Rob Parker: Tigers swing, miss on confusing Justin Upton deal

The Detroit Tigers' deal with Justin Upton wasn't just shocking, but confusing, too.

For sure, the Tigers needed another power bat to help their offense. But many were surprised when news leaked Monday night that the Tigers had agreed to a six-year, $132.75 million deal with Upton.

It's the second $100-million deal with a free agent this offseason. They also signed free-agent starter Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million deal -- and signed starter Mike Pelfrey to a two-year, $16 million deal.

This is the confusing part. The Tigers -- who finished in last place in the AL Central -- looked as if they were in cost-cutting mode last season. They were saving money as they sunk in the standings.

Hence, it seemed farfetched that they would be throwing cash around this winter. No one could have expected an increased payroll.

After all, they let Max Scherzer bolt for free agency last winter after a low-ball offer. They had David Price for a whole year and never offered him a contract. In last place and going nowhere, they dealt Price at the trade deadline. And they did the same thing to left fielder Yoenis Cespedes, who was having an All-Star season.

If the Tigers had all this money to spend, why didn't they try to sign Scherzer, Price or Cespedes? All three are better than Upton and Zimmermann.

That's the part that simply doesn't make any sense.

Plus, you can argue that the 2016 Tigers, at least on paper, aren't any better than the team that took the field to start the 2015 campaign.

Anyone who thinks this team is a World Series contender is counting on all the ifs on this roster to work out. And that rarely ever happens.


Many thought the same thing a year ago and the team fell on its face. The World Series champion Kansas City Royals are still better than the Tigers. Detroit hasn't won a thing with these signings.

Maybe you can say the Tigers' bullpen is improved from a year ago. But the rotation isn't as good. And the lineup isn't as good, either. Cespedes is better than Upton.

And yes, Upton will be better than an outfield platoon of Cameron Maybin and Tyler Collins.

Last season with the San Diego Padres, Upton was an All-Star. He batted .251 with 26 homers and 81 RBI. Good, not great numbers.

According to ESPN.com, Upton is coming off one of his weakest offensive seasons in his career.

His .251 batting average was his worst since 2008 and his .336 on-base percentage was his worst since 2007. Against lefties, Upton hit .191 with three homers. 

Nonetheless, Upton, 28, got paid. He's now the third-highest paid position player in this winter's free agency.

Jason Heyward got $184 million from the Chicago Cubs and Chris Davis got $161 million from the Baltimore Orioles.

The Tigers are the only team to sign two $100-million players this offseason and just the second franchise ever to do it, joining the New York Yankees.

We've seen this act before from owner Mike Ilitch, spending big time cash to win. In Jan. 2012, Ilitch shocked MLB America with an eye-popping $214-million pact with Prince Fielder. That worked for two years before the team soured on Fielder and sent him packing to Texas.

We get it. Ilitch, 86, wants to win a World Series. That's no crime. But his team's payroll will be over $200 million. The team will have to pay a luxury tax for going over the $189 million limit.

Now, the Tigers' payroll is $184 million with just 16 players on the books. That number doesn't even include J.D. Martinez, who will get a huge raise in arbitration and command anywhere from $10-13 million for next season after his All-Star season in 2015.

As a fan, it's hard to get mad at Ilitch. Many owners don't try to put the best team on the field and would rather pocket all that cash. Not Ilitch.

You heard Ilitch at the Zimmermann presser. He said winning a World Series is all he thinks about.

"It's something that I really want," Ilitch said then. "I want it bad."

Apparently, even if it means overspending - again.