AJ Hinch delivers a straightforward message to the Tigers’ front office regarding the Tarik Skubal trade speculations.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Tigers fans might revolt if Tarik Skubal is traded at the deadline, particularly since they already appear to be on the brink of rebellion over just the rumors of a Skubal deal.
Trading Skubal should be off the table, no exceptions. The mere willingness of the Tigers to entertain offers, even if none are enticing enough to consider, is infuriating. Beyond Skubal’s rapid rise to fan favorite in Detroit, a trade simply doesn’t make sense.
Despite a slump in June, they are only a few wins away from reaching a .500 record. The front office’s calls for patience with the younger players have been justified. Colt Keith has emerged as one of the best, if not the best, rookies in baseball since May 1. Riley Greene was an All-Star, and Andy Ibáñez, Wenceel Pérez, and Justyn-Henry Malloy have delivered in crucial moments.
There is no justification for trading their proven ace for a batch of talented yet untested prospects.
AJ Hinch echoed this sentiment in an interview on 97.1 The Ticket. Although he didn’t directly address his thoughts on the Skubal trade rumors, he clearly stated, “I want to buy.”
AJ Hinch quickly dismissed any support for a potential trade of Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal. PoBO Scott Harris has previously made his stance clear: the Tigers will not spend until their young players prove themselves and put the team in postseason contention. This isn’t entirely Harris’s fault, as he’s not spending his own money. However, this stance triggers a chain reaction of frustration that ultimately points to Chris Ilitch, one of the wealthiest owners in baseball, who is unwilling to invest in the Tigers.
Hinch wants to buy? He’ll have to join the fans in that desire. While buying could be crucial for helping the team succeed, it’s not going to happen at the trade deadline. If the Tigers can manage a winning season by the end of the year, we might see more activity in the free agent market than last offseason, but even that seems somewhat unrealistic.
Hinch’s opinion on trading Skubal, unfortunately, holds about as much weight with the front office and ownership as the fans’ opinions do. They haven’t hesitated to disregard the fanbase before, but doing so again with Skubal might be the last straw for some.
