Curtis Granderson Agrees to 5-year Contract With Detroit Tigers
Feb 4, 3:29 PM (ET)
By LARRY LAGE

DETROIT (AP) -Outfielder Curtis Granderson and the Detroit Tigers agreed Monday to a five-year contract that includes a club option for 2013.

"It's a great deal for him and the Tigers," manager Jim Leyland told The Associated Press. "He's the kind of player we want, not only in terms of ability but as a quality person. He's as good as it gets on and off the field."

Granderson had a breakout season last year, hitting .302 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs along with 38 doubles, 23 triples and 26 stolen bases. He led the majors in triples with the highest total since Ty Cobb had one more in 1917.

He joined Willie Mays and Frank "Wildfire" Schulte as the only players in major league history with 20 steals, 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles. Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins became a part of the 20-20-20-20 club later in the season

Schulte was the first to accomplish the feat in 1911 while playing for the Chicago Cubs, and Mays did it in 1957 with the New York Giants.

Granderson, who earned two degrees at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has represented Major League Baseball as an ambassador during the past two offseasons in Europe and Africa. The Chicago-area native turns 27 on March 16.

"We are excited to have Curtis signed to a long-term contract with the Tigers organization," Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said. "Curtis is one of the best young players in the game and a quality individual that represents the Tigers well both on and off the field."

In 373 games with the Tigers, he is hitting .280 with 50 homers, 162 RBIs, 232 runs, 76 doubles and 36 triples.