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Tigers Sign Matt Boyd To One-Year Deal

By Darragh McDonald | December 14, 2022 at 1:45pm CDT

December 14: The Tigers have officially announced that they’ve signed Boyd to a one-year deal.

December 1: The Tigers and left-hander Matt Boyd are in agreement on a deal to bring him back to Detroit. Boyd will make a $10MM salary with $1MM in performance bonuses available to him. The deal is pending a physical.

Boyd, 32 in February, was drafted by the Blue Jays and made his MLB debut with them, but he went to the Tigers in the 2015 David Price trade and has spent the bulk of his career there. Boyd then established himself as a solid member of the rotation over the next four years, getting into 109 games over the 2016-2019 stretch. His 4.67 ERA wasn’t elite, but he limited walks to a 7.3% rate and struck out 23.4% of batters faced.

Matthew BoydThat latter number was boosted by a strong 30.2% strikeout rate in 2019, which was among the top 10 among qualified pitchers that year. With the Tigers enduring a miserable season, Boyd was frequently mentioned in trade rumors but the club never found an acceptable deal and held onto him. There was no real rush to secure a deal as they still had years of control over Boyd’s services. However, his performance nosedived in the shortened 2020 season, as the lefty posted a 6.71 ERA over 12 starts that year. He posted better results in 2021 but then dealt with arm injuries that eventually led to flexor tendon surgery in September.

The Tigers could have held onto Boyd for 2022 via arbitration but decided to non-tender him given that he was going to miss at least part of the season. He signed on with the Giants, who gave him a $5.2MM guarantee. As this year’s trade deadline rolled around, Boyd was still working his way back from that surgery and the Giants had slipped from contention. They flipped him to Seattle alongside catcher Curt Casali for a couple of prospects. Boyd ended up returning to a big league mound in September and pitched 13 1/3 innings for Seattle down the stretch. He posted a 1.35 ERA in that time with a 24.5% strikeout rate but a 15.1% walk rate in that small sample.

The Tigers clearly felt encouraged enough by Boyd’s return to take a flier on him. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press has reported that the club intends to use Boyd out of the rotation. Boyd averaged 92.6 mph on his four-seam fastball in 2022, which matches his career high. He was pitching in relief this year and hasn’t proven himself capable of maintaining that velocity as a starter, but it’s possible he can continue building strength as he gets further from the surgery. He also struggled with control in his time this year, but it’s often said that is the last thing to return to a pitcher after a lengthy absence.

There’s risk involved in this signing, but it’s a fairly logical risk for a team in Detroit’s position. They hoped to return to contention in 2022 but just about everything went wrong and they finished 66-96. One of the major factors in their disappointing season was a parade of pitching injuries that they will still be dealing with next year. Casey Mize required Tommy John surgery in June and will likely miss most of the upcoming campaign. Tarik Skubal underwent flexor tendon surgery in August and seems likely to miss time as well. Spencer Turnbull should be able to return after missing all of 2022 due to Tommy John, but he’s an unknown after an entire year off.

There are question marks all over the roster that will make it difficult for the Tigers to compete in 2023, but they will still need some arms to fill out the rotation. Boyd should slot next to Eduardo Rodriguez, Matt Manning and Turnbull in four of the spots. The final position could go to internal options like Joey Wentz, Beau Brieske, Alex Faedo or others, though the club could also seek to find further additions. If Boyd returns to health and effectiveness, he can provide a stabilizing veteran presence for a group with a lot of uncertainty. If the Tigers are out of contention when the deadline rolls around again, Boyd and his one-year deal could perhaps finally net them the trade return they’ve failed to recoup in previous years, with Skubal or Mize perhaps ready to retake their positions by that time. Boyd’s salary brings the club’s commitments to $118MM, per Roster Resource. Last year’s Opening Day figure was $135MM, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the two sides were in agreement. Jon Heyman of The New York Post first reported the $10MM ballpark figure. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press first laid out the $10MM salary with performance bonuses. Heyman added that the bonuses can be worth $1MM.

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Detroit Tigers Newsstand Transactions Matt Boyd Matthew Boyd

Minor MLB Transactions: 12/14/22
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View Comments (188)

Comments

  1. Mystery13

    2 months ago

    I guess that’s one way to go

    Reply
    • All Rise99

      2 months ago

      Yes go back where you came from.

      Reply
      • rememberthecoop

        2 months ago

        Exactly what you’re hoping Judge does, eh All Risr?

        Reply
      • fre5hwind

        2 months ago

        A bad reunion??

        Reply
        • hardawg

          2 months ago

          Time will tell. Hefty price for a guy that didn’t pitch much last season.

        • YourDreamGM

          2 months ago

          I think it’s a smart gamble.

  2. myaccount2

    2 months ago

    Really enjoyed his couple of months in Seattle. He performed well and his enthusiasm for representing his hometown team was a pleasure to witness. Best of luck to Matt as he heads back to Detroit. Despite his limited amount of time as a Mariner, I’ll definitely remember it with fondness!

    Reply
    • A'sfaninUK

      2 months ago

      13 innings gets you 10 mill though?

      Reply
      • Stevil

        2 months ago

        Do you think a team would pay him 10m if they believed he would only throw 13 innings?

        Players are paid for their projections, not what they’ve done.

        Reply
        • A'sfaninUK

          2 months ago

          Right and he’s been very bad before those 13 innings of 1.35 ERA/3.17 FIP.

        • DakotaJoe

          2 months ago

          a better way to put it would be he hasn’t proven much in his career and is probably worth more like $6-7M even in today’s inflated market.

