Surprise! Jonathan Schoop Re-Signs With Tigers

Well, to the surprise of many, the Detroit Tigers re-signed infielder Jonathan Schoop (pronounced Scope) to a two-year deal worth $15 million over this past weekend.

It is a major surprise because it was expected that Schoop (pictured above) would leave the Tigers after this season and test the free-agent waters for a larger deal this coming winter.  Especially since he hired baseball super-agent, Scott Boras, to represent him in contract negotiations.

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Schoop is in his second year with the Tigers, having signed with the club before the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season on a one-year deal.  After not getting a satisfactory offer this past offseason, he re-signed with Detroit for one year and $4.5 million.

He, like the team, got off to an awful start this season.  He hit .198 after the first month of the season.  But has regrouped and has hit .323 since then.  He has played a majority of games at first base this year.  But has played some at his natural position, second base.

Relatively speaking, $7.5 million per season is a pretty good contract for the Tigers, IMO.  They signed a key player to a reasonable contract for not an exorbitant amount of years.  In fact, Schoop can opt-out after 2022 and hit free agency then.  So it could be a win for him too, in the long run.

I think Schoop needs to play second base more.  Willi Castro can't field that position and doesn't hit well enough to offset the defensive deficiencies.  He should be sent to Toledo.  Any combination of Schoop/Niko Goodrum/Harold Castro should work the rest of the year at second.

The Tigers have shown promise this year.  And signing one of their key guys for at least next year shows the fans they aren't in a "rebuild" mode anymore.  They are building towards a winning record and a possible playoff berth.  Expectations will be greater next season, as they should be.