The Tigers and assistant GM David Chadd have mutually agreed to part ways, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News was among those to report. According to McCosky, the sides discussed the possibility of Chadd remaining in the organization in a different role, but that did not end up coming to fruition.
Chadd, who had two years left on his contract, had previously served as scouting director, and as assistant GM was former GM Al Avila’s second in command prior to Avila’s firing in August. This change comes on the heels of the Tigers hiring Scott Harris to be their president of baseball operations in September. Harris had previously been GM for the Giants under Farhan Zaidi and an assistant GM under Theo Epstein with the Cubs.
In parting ways with a longtime Avila associate like Chadd, the Tigers make room in the front office for Harris to make his own hires to staff Detroit’s baseball operations department. In addition to Chadd’s assistant GM role, Harris is expected to look for a GM to serve as his own second in command this offseason.
Additionally, the Tigers decided not to renew the contract of senior director of medical services Kevin Rand, as Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free-Press first reported. Head athletic trainer Doug Teter is replacing Rand (although his official title has yet to be determined), while strength and conditioning coordinator Steve Chase will not be back with the club, per Petzold.
Harris and anyone else who joins the Tigers front office will have their work cutout for them this offseason. Despite being frequently cited as a possible sleeper team entering the 2022 season and making a splash in free agency by signing Eduardo Rodriguez and Javier Baez, Detroit had a brutal 66-96 record this year, finishing fourth in a weak AL Central, just one game ahead of the fifth place Royals.
Cleaning house was long overdue. Glad to see it.
They’ll be doing it again in 4 years.
He was just taking up space… a hanging Chadd.
Lol monkey
Finally. A Avila cohort for 14 years Bye
Harris hiring all of his own people. Except Hinch and whoever Illitch made him keep.
Finally,, Avila’s gopher for 14 years.
Meanwhile, Dave Dombrowski is taking his SECOND team to the World Series since he was fired by the Tigers!
DD isn’t one to build a team from the ground up. He’s one that can take a team to the World Series that is on the cusp of greatness. He does this by decimating the farm system and leaving the organization a mess for his successor. Pay close attention to the Phillies bullpen. A sure sign of a Dombrowski Decline is the bullpen turns to junk.
TroyVan6 hours ago , Wah ,Wah!!! SOUR GRAPES!!
That is a bad rap on Dombrowski and a false narrative.
Dombrowski wins wherever he goes and uses all the tools in his Front Office toolbox to do so.
In Montreal, a low budget franchise, Dombrowski built the best farm system in baseball loaded with future stars. After Dombrowski left for Miami, the Expos had the best record in baseball when the baseball strike cancelled the season.
The strike killed a new stadium deal and the Expos in Montreal.
That team was built for the World Series on a shoe string budget.
In low budget Miami, Dombrowski built the Marlins expansion team from scratch with one of the best farm systems in the game with drafting, international free agent signings, trades etc.
Ownership ordered him to tear it down after the the Championship parade.
Players Dombrowski acquired in those fire sale deals became the foundational core of the Marlins 2nd World Series Championship when Dombrowski had left for Detroit.
Detroit: Many of the crazy, overspending contracts were given out by Mr Ilitch
Dombrowski was against some of those deals especially Prince Fielder.
It was Mr Illitch who kept pressuring Dombrowski to “double down” and trade any minor leaguer not nailed down.
Dombrowski, wisely kept the best minor leaguers like Verlander, Porcello, Granderson for the Tigers last run.
Dombrowski was fired while trying to reload/retool the Tigers Price for Boyd, Norris and another pitcher, Cespedes for Fulmer etc..
Illitch hired Avila and told him to “double down” which lead to bad trades and over priced contracts for non performing veterans by Avila.
The Contention Party was over. Ilitch delayed the Tigers much needed rebuild by another 2-3 years
The Tigers would have been better off letting Dombrowski do a partial teardown and restocking of the Tigers.
The Tigers would have been back in the playoffs much sooner, like the Indians, Mariners, Phillies, Padres, if Ownership just let Dombrowski be Dombrowski.
Red Sox: Something is wrong with the micromanaging Ownership group in Boston when top MLB Executives like Billy
Beane, Theo Epstein, Dave Dombrowski, Ben Cherrington get run off by the Red Sox and cannot work for their toxic ownership group.
Dombrowski is not the Red Sox scapegoat.
Hope Red Sox ownership are happy with their new GM who is terrible lol!
Maybe the Red Sox should hire Al Avila for their Front Office?!
Phillies, Dave Dombrowski was hired less than 2 years ago.
Already he has turned them around and into NL Champions and they are in the World Series.
Before Dombrowski, the Phillies had not had a winning season on 9 years and were talking about a “failed rebuild”.
Dombrowski revamped the Phillies Front Office.
Dombrowski completely replaced Phillies OF:
Schwarber, Marsh, Castellanos
Dombrowski inherited one of the worst bullpens in MLB in Philadelphia.
