Detroit Tigers’ Scott Harris explains why team isn’t ready to spend big on roster just yet

The Detroit Tigers aren’t going to increase payroll before laying the foundation.

That’s exactly what Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Tuesday afternoon on MLB Network during an 8-minute conversation with studio host Brian Kenny.

On MLB Network, Kenny asked Harris if the Tigers planned to spend like they used to. The Tigers had a top-six payroll in MLB, according to Spotrac, from 2012 to 2017 under late owner Mike Ilitch, peaking at $200.2 million in 2016.

Harris believes Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch, Mike’s son, will increase payroll in the future, although he did not reveal a timetable.

“As soon as I got here, Chris Ilitch said we would have the resources we need to build a club that is truly competitive and capable of winning over a long period of time,” Harris said on MLB Network, when asked. if the wage bill increases. “We’re not there yet as far as spending at that level, because we need to build the foundation of this team to put us in a position to supplement it with free agent signings over the coming winters.

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“I’m confident the resources will be there. The Ilitch family has always supported the Tigers, and they are ready and eager to do so. In fact, I’m sitting at Little Caesars world headquarters because we have recognition meetings of across the street at Little Caesars, I’m confident the resources will be there. We just need to develop the core that we’re going to spend, and we also need to target the players in the coming winters who can really help us.

The Tigers’ payroll ranks 23rd for the 2024 season at $106.5 million, nearly $60 million less than the 30-team average. Javier Báez, a struggling shortstop signed by former Al Avila general manager, makes $25 million, which equates to 23.5 percent of the payroll this season.

The Tigers ranked 20th in payroll last season, at $121.5 million.

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It’s unclear if the Tigers are close to completing the foundation, and as a result, it’s unclear if the Tigers are close to spending big like Harris suggests will happen at some point.

Former No. 1 overall picks Spencer Torkelson and Casey Mize – drafted and developed by Avila’s regime – are not performing like key franchise players, while former No. 5 overall pick Riley Greene is a regular hitter for the third straight season. Colt Keith, who signed a contract extension before his first game, is starting to settle in as a rookie. Late picks Tarik Skubal and Kerry Carpenter have been steady studs, along with Reese Olson, but Skubal — an American League Cy Young candidate — will become a free agent after the 2026 season.

“We’re a young team that’s still finding our way,” Harris said of the 2024 Tigers, currently 26-27 overall and fourth in the American League Central. “We showed some flashes of really exciting play on both sides of the ball. I think we’re looking for that consistency that comes with the maturation of young hitters and young starting pitchers in the major leagues. Youth often comes from variance, and I “I think we’re living week to week here, but we’ve seen a lot of positive signs under the hood and some of them are translating into performance in recent weeks.”

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The Tigers only have two full seasons left of Skubal.

If the window is not open now, when will it open?

Jackson Jobe, a 21-year-old elite pitcher, is no closer to making it out of Double-A Erie and seems more likely to make his MLB debut in 2025. Max Clark, a 19-year-old center fielder than Harris selected No. 3 overall in the 2023 draft, is at Low-A Lakeland and plays alongside 19-year-old prospect Kevin McGonigle, the No. 37 overall pick in 2023.

Báez’s contract is void after the 2027 season. After this season, Báez is owed $25 million in 2025, $24 million in 2026 and $24 million in 2027.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers’ Scott Harris explains why team won’t spend big on roster now