Justin Upton, Detroit Tigers agree to six-year, $132.75 million deal
Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, who craves star players and refuses to let money stand in the way of being a World Series contender, agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Justin Upton on a six-year, $132.75 million contract Monday night, a person directly involved with the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity since the deal won’t become official until Upton passes his physical.
The Tigers, who informed everyone the past six weeks that they no longer had financial flexibility to acquire another premier free agent, quietly changed their mind this past week and aggressively pursued Upton, the three-time All-Star outfielder.
Upton will become the third highest-paid free-agent position player this winter behind only Jason Heyward (eight years, $184 million with the Chicago Cubs) and Chris Davis (seven years, $161 million with the Baltimore Orioles).
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Tigers general manager Al Avila and manager Brad Ausmus flew to Phoenix last Friday for a meeting with Upton at his home, and negotiated throughout the weekend before reaching a deal Monday.
Upton, 28, who insisted he would not accept a short-term deal this winter, wanted at least a five-year deal that would also pay him near the $23 million annual average salary that Heyward received. Upton will receive an average annual salary of $22.125 million.
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The deal simply is the latest late-winter surprise signing that Ilitch, 86, has orchestrated over the years. He signed first baseman Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract in January 2012, after Victor Martinez suffered a season-ending knee surgery. They also signed All-Star catcher Pudge Rodriguez to a four-year, $40 million deal in February 2004, All-Star outfielder Magglio Ordonez to a five-year, $75 million deal in February 2005, and All-Star outfielder Johnny Damon to a one-year, $8 million contract in February 2010.
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Upton will be the Tigers’ starting left fielder and provide another power bat in the middle of their lineup with Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Victor Martinez. Upton hit .251 with 26 homers and 81 RBI last season playing his home games at spacious Petco Park with the San Diego Padres. He has hit 190 career homers, including at least 26 or more homers in four of the past five seasons.
Upton also has stayed relatively healthy throughout his career, playing in at least 149 games in each of the last five seasons. The only outfielders who have played more games during that stretch are Andrew McCutchen, Adam Jones, Ichiro Suzuki and Jay Bruce. He fills a void created when former GM Dave Dombrowski traded impending free agent Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets last July 31.
Upton also was pursued by the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, but those teams preferred signing him to a short-term deal. Upton’s agreement takes away another viable option for Cespedes, who remains on the market with dwindling options.
The Tigers have significantly upgraded their team after finishing last in the AL Central last season with a 74-87 record. They also signed free-agent starter Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million contract and starter Mike Pelfrey to a two-year, $16 million deal. They signed shortstop Mike Aviles and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and traded for center fielder Cameron Maybin. And rebuilt their bullpen with the acquisitions of closer Francisco Rodriguez, and setup men Mark Lowe and Justin Wilson.
Simply, Ilitch is making it clear that he wants to win a World Series championship before he leaves this earth, and doesn’t mind eclipsing the $189 million luxury tax for the first time in franchise history.
“That’s all I think about,’’ Ilitch said at Zimmermann’s press conference. “It’s something that I really want. I want it bad.’’