DETROIT >> Christmas has come early for seven Tigers’ players, courtesy of Major League Baseball’s $50 million pre-arbitration bonus pool.
Written into the most recent collective bargaining agreement, high-performing players who are not yet eligible for salary arbitration (players with less than three years of service time) can earn a slice of this pie by winning or being a runner-up or finalist for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year or being named first or second team All-MLB.
Others, like all seven of the Tigers’ bonus winners, earn the money based on a system of WAR.
Here are the Tigers’ bonus money earners (2024 base salary in parentheses):
• Riley Greene ($766,300) — $517, 846
• Matt Vierling ($766,000) — $327, 719
• Tyler Holton ($758,300) — $322,695
• Kerry Carpenter ($761,000) — $310,609
• Parker Meadows ($746,900) — $276,802
• Reese Olson ($752,300) — $261,138
• *Colt Keith ($2.83 million) —$242,569
* — Players who sign extensions, like Keith did before last season, are eligible for the bonus pool.