        • vtadave

          2 months ago

          3.89 ERA the year prior.

        • warnbeeb

          2 months ago

          Not Miguel Cabrera

        • warnbeeb

          2 months ago

          $10 million and the Tigers have no option. Wow. Good for Matt. I see him having a terrific year and getting a multi year deal from someone else in ’24.

        • Stevil

          2 months ago

          How do you think projections made?

        • BStrowman

          2 months ago

          Sure. But that’s pretty heavy for Boyd.

          I didn’t expect him to get 10MM guaranteed without the club getting an option on him next season.

          Players have done pretty well thus far this offseason

        • Stevil

          2 months ago

          We see this every year. Good starting pitchers who missed significant time, but appear to be healthy, often get deals just like this with non-contending clubs.

          If he looks like he did before the injury, or even close, they’ll probably flip him at tbe deadline.

        • A'sfaninUK

          2 months ago

          @BStrowman astute observation, there apparently IS a lot of money being thrown around.

          Judge will likely get $450M/12 from the Angels, replacing the Pujols spot.

        • jbigz12

          2 months ago

          Judge isn’t topping the highest contract in MLB by 85 million dollars. He’s too old.

          If he was 26–yeah maybe.

        • naldo482

          2 months ago

          Scott Boros doesn’t use the word option unless the word player is attached.

        • SportsFan0000

          2 months ago

          It is a mix of past performance and projected future performance.

      • not alkaline

        2 months ago

        Glad to see Matt coming back to Detroit.

        Reply
      • docmilo5

        2 months ago

        Perhaps some of the M’s influence in spin rates carry over back to his game in Detroit..

        Reply
      • myaccount2

        2 months ago

        I agree, it’s kind of crazy. Happy for him, but thought he’d be guaranteed half of that. Good for him despite being an overpay. I’m sure he’s expected to be a part of the rotation rather than bullpen, though.

        Reply
    • marinersblue96

      2 months ago

      I really wanted the M’s to sign him as a lefty out of the bullpen with the ability to go a few extended innings. But $10 million is a hefty price, guess he really wanted that shot at being a SP again.

      Reply
      • Stevil

        2 months ago

        I think it had more to do with getting an opportunity as a starter, which wasn’t likely going to happen with Seattle.

        If he rebounds well as a SP, he could get a much bigger deal next offseason.

        Reply
      • SportsFan0000

        2 months ago

        It is a “pillow contract”.
        If he performs at previous levels as a starter or better
        then he could be looking @ a very nice multi year deal with some ballclub
        looking for a crafty LHSP.
        Being a lefty starter who can throw strikes opens up many more opportunities.

        Reply
  3. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    2 months ago

    5 years/$100M, clearly.

    Reply
  4. King Floch

    2 months ago

    Aw, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other XD

    Reply
  5. For Love of the Game

    2 months ago

    Welcome back, Matthew! He is a great human being.

    Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      2 months ago

      I’ve heard that he is, however $10M seems like a lot for him, especially given his history.

      He’s always had such great potential though so I see why they’d want him back.

      Reply
      • SportsFan0000

        2 months ago

        If he hadn’t been injured, then he would be looking at a lot more than 10M.

        Many pitchers return in even better form after the surgery.

        Reply
    • Hello, Newman

      2 months ago

      Definitely! Glad to see him back!!!

      Reply
    • retired/advisory role

      2 months ago

      Great human being lol.

      Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      2 months ago

      How do you know that For Love? Not saying you’re wrong – I have no clue. Seriously wondering.

      Reply
      • vtadave

        2 months ago

        Well I don’t recall him being arrested, so that helps.

        Reply
      • Whonose

        2 months ago

        Well, he is a human being and I’m sure his mom thinks he’s great.

        Reply
        • LouWhitakerHOF

          2 months ago

          Matt Boyd and his wife did a lot of charity work while he was in Detroit. Great to have him back as a pitcher and the charity work he does for the community.

      • For Love of the Game

        2 months ago

        Coop, it is the charitable work the Boyds have done. You should see the pictures of Matthew and his wife hand=in-hand with African girls who wouldn’t have a chance if not for the homes and schools the Boyds have set up. It isn’t just money, it is personal commitment. Another picture showed this giant redhead with a closely trimmed beard – it was Spencer Turnbull. Man, those two could never win another game (and that could happen!) and they would be legends to me. They are great human beings. There’s your story.

        Reply
      • naldo482

        2 months ago

        look up Kingdom House charities, he and his wives have built at least two rescue facilities in Africa that are save houses for teens that are orphaned, abused or traded. He’s a compassionate human who saw a goal and sacrificed to make it happen.

        Reply
    • DoughBoyFresh

      2 months ago

      Too bad “great human being” isn’t a position on the field. That’s the only way this signing would make sense.

      Reply
      • Stevil

        2 months ago

        First, they needed a starter and he was effective when healthy.

        Second, there is value in having a positive clubhouse leader that can set examples and help set the tone for a young club.

        Last, it’s not like 10m is a crippling contract. He nay get flipped at the deadline for a prospect, which could also prove valuable.

        Seriously, it’s weird fans some see this as a bad deal. How could this possibly hurt Detroit!?

        Reply
        • DoughBoyFresh

          2 months ago

          Cause he hasn’t been good, he showed promise as a reliever and maybe that’s where he needs to be in order to provide value. The Tigers are going nowhere fast.

        • Tigers3232

          2 months ago

          If he is healthy regardless of performance he will b sought after at trade deadline. This is a good signing, a veteran who is a solid human being. With all their young arms this is an ideal veteran presence. Not to mention he should bring in a nice haul at deadline.

