Stormin

I give Harris credit for having the patience to let younger players develop. A year ago, many people wanted Christian Walker to be signed and Tork to get kicked to the curb - glad that didn't happen. Similarly many were ready to give up on Mize - now I wonder if the Tigers should extend Mize before he has another good season and the price tag goes up. Dingler has gone through alot of ups and downs. I think the only two free agent signings Harris has made that even approach upper level are Flaherty and Torres. Harris did well with these two signings. Getting high level FA signings wrong can set the team back years. Harris has spent significant $ on mid level free agents - a market that is high risk. Hope Harris spends less $ on mid level free agents in the future. As far as trades, has Harris made a real trade? Tigers have not got much in return but they haven't given much away either. If Finnegan is the best trade acquisition, he was non tendered at the end of 2024 so ...

If the return is Franklin Perez, Daz Cameron, and Jake Rogers (Return for JV) or DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, and a draft pick (Brewers return for Corbin Burns), no Thank you. Or maybe Jhony Brito, Kyle Higashioka, Drew Thorpe, Rangy Vasquez, and one good year of Michael King for Trent Grisham and Juan Soto? Prospect deals are crap shoots. It is not uncommon that a haul of prospects ends up being maybe one average MLB player. If Chris Ilitch learned anything from his father, I hope it is that "fans come to see the stars." Tarik Skubal is the only real star the Tigers have right now. Every game he pitches, for the rest of his career in Detroit, will have above average attendance. A 1.0 to 2.0 war MLB left handed starter is getting over $20 million AAV these days. I think Skubal has at least a few above average seasons ahead of him. When it comes to trades, free agent contracts, and Tigers in 2026, the lowest risk projection might be that Skubal will have another good year and help the Tigers compete in 2026. That is why I won't be upset even if the Tigers ride it out, and just let Skubal pitch in 2026.

I give Chris Ilitch most of the credit for hiring Hinch. Avila was already on thin ice. Ilitch told him to find a "Scotty Bowman" type candidate and Hinch was the obvious and only choice. When AJ was hired he said: “I'd like to thank Chris Ilitch and Al Avila" and when Harris was hired I suspect Harris was told AJ is you manager. Back to the original question, yes I think the Tigers will pay Skubal. The Tigers have $60 million in free agent contracts coming off the books after the 2026 season and $34 million coming off the books after the 2027 season. Trading a future HOF player, in his prime, who wants to stay in Detroit, for prospects and 30 something past prime players does not make sense.