Detroit, MI (Sportsbooks) - The
Detroit Tigers have locked up center fielder Curtis Granderson, signing him to a five-year deal, with a club option for the 2013 season.
Per club policy, financial terms of the contract were not disclosed, though multiple reports suggest the total package to be worth more than $30 million. That's a substantial raise for Granderson, who earned $410,000 last year.
Granderson is coming off a 2007 campaign in which he hit .302 with 122 runs scored. He also had 38 doubles, a league-leading 23 triples and 23 home runs, while knocking in 74 runs. Granderson also stole 26 bases and earned his first All-Star selection in his fourth major league season.
"We are excited to have Curtis signed to a long-term contract with the Tigers organization," said president and general manager David Dombrowski. "Curtis is one of the best young players in the game and a quality individual that represents the Tigers well both on and off the field."
Granderson, 26, became just the second player in league history to record at least 30 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season, joining Wildfire Schulte, who did it while playing with the Chicago Cubs in 1911. Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins also duplicated the feat in '07.
In 373 games over his major league career, Granderson is batting .280 with 232 runs scored, 76 doubles, 36 triples, 50 home runs and 162 RBI. Prior to the deal, he was not scheduled to enter free agency until after the 2011 season.
