The Detroit Tigers had a $3.1 million club option for Casey Mize’s 2025 season built into his previous contract — a carryover from his pre-arbitration deal structured to cover his post-Tommy John return year. Declining that option was a signal that Detroit wanted to re-set his value through arbitration instead of committing early.
The Tigers likely believed Mize hadn’t yet proven durable or consistent enough in 2024 to justify locking in that $3.1 million figure, and that they could re-negotiate for less. However, it turned into a classic example of how trying to “save” a little money in the short term can cost much more in the long run.