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The Detroit Tigers have avoided arbitration with three players who are all expected to be important contributors in 2014. Agreeing to one-year contracts are Austin Jackson, Rick Porcello and Andy Dirks.
Being a third-year arbitration player, Porcello gets the largest deal of the three, earning a $3 million plus raise. He agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $8.5 million. Porcello was 13-8 with a 4.32 ERA while earning $5,1 million in 2013.
Arbitration eligible for the first time, Jackson did pretty well for himself by inking a new deal, getting a $2.5 million increase. Despite a down season where he hit .272/.337/.417 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs, losing over 100 points on his OPS, Jackson's 2014 contract is worth $6 million.
Dirks, who will platoon in left field with Rajai Davis this coming season, also received a significant bump in pay. After making a mere $505K in 2013, Dirks will make $1.625 million in 2014. The Tigers' incumbent left fielder was a Gold Glove finalist, but had a very off season at the plate in 2013, hitting .256/ .323/ .363 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs, his .686 OPS a massive 171 point drop compared to his excellent 2012.
The three agreements add an additional $16.25 million to the Tigers' payroll, with Al Alburquerque, Alex Avila and the whale of the arbitration eligible group, Cy Young winning Max Scherzer, yet to sign new deals. If the Tigers cannot come to an agreement with the remaining players, arbitration hearings will be scheduled between Feb. 1 and Feb. 20.
Update: Two more. Al Alburquerque agreed at $837K, per Jason Beck, and Max Scherzer at $15.525M, per Jon Heyman. Alex Avila is the only arbitration-eligible player remaining without a deal.