        • Stevil

          2 months ago

          Yes, he was good before the injury in 2021. Maybe you’re reading into the weird 2020 season too much. He gave them a ton of innings the two years prior, sometimes hung out to dry due to a weak bullpen. Not an ace, but a solid starter nonetheless.

          The Tigers aren’t a contender, but that’s why this makes sense. He may be used in a swing-role, or relief role if he gets flipped, but right now they believe he can offer a young team more than that.

        • stymeedone

          2 months ago

          @ doughboy
          He’s shown promise as a starter, as well. If his recovery is not far enough along, he can always replace Chafin in the pen. There may be value at the deadline since its a one year deal. The main thing he brings is his great personality, which has made him a Detroit favorite. There are so many Russels, Osunas, Chapmans and Bauers that have played in the majors that its wonderful when someone who is truly good and gives back, plays for your favorite team. (Though $10MM seems a bit of an overpay.)

      • JakeyV19

        2 months ago

        Or this signing gets flipped for a prospect in late July ….

        Reply
  6. hiflew

    2 months ago

    Just keep re-signing him until someone meets your trade price for him.

    Reply
    • dragonfan96

      2 months ago

      The new drew Hutchinson

      Reply
    • Hello, Newman

      2 months ago

      As oppose to trading him for less?

      Reply
      • hiflew

        2 months ago

        Yeah because non-tendering him and losing him for nothing was a much better plan than taking a smaller trade package.

        Reply
        • DoughBoyFresh

          2 months ago

          They can take a smaller trade package of two 17 year old kids who will never make it to AA

        • Hello, Newman

          2 months ago

          Is this speculation? What trade did they deny?

        • Hello, Newman

          2 months ago

          Don’t get me wrong I did not like the Al Avila era. But, I felt like all the trade speculation regarding the Detroit/Boyd non-trade, was literally rumors

        • stymeedone

          2 months ago

          @hi flew
          They non-tendered him when he was injured and couldn’t pitch. SFG and SEA paid $5MM for 13 innings. So Detroit saved that cost.

  7. SFBay314

    2 months ago

    Former Giants GM Scott Harris. Now head of baseball ops in Detroit. Scoot must really believe in him. No other offers for Matt?

    Reply
    • A'sfaninUK

      2 months ago

      13 innings of 3.19 FIP doesnt seem like anything to invest more than $3M in.

      Reply
    • CALgoldenBears

      2 months ago

      Scott Harris just happy to spending money frivolously instead of bargain bin shopping and churning.

      Reply
    • C Yards Jeff

      2 months ago

      Aiming for 24 not 23 to contend. Starters should be healthy again by then. Harris’s logic is that Matt is a stop gap/bridge to the back half of 23 in to 24. Why Matt? He knows him.

      If this is Harris’s strategy, boy oh boy, he could’ve signed innings eater FA Jordan Lyles for that kind of dough!

      Reply
      • BStrowman

        2 months ago

        I’d take Boyd over Lyles.

        Lyles will eat Innings but he has no upside. Boyd could be surprisingly good.

        He at least got used to analytics with SF last year. Scott must see something he thinks is fixable.

        Reply
    • SportsFan0000

      2 months ago

      Most likely Matthew Boyd had multiple offers and accepted the best one for his family and himself.
      He pitched a lot of years in Detroit so he has roots there, charitable activities, lots of friends etc. It is easier this way since if all goes according to plan,
      Boyd will be flipped to a pennant contender that needs another starter
      who can also pitch out of the pen.

      The Phillies come to mind.
      Matthew Boyd was traded to the Tigers with Daniel Norris and another pitcher
      for David Price. The Pres of Baseball Ops on that deal was Dave Dombrowski.
      I can see Dombrowski getting Boyd back for a another Phillies playoffs run.

      Reply
  8. a761506

    2 months ago

    I don’t understand this move. Why take on a guy who has been plagued with arm problems? And, when has he ever been even serviceable? Career 4.90 ERA. They could have done so much better than this dud.

    Reply
    • A'sfaninUK

      2 months ago

      I’m more concerned with the mere 13 innings that warranted this deal, than the overall performance. Clearly they are getting him to “hold the spot” for Mize, but they absolutely can and should have done better than this.

      Reply
    • seamaholic 2

      2 months ago

      Not everyone will sign with the Tigers, even if they offer the money.

      Reply
      • thickiedon

        2 months ago

        Chafin signed with them though. Detroit offers opportunity and seems willing to spend; however, this is an drastic overpay when there are a variety of healthy relievers with more upside that could be signed for half the price. This just inflates salaries unnecessarily

        Reply
      • stymeedone

        2 months ago

        If any team offers the money, players will sign with them.

        Reply
    • Waymann

      2 months ago

      I think this move is more of a “we hope our big signings/prospects from last year improve and/or heal up” move. Realistically, they only need Boyd to be fighting for their 4th/5th starter spot if E-Rod and Manning both come back strong. Also, it’s only one year so he can be flipped if the team is doing bad but he’s doing good.

      I can imagine for Tigers fans this might be underwhelming but as an outside observer it seems like a nice “solid if unspectacular” signing (for a prior Tiger, no less).

      Reply
    • tigerdoc616

      2 months ago

      Hardly plagued with arm problems. Very healthy and a workhorse in the rotation until needing flexor tendon surgery late in 2021. That takes some time to recover from which is why he was limited to 13 IP last year. He should be healthy and good to go this year and likely will be penciled into the Tigers rotation.

      Reply
      • a761506

        2 months ago

        If one has TJ or any other major elbow or tendon injuries, they are plagued by arm injuries for the foreseeable future.

