This may anger some people, but it's reality.
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris merely did his job at the MLB trade deadline.
If you were expecting some sort of miracle or outside-the-box brilliance, it just wasn't going to happen.
Tarik Skubal wasn't going to be traded with two years of club control remaining. It proved to be one of the most overhyped non-events in Detroit sports history.
There was no chance Jack Flaherty was not going to be dealt.
Harris HAD to move Mark Canha, Carson Kelly and Andrew Chafin, too.
And don't be naive to believe it was just to acquire prospects.
It was to save money, as well.
With a third of the season remaining, the Tigers saved $11.5 million.
Already projected by Forbes to make $17 million in operating income this season, the moves bumped the numbers to more than $28 million.
It's understood that the Tigers aren't in business to lose money.
It's a misguided notion that the Ilitch family should pull money out of their personal accounts to sign free agents because they are billionaires.
Spending money can help an MLB club win, and those who refuse to ever do so are unlikely to win the ultimate prize, and if they do, it will be an aberration.
Cleveland and Tampa Bay are the classic examples of this despite their superior development and lineup building acumen.
In order to be truly healthy on the field, it's necessary to be viable with the financial bottom line.
But the rub here is trying to justify the Tigers' financially successful season in 2024.
What exactly did the Tigers do to merit a nice profit? Were they successful on the field?
No. Ultimately, this has morphed into a decidedly disappointing campaign. The Tigers, after moving so many parts at the deadline, are likely to limp home in '24 after failing miserably at any sniff of contention.
Are they a box office smash? Hardly. Despite being located in the nation's 14th largest market, also having an extensive and traditional out-state following in the nation's 10th most populous state, along with strong fan bases in northern Ohio and southern Ontario, the Tigers' per game attendance ranks 22nd among 30 MLB clubs. It only figures to plummet the remainder of the season regardless of celebration days retiring Jim Leyland's number and honoring the '84 Tigers.
Harris has been a solid planner. His drafts have had purpose. He got the necessary bonafide high-end prospect back Monday at the deadline in catcher Theyron Liranzo, and a variety of bullpen arms that could pay off more than generally thought.
He didn't bite remotely on the Skubal hysteria, and has proceeded to turn off-season signings into prospects at the deadline.
He has also done so while looking after the bottom line. It's as key to his job security as winning.
The $28 million is nearly a franchise record for single-season profit. The Tigers made a record $31 million in 2021. At that time, they re-invested the profits into the on-field product by signing free agents Javy Baez and Edgurado Rodriguez. It was a classic example of it not necessarily being how you spend, but whether it is wisely. The Tigers not only cratered on the field, but off it. They subsequently lost $26 million each in 2022 and 2023.
The horrible record and terrible bottom line meant Al Avila was out. The first full year with Harris in charge, the Tigers were better on the field, but not off it.
The last thing the Tigers should do is just throw money at free agents. They need to use their organizational depth to make trades for arbitration eligible players, who cost more. They also should make a big push to sign Skubal and Riley Greene to long-range deals.
The average profit for an MLB team is nearly $20 million this year, but it is skewed by one team, the Mets, who are projected to lose nearly as much ($292 million) as the Tigers revenue ($306 million).
It does not make sense given their location, but the Tigers operate as a small market entity.
All the push they derived from their strong run from 2006 until 2014 has dried up.
Being on solid financial ground is meaningless to fans unless it provides them the fulfillment from winning.
Harris has done the easiest part of his mission, which is cutting costs to make money.
It's time for the most important part, though: Winning.
The Tigers will have to earn that because it's not as simple as buying it.
