I've been looking into a McGonigle extension and how the Tigers could do it without going over the luxury tax threshold in 2026. I swear that you used to be able to sign a future-year extension without affecting the current-year CBT salary but if that once existed, it seems they've closed that loophole. As near as I can tell, any extension McGonigle signs will push the Tigers over the CBT threshold, which would have significant ramifications: 1. They'd lose the competitive balance pick they've been getting in the draft (which they ironically used in 2023 to pick... Kevin McGonigle). 2-4. The picks they'd be awarded for losing Skubal, Mize, and Flaherty in free agency (if they're given qualifying offers) would move back significantly in the draft. 5. Their international bonus pool would be reduced. That all has a real monetary cost. But they can't reasonably roll that cost into a McGonigle extension - he has no reason to absorb a loss to the Tigers that isn't his specific fault. So what do they do? I'd still sign McGonigle to an extension (the Griffin extension we'll likely see in the next few days is going to be a perfect framework), take the hits to the draft for one year, and reset themselves under whatever new CBA eventually comes next year. h/t to @ebajek85 for his formative work on this as well.