Tigers get $120 million projection for Max Clark after impressive MLB debut

The Detroit Tigers are competing for a postseason spot this year and might even make it there after trading away Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize.

While the postseason would be nice, one of the main takeaways from this season is Kevin McGonigle being a superstar right away, and now Max Clark impressing after his MLB debut.

After Clark's successful foray into MLB, should they extend him? Tim Britton of The Athletic revealed a projection for Clark if he were to sign a new deal, and it's an expensive $120 million deal over eight seasons.

Max Clark receives $120M contract projection

"Given Clark's status as a third overall pick and a top-10 prospect coming into the season, he should be valued near that," Britton writes. "So I'd look around that eight-year, $110 million to $120 million range for him."

Konnor Griffin and Corbin Carroll received similar extensions early in their careers, and the Tigers could elect to do the same with Clark to lock him and McGonigle up for the foreseeable future.

Carroll earned $111 million from the Arizona Diamondbacks over eight years, while Griffin signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $140 million over nine years.

Clark's contract extension, if the Tigers elect to sign him long-term sooner rather than later, would likely be somewhere between those two players and their $111 and $140 million deals.

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Having such young, high-impact players signed to long-term deals is very appealing. Clark, who in 17 games has posted 0.4 bWAR with incredible defense out in center field and a decent .704 OPS, would be someone worth signing long-term.

There is obviously a lot of risk in signing a young player like Clark to a long-term deal, but as seen with McGonigle, the decision could turn into a fruitful one if the player can play at a very high level.

Signing Clark to a long-term deal and locking up the 21-year-old a few seasons beyond his last year of arbitration would make a lot of sense.

It will come very expensive, and there is a lot of risk, but if the Tigers believe Clark can be a mainstay of the franchise in the outfield, and a core player for the next decade or so alongside McGonigle, a big contract like Britton projects wouldn't be a bad idea.

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