        Reply
    • solaris602

      2 months ago

      Boy, $10M doesn’t get you much these days, does it?

      Reply
  9. vaderzim

    2 months ago

    Struggled in his lone Postseason appearance in the 18th inning, but hopefully his small regular season sample translates over… especially since Detroit is paying roughly $10 million.

    Also, is he back to going by Matt again?

    Reply
  10. ThonolansGhost

    2 months ago

    $10M for Mathew Boyd? Why?

    Reply
  11. Who else

    2 months ago

    Don’t mind seeing him back, But over 10 mill. Wow, Crazy money for a guy like that.

    Reply
  12. sfgiantsguy

    2 months ago

    The Giants pitching lab factory strikes again!

    Reply
    • stymeedone

      2 months ago

      Huh?

      Reply
  13. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    2 months ago

    If this is actually for $10M or more over one year that is absolutely nuts. Why? Is this like a loyalty/retirement salary?

    Reminds me of when the Yankees gave Phil Hughes $7.15M his final year of arbitration before free agency when he had not been earning salaries anywhere near that and hadn’t performed particularly well going into that year- and was projected to earn around a $5.25M deal and not $7.15M.

    Anyway- this feels like that OR incompetent use of the budget by the Tigers…. Seems like he might’ve been worth *maybe* $4.5M?

    You know how many pitchers have a run of 10 or 15 or 20 innings with a 1.35 ERA and don’t get a particularly lucrative deal the next year?

    This just makes no sense…. Matt Boyd has been overpaid most of his career. The dude is a lottery winner when it comes to his annual salaries…also he’s got an agent at the Boras Corporation (is it actually Boras himself?) so maybe they’re just working their magic.

    Reply
    • ThonolansGhost

      2 months ago

      I was thinking that he’s worth maybe 5M. But 10M seems kind of crazy.

      Reply
    • stymeedone

      2 months ago

      When the Dodgers signed Heaney last year for $8MM, that set a new signing level for any starting pitcher. Boyd was paid $5MM to recover from injury. He wasn’t taking less now that he’s healthy.

      Reply
  14. Skell 2

    2 months ago

    Between This, Miggy, and the Baez Contract, the Tigers sure are bad at spending money.

    Reply
    • TrillionaireTeamOperator

      2 months ago

      It makes me wonder if playing in Detroit or for Detroit sucks so much to players that the franchise knows it needs to vastly overpay anybody to come play for them or to stick around and give them an on paper team that they can tell fans is a competitive club worth getting a nice TV deal for, worth showing up to games for, etc. but players wouldn’t play there if it wasn’t for the excessive salaries.

      Reply
      • dkhits20

        2 months ago

        I don’t think this is the case with Boyd. He loved playing in Detroit and was sad to leave. I’m surprised it took $10MM to get him back.

        Reply
    • ThonolansGhost

      2 months ago

      I have a good feeling about Baez, I think he’s due for a big comeback in 2023.

      Reply
      • LABeachguy

        2 months ago

        Players always seem to somehow have a career and healthy year before they hit free agency or can opt out. Just like Aaron Judge dud, I sure hope Baez has a great year and decides to opt out and get back on the market after next season.

        Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      2 months ago

      Miggy’s $240 mill. and Baez’s $140 mill. suggest you are right. One guy for one year at $10 mill. won’t be the worst example! I’d suggest you consider the $110 mill. they paid for five years of Jordan Zimmermann. $4.4 mill. per win. That would value JV or Scherzer at $75 -$80 mill. a year!

      Reply
      • Dogs

        2 months ago

        JV cost the Astros $66,000,000 per win for years 2020 & 2021.

        Add in 2022 and JV cost the Astros $4,789,473.68 per win over 3 years.

        JV’s total cost per win with the Astros over 5 years was $2.67M

        Max Scherzer cost the Mets $3,939,393.91 per win in 2022.

        Wins are starting to cost quite a few $$$$$$$ per pitcher

        Reply
        • Dogs

          2 months ago

          I would be willing to bet by the end of 2023, Matthew costs less than $1,000,000 per win.

        • For Love of the Game

          2 months ago

          Dog, I’m talking over five years with no significant injury.

        • BStrowman

          2 months ago

          2020 was shortened. 12.2MM is all JV made that year. So numbers are skewed higher. Ditto Scherz

        • Dogs

          2 months ago

          I only did 2022 for Scherzer. And if you want to nick pick over the 2020 salary, the total is still astronomical.

        • ThonolansGhost

          2 months ago

          Boyd is unlikely to win 10 games next year, even if he’s healthy

      • stymeedone

        2 months ago

        I don’t remember you predicting Zimmerman’s injury. Would it be better to have paid JV $50MM plus to not play for two years? Where’s your critique of the Astros?

        Reply
        • For Love of the Game

          2 months ago

          Stymee, Zimmermann didn’t really have injury issues, just ineffectiveness. He missed a few games with that neck issue his first season, but then started 29, 28, and 25 games the next three seasons with ERAs of 6.08, 4.52, and 6.91. Those weren’t injury issues, but I guess that shouldn’t get in the way of your tirade.

    • Hello, Newman

      2 months ago

      Sure it is!
      When you don’t consider how much they have profited from these 3.

      Reply
  15. Mystery13

    2 months ago

    10 million for a guy who’s had 13 innings of sustained success at 31 years old. The relief market is crazy

    Reply
    • Hello, Newman

      2 months ago

      I imagine they are signing Boyd in hopes of a rotation spot.

