Dillon Dingler

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Dillon Dingler's one-year, $0.8M deal with the Tigers earns an A CVI grade, representing exceptional value for a franchise carefully managing its competitive timeline. At just above league minimum, Detroit is securing an above-average starting catcher — a notoriously scarce commodity — while maintaining maximum financial flexibility as their young core develops. Dingler's defensive prowess behind the plate, combined with his improved offensive contributions, makes him a legitimate MLB starter at a fraction of what comparable catchers command on the open market. The Tigers are smartly avoiding the multi-year commitments that have burned other rebuilding teams, instead locking up a quality player who can both contribute immediately and potentially be flipped at the deadline if their rebuild extends longer than expected. Given that even replacement-level catchers often earn $2-3M annually, and established starters typically command $8-12M AAV, this deal represents the kind of shrewd roster building that allows Detroit to allocate resources elsewhere while addressing a critical positional need. For a franchise still 1-2 years away from serious contention, securing above-average production at catcher for essentially peanuts is exactly the type of move that maximizes both present value and future flexibility.

Fan & Media Sentiment