Jose Iglesias and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year, $1.65 million contract, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Iglesias, who is under team control through the 2018 season, isn’t arbitration eligible until after the 2015 season, but his salary for the 2014 season needed to be determined. The shortstop just completed a four-year, $8.25 million contract that he signed with the Red Sox in September 2009.
Iglesias, who turned 24 over the weekend, is entering his first full season with Detroit. The slick-fielding infielder was traded by the Red Sox to the Tigers in July as part of the deal that sent Jake Peavy to Boston. The Tigers sent outfielder Avisail Garcia to the White Sox in the trade.
Iglesias finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013, although most of his production came early in the season with Boston. The Cuba native hit .330 with a .376 on-base percentage in 63 games with the Red Sox before hitting .259 with a .306 on-base percentage in 46 games with the Tigers. He finished the year with a .303 average and .349 on-base percentage, although defense will always be Iglesias’ bread and butter.
The Tigers will need to negotiate a deal with Iglesias again next offseason, and it’s likely that he’ll earn a similar salary.
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