Dombrowski completely revamped the Phillies bullpen with trades, free agents and more.
Dombrowski fired Joe Girardi and hired Rob Thomson Manager.
Dombrowski upgraded the Phillies defense by releasing SS Didi Gregorious and made rookie Bryson Stott SS.
Dombrowski traded for young CF Brandon Marsh.
Dombrowski traded for starters Gibson and Snydergaard.
Dombrowski resigned catcher JT Realmuto.
And Much more!!
Dombrowski builds Championship Teams and wins, wins, wins wherever he goes.
Mistakes made by Ownership Groups in Detroit and Boston where they did not let Dombrowski restructure their rosters are just bad decisions by those ownership groups and not the fault of Dombrowski.
Do you have any sources to back up your claim that Mike Ilitch made Dombroski sign any player? I know he approved Fielder, but I’ve never heard that Mr. I. made him sign any player. I don’t believe those statements are factual, but I’ll give you a chance to provide source material.
At some point, agents started going directly to Mike Illich. Extending Miguel Cabrera is all Mike Illich.
You always make this sad old claim but never follow up with examples. It’s not even close to true.
Brutal ? They averaged 11 wins a month, and if they can average 14 wins a month, everyone will rave about it. The pitching exceeded expectations by a long way, and that’s not factoring in the amount of injuries.
The hitting was shockingly bad, and save for Miguel’s early going keeping hopes alive, it would have been that brutal you’ve mentioned. They finished strong, and that helps. If they can get Abreu to come here that would be nice. After Miguel retires I hope it’s a long time before we get the 30 Million a year plus players.
Watching N.Y with it’s almost 100 Million for Cole, Stanton, an Judge flame out, it’s not the mix we hope for here. I’m looking forward to the shift ending. It should be a fun season here next year.
Hey, I mostly agreed with your assessment of the team, but while I’ve always liked Abreu, I’d rather spend that kind of money on more than one guy and spread the money out.. Someone with a decent slugging % who can play 2nd or 3rd, depending on if Candelario or Schoop can’t rebound from bad years. Speaking of which, if Austin Meadows could manage to have a normal year, it would help our pop-gun offense a ton!
I think a LH first baseman/ DH would help the Tigers.
Carlos Santana?
If it’s washed up you’re after, why not Carlos Pena?
Would prefer a rotational DH where producing position players rotated @ DH to give them a rest in the field.
Scott Harris was hired to build the farm system and get a regular pipeline of young talent on track to contribute in the major leagues.
I think he has a great chance at success in Detroit.
Dave Dombrowski fired and has taken not 1 but 2 franchises to WS, while Tigers continue to flounder
Dumbest move ever made by Mr I. (firing Dombrowski and hiring Avila to replace him)
He lashed out at the guy who built one of the most successful pennant contention runs in Detroit Tigers history.
If he had shown patience, Dombrowski could have retooled/rebuilt that Tigers team for another World Series run.
David Chadd drafted Dustin Pedroia w/their first pick (second round) when most of baseball people thought the Red Sox took him too high.
The Harris era has begun.
The hiring of Scott Harris has easily been Chris Illitch’s best Tiger ownership decision to date.
This club was long overdue a external audit from a fresh perspective. Illich could have chosen a internal option, but he made the right choice to fix this team. Harris has wasted no time in addressing this organizations flaws, such as the poor hitting situation and the strength/ conditioning areas.
I have no doubt that this team will get it together in a few short years. Its already happening.
I am so glad to see Harris clean house in the front office! And Kevin Rand needed to go as well, so super happy bout that. This team had more injuries than any other in MLB this season and they need to learn how to keep a team on the field. I think we should go really hard after Trea Turner. I believe he can opt out in LA but even if not, and the rumors are true that the Dodgers are going to go after Judge, then you could possibly nab Turner in a trade. He is a dynamic player who changes the game in the field, at the plate and on the basepaths. Maybe we won’t be competitive next season, but just knowing that Avila isn’t calling the shots here anymore gives me atleast a good feeling heading into this next faze. I like what I’ve seen from Harris so far and am excited in what he can bring to this squad.
Lets get this World Series Over so we can start with the moves to build our next great Tiger Team.
Every one of these moves are Great.
Doug Teeter is not taking over for Kevin Rand, he’s being sent to Lakeland for a job yet to be determined.
Being the off season Harris looks like he will wait till he identifies all the corporate dysfunctions that have been in the front office for years. To much loyalty, criticism no allowed, suggestions unwelcome, etc. Harris has talked about this debilitating dysfunction that has plagued the Tigers and prevented them from being able to build a functioning team capable of winning.
Chad was a giant impediment to this organization and 14 years is almost Ford level mismanagement of the front office.
There is only one person in Detroit sports I’ve been happier to see go since Matt Millen, and that tubby arrogant clown just lost 33-14 to the Bears tonight. (And believe me, watching Stan Van Gundy kicked out of Detroit was hard to put down the list a notch, given how incompetent, preening, arrogant and destructive he was)
Lots of dead wood getting tossed in the fire, more to come.
