Tigers Secure Hinch’s Continuity and Bet on Retaining Skubal

Tigers Secure Hinch’s Continuity and Bet on Retaining Skubal

Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris has confirmed the extension of manager A.J. Hinch’s contract, securing his leadership for the upcoming seasons. Harris also expressed his confidence that ownership will provide the necessary resources to sign ace Tarik Skubal to a long-term deal. In a press conference held Monday morning, Harris and Hinch analyzed the season’s close, which culminated in a 15-inning loss to Seattle in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. The main focus was projecting the team’s future.

“I wish we weren’t here right now. I wish we were in Toronto, getting ready for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series,” Harris commented.

Scott Harris

Harris revealed that he approached Hinch during the season, the manager’s fifth in Detroit, to extend his contract for a second time, quickly reaching an agreement. In 2023, Harris had already secured Hinch with a long-term contract.

“He’s one of the best managers in the game,” Harris said.

Scott Harris

Harris did not specify the length of Hinch’s new contract, but made it clear the desire to keep him on the team. “We want him to be here as long as he wants to be. I want to work with him as long as I can,” he added. In addition to Hinch’s continuity, the Tigers aim to keep Skubal on the team long-term, although they acknowledge that this will involve a significant investment. Skubal, winner of the American League Cy Young Award and pitching Triple Crown in 2024, recorded an ERA of 2.21, the lowest of his career, and a personal record of 241 strikeouts.

“He’s the best pitcher in baseball. We hope he wins a second Cy Young,” Harris said.

Scott Harris

Skubal signed a one-year contract for $10.15 million during the previous offseason, avoiding salary arbitration, and will become a free agent after the 2026 season. To ensure its permanence, the team owner, Chris Ilitch, will have to invest a significant sum of money. Harris assured that Ilitch will support the organization with the necessary resources for the payroll, including the investment to keep the 28-year-old left-hander long-term. “I have no concerns about it,” he affirmed. Harris also addressed concerns about the team’s performance in September, including its collapse after a standout regular season and its poor postseason performance. He admitted that the team deserves the criticism received. Detroit led the league for a large part of the season, but experienced a slump at the time of the trade deadline, where Harris did not make significant moves. Although he does not regret the decisions made, he acknowledged the possibility of having reinforced the offense.

“Perhaps we should have done it,” Harris concluded.

Scott Harris