Jose Iglesias has avoided arbitration with the Detroit Tigers by signing a one-year, $2.1 million contact, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. It was the second year of arbitration eligibility for Iglesias.
The 26-year-old was injured while attempting a bunt on September 3, which forced him to miss the rest of the regular season. It was a non-displaced fracture in the shortstops right-middle finger.
As a native of Cuba signed by the Boston Red Sox as a free agent in 2009, Iglesias hit .300/.347/.370 with 125 hits, 17 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 23 RBI across a career-high 120 games played in 2015. The right-handed hitter also made his first career All-Star game appearance.
He picked up his major league debut against the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 2011 and went on to hit .333 with two hits in 10 games that year. Across four seasons in the big leagues, Iglesias has played in 264 games, which he has hit .287 with six home runs, 54 RBI and 122 stolen bases. Of those bases stolen, Iglesias took 44 in the latest season with Detroit.
The Tigers have now added three arbitration eligible players in infielder Andrew Romine, left-handed reliever Justin Wilson and Iglesias, but are still to sign a 2016 contract to J.D. Martinez, who might be more of a complicated story.
Martinez requested $8 million, but was offered just $6 million by the Tigers when arbitration amounts were exchanged on Friday, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The team will probably settle on about $7.8 million to meet the needs of the 28-year-old. According to Chris Iott of MLive, the general manager of the Tigers, Al Avila, and Martinez spoke about a long-term deal back in October. Those talks, however, have yet to spark again.