      Reply
  16. JayHeck2158

    2 months ago

    Stunning move at an astonishing price! Hard to believe the Tigers couldn’t find a more established FA starter for this same, or lower, price

    Reply
  17. thecrocusesareinbloom

    2 months ago

    guess it’s cover for if skubal or mize isn’t quite ready for opening day? kinda hard to understand that big an outlay for a back-end innings-eater on a team loaded with talented young starters otherwise.

    Reply
    • SaintChris

      2 months ago

      Mize is expected to miss all of 2023 & Skubal has almost no chance of being ready on opening day.

      Reply
  18. DarkSide830

    2 months ago

    I see the inflation spike has affected the pitching market now.

    Reply
  19. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    2 months ago

    I need to be there IN PERSON.
    COMMUNICATION GAMES ARE A litigious offense.

    Reply
  20. Hello, Newman

    2 months ago

    Time to get Correa!
    Let’s go Tigers!!

    Reply
  21. MoparTigerfan

    2 months ago

    Does this mean we are again forced to watch those commercials over and over and over about Matt’s charity? My God. It was every 10 minutes on bally.
    This seems like a gross overpay and reeks of an Al Avila-type deal.
    Not impressed so far, Scott Harris… try harder bud

    Reply
    • LABeachguy

      2 months ago

      Oh poor you, the suffering you must have endured while watching commercials for a charity. How did you get through it.

      Well Ballys is on its last few legs currently, so enjoy the baseball while you can on basic cable, won’t be that way for much longer.

      Reply
  22. tigerdoc616

    2 months ago

    Will be nice to have him back.

    Reply
  23. getrealgone2

    2 months ago

    1o million?!

    Reply
  24. Harry074

    2 months ago

    Love it. He has always had good stuff and loves Detroit. He is a perfect rebound candidate without a long term contract.

    Reply
  25. Big Hurt

    2 months ago

    Remind me how bad the Clevinger deal was to many of you? Boyd has had similar arm issues, but is coming off a year of 13 innings and has never come close to the heights that Clevinger (who just had 114 good innings). Looks like they will be getting similar money, and I’d take Clevinger every day.

    Reply
  26. Badfinger

    2 months ago

    Why is everyone so concerned about the amount of money? It’s a one year deal. There are no bad one year deals.

    Reply
  27. SaintChris

    2 months ago

    In a bubble, I don’t mind the deal for the Tigers, but in a market where Clevinger gets $8m, I don’t see how paying Boyd $10m isn’t a massive overpay.

    Does it truly cost that much to lure a player to Detroit?

    Reply
    • Fifty

      2 months ago

      Heyman is saying Clevinger got $12 million, but it’s Heyman.

      Reply
      • SaintChris

        2 months ago

        You’re right: $12m

        Reply
  28. Datashark

    2 months ago

    Boyd’s time with Tigers was not that good, so he is leaving where he found success, oh well it must be the money and not Detroit.

    His agent should have steered him to a team who have success with pitchers .

    Reply
    • TrillionaireTeamOperator

      2 months ago

      This is a business first- they’re all in this to make money. Detroit offered an insanely high salary with lucrative bonuses- an amount of money he would not have received anywhere else, I imagine. This was a brilliant move on the part of Boyd’s representatives.

      They basically negotiated a winning lottery ticket for a massive jackpot compared to what he deserved to be paid. He got 2-4 years worth of his actual value in salaries over a single season.

      Reply
      • Whonose

        2 months ago

        A brilliant move can’t happen w/out a less than brilliant negotiator on the opposite side. Con artists are not brilliant; they have no need to be.

        Reply
      • Datashark

        2 months ago

        IF Boyd did well with a full season in a place that works great with pitchers, he could have put himself into a higher salary status for next season and beyond.

        His agent must not trust Boyd, so went for $$$ instead of showcasing him for more and longer term deals later.

        Reply
        • stymeedone

          2 months ago

          @ datashark
          Have you not looked at how well Detroit’s pitching performed last year?! They had 10 starting pitchers and 4 relievers on the IL last year. For a team that went 15 deep on their rotation, they were remarkable. Chris Fetters and his team did marvelous. You, sir, are misnamed, and not informed.

  29. BudgetBall

    2 months ago

    LHP’s are a precious commodity.

    Reply
  30. TrumboJumbo

    2 months ago

    1yr 1 million would have made a lot more sense.

    Reply
  31. DoughBoyFresh

    2 months ago

    Always figured this guy would do something, really just another Michael Fulmer.

    Reply
    • SportsFan0000

      2 months ago

      Fulmer is a great young pitcher who could be a closer when the time is right.

      Boyd is a great young pitcher just getting started.

      Reply
      • DoughBoyFresh

        2 months ago

        What? “Great” and “young” and “just getting started” are all not descriptions for Fulmer or Boyd lolol

        Reply
        • Hello, Newman

          2 months ago

          What’s up with your comments ?
          Do you just want some attention??

  32. pjsportsdude85

    2 months ago

    solid signing by Al Avila.

    Reply
    • SportsFan0000

      2 months ago

      ????

      Reply
  33. gotigers68

    2 months ago

    It’s a ho-hummer, but at least it’s a start.

    Reply
    • SaintChris

      2 months ago

      Hopefully he’s a tradable deadline asset.

      Reply
  34. rubenrosario

    2 months ago

    So u get Boyd for 11 million and let candy go for 5 million good job !!!

    Reply
    • LouWhitakerHOF

      2 months ago

      Candelaria was going to cost the Tigers $10m and they tried to negotiate a little less. He didn’t want to negotiate but then took a contract for less money. Sounds like he just wanted to play some place else.

