but keeping Reyes in the system for a little more than $1 million shouldn’t be a problem.
Age: 29.
Contract details: Three years, 41 days service time; 2021 salary: $583,000; 2022 projection: $800,000 million.
2021 season: 31 G, 72 AB, 17 H, .236 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 9 BB, 31 K, .321 OBP, .333 SLG, 0.2 WAR.
The buzz: The Tigers traded for catcher Tucker Barnhart earlier this offseason, so it’s unlikely Greiner opens 2022 in the big leagues. Barnhart and backup catcher Eric Haase enter spring training as the team’s top catchers. But there are holes in Haase’s game, even despite his power swing, so holding onto Greiner as a third catcher could be a smart move. He is a free agent after the 2024 season.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.