Jonathan Schoop looked out at Comerica Park.
He leaned against the backstop behind home plate, ready to play a July 22 game for the Detroit Tigers, the most recent of four teams in his nine-year career. He ended up talking plenty about his future ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.
Once traded from the team that signed him, the 29-year-old explained his desire to stay with the Tigers. He wanted to be in Detroit because of Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy, Matt Wieters and even Tiger-killer Nelson Cruz. Already established, they helped Schoop when he broke into the big leagues with the Baltimore Orioles.
“I want to be part of that, too,” Schoop said, “so I can see some guys grow up.”
Finally, he is set to return the favor.
Schoop and the Tigers officially agreed to a two-year contract extension before Saturday’s game in Cleveland. He was around for the 2020 and 2021 seasons on separate one-year deals, but now he can stay through 2023, earning $7.5 million per year with an opt-out after the 2022 season.
“Like I told you guys already, I feel really good here,” Schoop said Saturday. “I want to stay here. … This is one of the best days of my life. I don’t show it because I’m not an emotional guy, but inside, I’m really happy.”
BEFORE IT HAPPENED: Are Jonathan Schoop, Tigers headed for an extension? He discusses his future
HINCH SAYS THANKS: Why Tigers manager AJ Hinch appreciates Jonathan Schoop’s response about future
For $15 million over two years, Schoop will be asked to replicate the efforts of his old teammates in Baltimore. Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and other prospects are coming soon. They’ll need guidance. Schoop has been commended for his leadership and is posting his best on-field results since his All-Star season in 2017, so it’s no surprise the Tigers want to see more.
Schoop is hitting .289 this season with 18 home runs, 64 RBIs, 27 walks and 93 strikeouts in 107 games. He is tied for the American League lead with 38 multi-hit games, and his 89 hits are most in the majors since May 22. Since May 8, Schoop has a .325 batting average with 16 home runs, 56 RBIs in 77 games.
And since May 8, the Tigers are 44-35.
“I got to thank (manager) AJ (Hinch) for the chance,” Schoop said. “He stuck with me in April. It was a rough April. I have no words to thank him for believing in me and rolling me out there and letting me be myself. I’m very happy. I wish I could show it, but I’m not an emotional guy.”
Penciled in as the everyday first baseman, Schoop is actually a second baseman. He should return soon to his old position soon, assuming Torkelson arrives in 2022. But Schoop doesn’t really care about his spot on the field. He just wants to win.
First base wasn’t even on his resume until this year.
When Schoop re-signed in February 2020 on a one-year, $4.5 million deal, the words “defensive versatility” were used in his statement in the press release: “I’m excited to play for AJ. He and I have already had great conversations about allowing me to showcase my defensive versatility a bit more this year.”
Most were thinking third base and a little bit of shortstop. Hinch couldn’t hint at first base early on, considering Renato Nunez was vying for a spot. But all along, the Tigers were well prepared to start Schoop at first base for most games in 2021.
[ Detroit Tigers, Jonathan Schoop agree to two-year contract extension ]
Knowing Schoop could play first base, second base, shortstop and third base gives Hinch options. It seems like Schoop will eventually be the everyday second baseman — possibly paired with a top-tier shortstop from the free-agent market — but his jack-of-all-trades background offers flexibility.
“It took a while,” said general manager Al Avila, who worked with Schoop’s agent, Scott Boras, to reach an agreement. “We’ve been talking back and forth for several weeks. I always felt we were going to get this done. Jonathan has really put forth his own effort to make sure he stays here. It was important for us. He’s been a really important reason why we’re turning this around.”
Extending Schoop also means the Tigers are uncertain about Willi Castro and Isaac Paredes. The up-and-comers entered the year with a chance to solidify themselves as infielders of the future, but they’ve struggled. Castro isn’t reliable at shortstop or second base, and his bat in a season-long slump. Paredes, meanwhile, isn’t showing enough power and has spent most of his time in Triple-A Toledo.
Both can play numerous positions, so they could still fit in if they eventually produce offensively. Paredes has experience at third base, shortstop and second base. The old coaching staff nearly gave Castro an opportunity in the outfield, so maybe Hinch is interested in the same.
Whatever happens defensively, Schoop won’t mind if he is winning.
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Schoop talks a lot about winning, even more about the playoffs. He last discussed the postseason after a July 30 loss. He also expects to play in the World Series, which is a key reason why the Tigers offered him a contract extension.
In February 2020, Schoop said: “If I come here, we gotta go to the playoffs.” He had just signed a one-year, $6.1 million contract for the first of two seasons with the Tigers. Last year, he hit .278 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs over 44 games.
Free agency wasn’t kind to him. Neither was this year’s trade deadline.
“It was in the works (at the trade deadline),” Avila said. “While there were maybe some inquires on him during the trade deadline, at the end of the day, we felt this was going to happen. We worked towards it. Jonathan worked towards it. He expressed the desire to stay and be part of this.”
But Schoop didn’t worry about the trade deadline. After all, he never said he wanted to be traded to a team destined for the playoffs. Back in July, when Schoop reclined on the backstop at Comerica Park, he had something else in mind.
“Imagine next year,” Schoop said.
He was talking about the Tigers, because he always wanted to stay.
“He’s easy to write in the lineup every day,” Hinch said. “You can rely on him. More importantly, he’s a great influence. When your better players want to be a part of what you’re doing and want to stay here, it’s really easy for a manager to fall in love with the guy.
“There’s a consistency to him in what he brings every day. He makes me smile. He makes me laugh. I push him, and he responds by asking for more and wanting to do more. We’re building off of this. … We got better today for next year and the years beyond that by committing to him and him committing to us. As a manager, I love that consistency.”
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.