      Reply
      • SportsFan0000

        2 months ago

        Candelario was a “change of scenery” type of player.
        He had a couple of good years, then his offense tanked and his defense regressed.
        The Tigers should have traded him at peak value a few years ago and kept Isaac Paredes to play 3B.

        Reply
      • MoTownTigers

        2 months ago

        No, he was slated to get 7m, way more than he’s worth and you have no idea what he was offered. I love how people just make things up, and act as if it’s a fact.

        Reply
      • stymeedone

        2 months ago

        Candy was projected to get $7MM in arbitration. Harris wanted to have him take a cut to $5MM. Bad move, arguing over $2MM because of one bad year. Good luck getting Candy’s 2021 production from 3B for less than what he could have been kept for.

        Reply
        • ThonolansGhost

          2 months ago

          But they wouldn’t have gotten Candelario’s 2021 production from Candelario, either. It shouldn’t be difficult to find someone to improve on his 2022 numbers. There’s not much among the free agents, but the Tigers can trade always trade for a third baseman.

  35. Ma4170

    2 months ago

    why these clubs will pay this kind of money for a player like this boggles my mind. Was someone else really driving up Boyd’s price? The cost of mediocre pitching is a bit haywire at this point.

    Reply
  36. Rsox

    2 months ago

    I don’t know why everyone is freaking out over the money for. $10 million seems steep but then look at Drew Smyly, Smyly got $11 million from the Braves after only throwing 26 innings with the Giants in 2020 and even got $9 million in the two years he missed recovering from injuries (2017-2018). Front line starters are getting paid what everyday players are getting now and backend starters are getting what front line starters used to get.

    Reply
    • Ma4170

      2 months ago

      My mind is having trouble adapting lol

      Reply
  37. Steve Lawrence

    2 months ago

    Montero just signed 3 yr – 34.5 mil after one good year. The market is changing

    Reply
  38. For Love of the Game

    2 months ago

    Interesting that few people criticized the Giants for paying Boyd $5,2 mill. knowing that he would miss at least half of 2022 but now the same people criticize the Tigers for paying $10 mill. for a healthy Boyd. Even more ironic – it could have been the same guy making the decision at both clubs, Scott Harris!

    Reply
    • TrillionaireTeamOperator

      2 months ago

      I’m absolutely baffled by virtually all of his salaries in the seven figure amount. He seems like a $1M-$4M pitcher and yet he gets $5-$10M. The guy has one miracle maker of an agent.

      Reply
  39. Tomas80

    2 months ago

    I’m fine with this. Not making any judgments on Harris’ moves until we see the results.

    Reply
  40. mils100

    2 months ago

    Dont like this deal at all. Dont think Boyd has much upside and way too high of a chance he is hurt. If they need innings, just get a Jordan Lyles. If they want a no risk upside, a Wade Miley type has more upside at a lower cost, esp. for a team that does have budget limitations and needs at least 3 bats.

    Reply
  41. SportsFan0000

    2 months ago

    Matthew Boyd and his wife started their Kingdom Home Foundation.
    It saves children from sexual exploitation in Uganda
    and gives them all kinds of resources and protections
    to give them a normal life.
    https://www.kingdomhome.org/who-we-are

    Great, high character couple that “pays it forward”…

    Reply
  42. SportsFan0000

    2 months ago

    Great “buy low” signing by the Tigers.
    Boyd carried the Tigers rotation during its very lean rebuilding years.
    Some of his pitching stats were inflated by bad defense behind him on a rebuilding ballclub.
    When healthy, Matthew Boyd is a known, established producer in Detroit who is also a great clubhouse presence,
    He has great leadership qualities’
    and makes the other young pitchers on Detroit’s staff that much better.
    Boyd will make a great pitching coach some day when he is done playing.

    Boyd had a few years where his strikeouts as a starter rivaled those of Verlander and Scherzer ( top 10 lists).
    When healthy, Boyd’s stuff is “top drawer”.
    Boyd’s ERA was higher that his stuff and his effectiveness against many teams.

    Scott Harris has “cleaned house in Detroit.
    With improved/better coaching, better defense, better strengh and conditioning coaches, better trainers etc…
    I expect Boyd, when fully healthy, to take some big steps forward in 2023.

    Playoff competitive teams will be calling Scott Harris between the All Star break and the trade deadline to make offers on Boyd.
    Scott Harris and the Tigers will, very likely get a very good return on Boyd
    at the Trade deadline if Boyd is healthy and producing, again.

    I have much more confidence in Matthew Boyd producing than I have in
    the other washed up starters that Al Avila signed on 1 year pillow contracts
    over the last 3-4 years.

    Reply
  43. NastyBob

    2 months ago

    Are these the type of additions the Tigers new front office are going to be making?!
    I am underwhelmed.

    Reply
    • SportsFan0000

      2 months ago

      That is what many Giants fans said when Harris signed a bunch of “bounce back” candidates and their team, surprisingly, won 107 games that year.

      Not saying the Tigers will win that many games.
      But, Harris has a proven track record of acquiring players whose performance
      improves markedly under his Front Office management.

      Reply
      • gotigers68

        2 months ago

        All of us Tigers fans are gonna hold you to that ! 🙂

        Reply
      • stymeedone

        2 months ago

        When was Harris ever the decision maker in SF? I thought Detroit was his first where he was the Top guy.

        Reply
        • SportsFan0000

          2 months ago

          Harris was the GM in SF who put together a lot of those deals with Pres of Baseball Ops Farham Zaidi (formerly with the Dodgers).