“Weak AL Central” LOL… Cleveland knocked off the mighty Rays and then took the “First team to 70 wins” Yankees all 5 games to advance. Heck, the mighty AL East teams Rays and Jays lost in first round matchups and then the Yankees had trouble with the Guardians before getting swept.
@bob
The Guardians are a good team. Scrappy ball club & the get the most out of their guys.
If you’re perusing the rest of the AL & don’t believe the central is weak—-IDK.
Tigers are trash, Royals are trash. Twins are middling and the White Sox are horribly constructed but they are talented if someone could coach them up.
The Tigers and Guards had good managers; the Royals and ChiSox were mismanaged. The Twins and Tigers had too many key injuries. The Tigers and ChiSox players underperformed. The Guards, Twins, Royals and Tigers brought up enough rookies to make a full all-rookie team. The AL Central won’t be weak for long.
I have believe that all of the commenters saying that’s its long overdue for the Tigers to clean house, have just not been paying attention. They have constantly changed scouts, like most franchises. Last year they completely revamped their minor league coaching and managers, which even included the dismissal of the Toledo manager after a first place finish, as they sought to go a different direction with development. All while having a top 5 farm. This is just Harris bringing in his own people. To say bringing in Harris is a great, good, or even bad move is just premature at this point. He hasn’t done anything, yet, and has never had this job before. Lets give it some time. Chadd gave the Tigers a top 3 farm. Celebrating his dismissal seems misplaced.
Giving Chadd too much credit, but I otherwise agree with you. I’d say a constantly horrible team on the field gave the Tigers a top 3 farm system, drafting in the top five for four straight years.
The Tigers’ high water mark in the prospect rankings was largely due to several top 10-picks (Manning, Mize, Greene and Torkelson), quality trade acquisitions (Paredes, Wentz, W. Castro and Lange) plus a lone home-run late pick in Skubal. Other than that, the Tigers had not accumulated much depth – the IFAs in particular were mostly horrible.
Gruß,
BSHH
Teams like the Dodgers and Astros who have been in contention for a decade always find the gems in the draft, even in the later rounds, despite the fact that they consistently pick at the bottom of the Draft.
Anyone can hit on top 10 picks
But, the Tigers, frequently, get it wrong, on obvious picks like passing on shortstops Marcelo Mayer and Jordan Lawler.
All Star starter Walker Buehler was available at the end of the 1st round when the Tigers went for Matt Manning earlier in the 1st round?!
That sort of think happens very frequently with the Avila./David Chadd drafts.
@SportsFan3000:
You are right, teams like LAD, HOU or STL get value without high draft picks. With regard to the Tigers, their IFA signings under Avila have been particularly disappointing (so far).
But Manning was a good or even very good draft pick; Buehler was drafted ybefore (when the Tigers picked Beau Burrows over him). And the jury is still out if Mayer, Lawlar or Jobe will be the best pick.
Gruß,
BSHH
Seems no matter what these nee guys can’t do any worse.
Test
A predictable move. Harris wants his own people to carry out his vision. Not ‘long overdue” as some people parrot. Chadd has been well respected in baseball for a long time. Baseball America tabbed him as one of the top scouting directors in the 2000’s and they don’t heap praise on anyone easily. He almost got the Orioles GM job.
But no issues otherwise with Chadd going. He’ll find another job quickly. I want Harris to have his people in place to carry out his vision for the Tigers. Don’t know if it will work, more likely to fail if he has people who are not loyal to him, who do not have the same vision as he does. Go glad Chris Ilitch giving him the ability to mold the organization to his vision.
Chadd has been drafting in the top 10 for years for the Tigers
and has frequently passed on better players who have out performed his picks.
(Manning instead of Walker Buehler, Jackson Jobe instead
of shortstops Marcelo Mayer or Jordan Lawler…the list is long.)…
So, I am thinking Chadd is a tad over rated.
Keep Brooming out the Old and Bring in New Talent and New Voices to the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers talent evaluation, drafting, foreign free agent signings, MLB free agent signings, PLAYER DEVELOPMENT are all areas in need of drastic over haul
and huge improvements with documented results.
The Tigers were too fixated on HS pitchers which is a higher risk draft day play.
Future star players were frequently left on the draft board.
Too many high school pitchers drafted like Jackson Jobe (who could pan out).
But shortstops Marcelo Mayer or Jordan Lawler would have been the smarter pick and would have filled a critical need for a foundational position player who can hit and field.
So far, Harris is making a lot of the right moves that are long overdue for the Tigers.
Hopefully they will not try and emulate the Colorado Rockies. Dealing with the most furthest away seats in baseball will be difficult. The team is in for many down years. Very sad situation. .
Scott Harris is the “real deal” Last year, his SF Giants surprised everyone with a 107 win season with a lot of lesser name players, young players, veterans trying to bounce back etc…
This year, not so much.