    • For Love of the Game

      2 months ago

      These are the kind of deals Harris made in SF. Let’s see if they pay off before judging his handiwork! That being said, $10 mill. seems quite high, but could be reasonable if he produced 150+ innings of 4.00-4.50 ERA. Big ifs there. Drew Smyly gets these kinds of offers. Maybe its the new normal in the game or maybe Harris got played. Time will tell.

      Reply
  44. Jubilation

    2 months ago

    Boyd when healthy is a mid rotation level starter. He will eat up innings right around league average. He has shown that he can be a Frontline starter for extended periods.

    If you get 175 innings at league average that is pretty valuable.

    Rodriguez is the only locked in Tigers starter that didn’t deal with an arm issue last year.

    Mize is out for the year. Skubal maybe the AS break. Manning is fine but had a forearm strain to end the season.

    Turnbull will be around 18 months from TJ surgery when ST hits. Shouldn’t be an innings restrictions but what will be the quality of those innings?

    Right now their rotation looks like….

    Erod
    Manning
    Turnbull
    Boyd

    Then you a choice between Brieske/G Hill/prospect R Olsen/prospect Wilmer Flores/Joey Wentz

    That is a lot of meh to me. Best case Boyd catches fire and he brings a blue chip prospect back in return.

    Reply
    • SportsFan0000

      2 months ago

      Joey Wentz is close to a lock for one of the Tigers rotation spots in 2023.

      LHSP Joey Wentz, the guy the Tigers got in the Green deal with Atlanta,
      is fully healed from Tommy John surgery.
      He had a nice year in the minors last year.
      In the Arizona Fall league
      while facing the best young prospects in MLB.
      Wentz AFL ERA was 0.00.

      Reply
  45. ohyeadam

    2 months ago

    This years version of last years Heaney deal. Lefty, can maybe start, has known potential and signs a one year deal for more than anyone believed he’d earned early in the offseason driving up the rates for everyone else

    Reply
  46. crazybaseballgal

    2 months ago

    Good luck Mr Boyd!

    Reply
  47. GarryHarris

    2 months ago

    I think I predicted Matthew Boyce would be a Giant.

    Reply
  48. MoTownTigers

    2 months ago

    How is this “buying low” at 10m?

    Carrying a bad rotation means nothing.

    His bad stats were not inflated; he gave up a lot of home runs which has nothing to do with defense.

    How has the defense improved? Harris hasn’t signed anyone.

    His strikeouts are meaningless because he would always lapse and give up home runs at bad times. He is what what the back of his baseball card says – a well below 500 pitcher with an era approaching 5. Stuff is meaningless if you don’t know how to pitch or can’t concentrate for a whole game.

    How do you know he’ll have a great season and that the Tigers will get a great piece for him?

    Your comments make ZERO sense.

    Reply
  49. TroyVan

    2 months ago

    Let the Matthew Boyd Trade Deadline rumors begin!

    Reply
  50. MoTownTigers

    2 months ago

    This is an absolutely awful signing. There’s no way Boyd is worth anywhere near that. For all you saying they are glad to have him back: you don’t win championships with good guys. We are trying to build a competitive club, not a church choir. You are probably the same people who are glad that Miggy is on the team too. Good feelings don’t make for a good club, good organizations make cold, calculated moves, based on data, not “liking” someone.
    To those of you who say the amount doesn’t matter: it does, the Tigers are a middle market team who have a limited budget. That 10m means a potentially good player that you could’ve had, you now can’t.
    I find it extremely hard to believe that Boyd was in high demand. A guy like this very likely could’ve been picked up out of the bargain bin in late February for 2m or so. Admittedly, no one knows what the market will be then, but I’m pretty sure you could’ve waited and let his price drop, or pick up someone else much cheaper.

    Reply
    • Dogs

      2 months ago

      Between 2005 & 2017 (13 years strait) the Tigers had Attendance of over 2,000,000 every year plus passed the 3,000,000 mark 4 times. If they have good teams the fans will show up. They can be among the top of Baseball Markets.

      Reply
  51. Fink Ployed

    2 months ago

    Everybody knows that Boyd is the woyd.

    Reply
  52. Airo13

    2 months ago

    Fire Scott Harris

    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      2 months ago

      Best (tongue in cheek) comment of the day. Let the hating begin!

      Reply
  53. stroh

    2 months ago

    $10M for 13 innings of good pitching? Wow, either the Tigers really loved him when he was there before or it takes that kind of money to attract a middling pitcher at best to sign with them. I can’t help but believe it is a massive overpay.

    Reply
    • stymeedone

      2 months ago

      SFG and SEA paid for that 13 innings, not Detroit.

      Reply
  54. warnbeeb

    2 months ago

    Now all the Tigers need to do is resign Daniel Norris (where’s Jairo Labourt?) and they will reunite their haul for David Price from 2015.
    The more things change, the more they stay the same.

    Reply
  55. BSHH

    2 months ago

    Actually, I didn’t want the Tigers to sign a starter, because this would take innings away from hopefuls like Wentz, Brieske or Faedo. But Boyd is a good fit as a pitcher – he thrives with shortened starts and could be piggybacked with a swingman like G. Hill. If others are better, he could become a LHP reliever; the Tigers could use one after Chafin opted out.

    Of course, Boyd is a better fit as a person. The Tigers may prolong their streak of non-competive seasons next year, but I think it is good to have another feel-good story besides Cabrera’s farewell.

    A $ 10m guarantee certainly seems a bit steep, particularly in comparison to Clevinger’s contract. But Detroit has no problems with the CBT and will certainly benefit from bringing a player back who is very popular among their fans (including me).

    But just for the sake of argument, let’s say this is an overpay of approximately $ 5m. If these $ 5m spent for Boyd next year prevent the Tigers from signing Judge, I will join the others around here bitching and moaning. But if not, where’s the problem?

    Gruß,
    BSHH

    Reply
    • stymeedone

      2 months ago

      Clevinger signed for more than Boyd.

      Reply
      • BSHH

        2 months ago

        You are right, my bad! And Eflin just signed for much more.

        Gruß,
        BSHH

        Reply
  56. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    2 months ago

    I have a question about Boyd and players like him- they promote their charitable causes and foundations like Dan Aykroyd promotes Crystal Head Vodka.

    So when some of these guys make these deals, is part of the pitch that “the team pays me $10M, I pay the IRS and my agent $5M, I give $4M to my charitable causes and I only keep $1M for myself, so I really need to be paid $10M in order to fund by charitable efforts and any other income from this deal is purely functional to keep a roof over my head and keep the lights on.” Or something like that?

    Some of these insures imply or say stuff to the effect that they push for large or larger sans ties due to their charitable commitments… and I wonder…

    Reply
    • Justajaysfan

      2 months ago

      What??

      Reply
  57. MPrck

    2 months ago

    Al Avila 2.0 ? Why’d they get rid of Al, he could have done this stuff. Oh well, Detroit used his arm to injury, so this is probably a make up to him. Still Hitting Harold was dropped, and he had the second most hits last season, so sure 10 million here seems like a lot. It’s going to be another strange year no doubt.

    Reply
    • BSHH

      2 months ago

      It must have all been in the distant past, so I will have to ask: Wasn’t Al Avila the GM who did not (re-)sign Boyd for a lower amount of money last year? If so, how can this be “Al Avila 2.0”?

      Gruß,
      BSHH

      Reply
    • Nuitari

      2 months ago

      Harold Castro brought very little to the table other than an empty AVG. Didn’t walk,no power, average at best base running and was below average defensively at every position. He only seemed decent because the team has been awful for quite a while now. I drives me a little nuts, but the rebuild has been an almost total failure. Time for another reboot imo.

      Reply
  58. Colavito

    2 months ago

    So Harris overpaid by about $6M for a guy who will be on the DL by July. That’s Boyd’s MO….he pitches heavy innings, losing as many as he wins, and walks off the mound, into the tunnel and home. If it’s not a myriad of injuries, his wife will have a kid sometime in August or September and he goes on paternity leave. Harris overpaid him in SanFran and doubled down on his mistake here. I’d think Chris Ilitch is about to quote Casey Stengel: “Can anybody here play this game?” Wonder Boy has gutted the 40 man, signed a host of cast-offs to replace them, and now overpays a grifter that he doesn’t need in the rotation.

    Reply
    • ThonolansGhost

      2 months ago

      A year from now, you’ll be claiming that you knew all along that Harris would be successful in Detroit.

      Reply
      • Colavito

        2 months ago

        If your comment is directed to me, I have my doubts Harris will be in Detroit a year from now and pretty sure Hinch won’t be. I see no alternative at this point to Chris Ilitch finally selling the team to somebody who knows MLB and wants to compete. He’s delegated authority since he took over and this move tells me he has little to no idea how to hire or own a franchise.

        Reply
        • Tomas80

          2 months ago

          “I have my doubts Harris will be in Detroit a year from now”

          You can’t be serious, or maybe you are and you have ” little to no idea how to hire or own a franchise.”

        • Colavito

          2 months ago

          I’ve been a Tigers’ fan since ’59 and probably have seen enough out of this organization to never watch another game. When you get a few years on your resume you can question me…until then, take a hike sonny.

        • Tomas80

          2 months ago

          The game has changed, grandpa. Let’s revisit this in a year.

  59. JayRyder

    2 months ago

    Bullpen Piece. Might be an awesome closer. Or a Stretch Reliever. 3 innings here and there. Maybe 2, 2 plus – Hader Type

    Reply
    • Colavito

      2 months ago

      Not for $10M…you’re talking $3-4M for a stretch and he doesn’t throw nearly hard enough to close.

      Reply
    • GarryHarris

      2 months ago

      Boyd’s command isn’t CL worthy.

      Reply
  60. GarryHarris

    2 months ago

    I need a new hobby

    Reply
  61. Hard to walk with four balls

    2 months ago

    There are analytics which support that batters will have a higher AVG now that the shift is banned; i wonder if those same analytics could support a pitcher in a favorable way.

    Reply
    • Colavito

      2 months ago

      Good point…Thankfully, there will be more hitting with the shift ban and I don’t see how that bodes well for a pitcher like Boyd. Now we’ll see the return of “keeping the ball down” to induce ground balls like it’s always been before the knucklehead stats types took over the game. Boyd often doesn’t finish his pitches, gets the ball up and out into the seats. Which is another question…..will the Tigers finally bring in the fences in LC and RC fields?…that’s the rumor.

      Reply
  62. AAATIGERS2020

    2 months ago

    Boyd is a boring signing, however if its followed by a signing for Verlander and a trade for Scherzer, I’ll be a little more intrigued.

    Reply
    • Hard to walk with four balls

      2 months ago

      no thanks to either of them

      Reply
  63. ThonolansGhost

    2 months ago

    To be clear, I think Boyd is a good fit for the Tigers. I just didn’t realize that he would cost that much. If that’s the current price for a guy like him, then so be it.

    Reply
  64. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    2 months ago

    Winter meetings underway, they never came and got me. Not hiring the Superfife today.
    So sad.
    Too bad.

    There’s that funny smell. Nothing ever changes in Denmark, I suppose…..

    Reply
  65. the guru

    2 months ago

    This is a great sign.

    Reply

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