The Tigers and manager AJ Hinch quietly agreed to a long-term contract extension during the 2025 season, president of baseball operations Scott Harris announced today at his end-of-season press conference (video link). Harris and Hinch did not specify the length of the contract, but Hinch ostensibly is now signed through at least 2027. Harris effused praise for Hinch, calling him one of the best managers in the sport and saying he hopes to continue working with him “as long as I can possibly work with him.”
Hinch, 51, just wrapped up his fifth season as the manager in Detroit. This is already the second time the organization has “proactively” extended him — as Harris phrased it — before the conclusion of his existing contract.
The Tigers have reached the postseason and won a Wild Card series before falling in the ALDS in each of the past two seasons. Hinch’s club has gone 394-416 since he was hired following the 2020 season, though the Tigers spent the first three years of his managerial tenure wrapping up a large-scale rebuilding effort, so it’s hard to ding him for a sub-.500 record. Hinch has spent parts of 12 seasons as a major league manager in Detroit, Houston and Arizona.
With regard to the team’s coaching staff, the Harris/Hinch duo did not specify whether changes are on the horizon. Hinch voiced pride in his staff but noted that there will be an assessment period at all levels within the organization in the days ahead as leadership looks ahead to the 2026 season.
Of course, even if Harris and Hinch fully intend to bring back the same staff, there’s no guarantee that’ll happen. An incredible eight teams are on the hunt for a new manager right now, and it’s common for clubs seeking new skippers to look to the coaching staffs of contending clubs. Even if no Tigers coach is plucked away for a new managerial gig elsewhere, new managers with other teams will also look to contenders’ coaching staffs to fill out their own. If another team is interested in a Tigers assistant pitching coach or assistant hitting coach to take a lead role in their organization, for instance, that could lead to some turnover.
While some changes further down the ladder can’t be ruled out, however, the leaders in the baseball operations department and in the dugout are squarely returning, providing continuity as the Tigers look to capitalize on ace Tarik Skubal’s final season of club control prior to his entrance into the free-agent market next offseason.
There was never any real thought that Hinch’s job would be in jeopardy, even after his team’s collapse in the season’s final few months. The Tigers floundered down the stretch and ultimately ceded the division crown to the Guardians despite holding a 9.5 game lead in the AL Central as deep into the season as Sept. 10. They rallied to topple Cleveland in the Wild Card round, however, before falling in a 15-inning ALDS Game 5 nailbiter against the AL West champion Mariners.
Fans of any of the incredible eight (!!) teams seeking a new skipper might have hoped that Hinch would potentially be available, but all indications since his hiring in Detroit are that he’s firmly entrenched himself as a pillar of the organization. Harris’ comments today reflect that, and Hinch himself spoke of how much he’s embraced the Tigers organization, the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. Said Hinch:
“I’m so happy being in Detroit. I’m so proud to be the manager here. I love working for [Harris]. And this is the second time that I was approached and was asked for more — and it was an immediate ’yes’ for me. When you have an environment that both pushes you and satisfied you, you want to be in it. I was honored. I was thrilled. It was one conversation with my wife, and I went back to Scott with an immediate ’yes,’ and off we went.
…I can’t tell you how proud I am to be the manager of the Tigers. It’s a rewarding place to be. I bought a home here. We live here the majority of the year and we continue to be thrilled to become more and more Michiganders as a family.”
He didn’t do so hot in that last game…..
He managed 15 innings of mostly scoreless baseball against one of the top offenses in the league. All things considered, it was a very well-managed game.
@andreals
Which of his moves in that game did you disagree with?
Not bringing in the lefty to face Naylor. Naylor got a hit. The Tigers then brought in the lefty. Seattle pinch hit with a righty. He got a hit (I believe Rivas). The game was now tied 2-2….
Naylor hits lefties better than righties. Tyler Holton, the lefty you suggest bringing in, is better against righties…
To add to what Falcon said, Rivas getting a hit in that situation was a freak thing. He is a lifetime minor leaguer. They had the matchup they wanted, it just didn’t work out. Then, Hinch goes on to manage 7 innings of shutout baseball after that run.
The point is that the original comment that Hinch didn’t do so hot isn’t warranted.
Finnegan also gets lefties out a pretty good clip. The mistake was not just letting Skubal go.
@Tigers – Yeah, but the thinking probably is you save Finnegan for the top of the order. There is merit in your thinking, but none of these scenarios are obviously poor moves. To me, it is more on the pitchers than the manager for not getting Rivas.
I do agree that Skubal looked like he could’ve gone another inning, but the over-emphasis on pitch count makes it so that any manager probably would’ve made the same move. Gone are the days of the 120-pitch postseason start.
I agree. I wish he’d have use some form of pinch hitter during the entire 15 inning game. Who cares about righty-lefty when the hitter can’t hit either!
MLB postseason history is filled with Rivas-type players becoming folk heroes with big hits while their slugger teammates struggled.
Who, Tommy Kahnle?
Expand on your opinion. Your baseball knowledge intrigues me.
Tigers and Cubs similar this season. Great start, somewhat mediocre last half of season, good managers did well to win a round…..it was on the collective offenses for being eliminated.
AJ Hinch is one of the top 3 managers in MLB. He manages a pitching staff as well as anybody.
My only beef with him is he’s a too much platoony with the lineup. I believe that Carpenter will be seeing a lot more lefties and be an every day player going forward.
BTW, there’s a reason I’m not a MLB manager.
I also hope he gets more burn vs lefties. He’s not going to improve without the experience.
Hinch over thinks in games often.
Hinch doesn’t advance runners to get them in scoring position.
Hinch doesn’t bunt as a rule even in tight games. very seldom.
Hon h doesn’t utilize speed enough.
Tiger baserunners take extra bases 56% of the time, by far the highest in baseball. That means a runner on first will reach third on a single 56% of the time. However, they are last in stolen bases. These two facts point to a team with “first-to-third” speed rather than stolen base instincts. Hinch is utilizing the skills of his players well, and that is the hallmark of a good manager.
They have the highest amount of extra bases taken. What are you talking about?
I can’t help your lack of sophistication about baseball metrics, but here’s my attempt:
baseball-reference.com/tools/share.fcgi?id=oVC4z
I agree he overmanages. Sells out to platoons even if Jones is a better AB against a righty than the useless Meadows.
The Tigers don’t have speed
Great news ! The Tigers have a loaded farm system, and they’ll only get better. A true lead off hitter may be in the form of a McGonigle maybe ? That area needs some attention. I look for them to be in the hunt for the world series for years to come. Its a young team, and this was their first big season mostly all healthy together. Did they tire out ? Who knows. They did well at end, and it was a strong finish.
A lot of good happened to them this year. Javy Baez take a bow he did it all. Greene stayed healthy all year long, and that help immensely too. Torkleson had a fantastic year going from may not even being on the team to being a star. The emergence of Dingle was huge ! Each season McKinstry has improved in Detroit, and this year was his best.
A lot of good this year for Detroit. They had an amazing start, and it was fun to watch. Keeping Hinch is fantastic. The Tigers are improving each season, and attendance is up. GO TIGERS !
I think Max Clark has been ticketed for the leadoff spot since 5 minutes before he was drafted.
“Mostly healthy” except Vierling, Olson, Jobe, Meadows (half year)…
Will they keep Skubal? Where are they without e?
*him*
They will try. I will quote myself from another post:
Detroit would have to bid against themselves at this point, though. Unless Skubal tells Boras to get a deal done. He may test the market and give the Tigers the right of first refusal, but an extension this off-season is Skubal/Boras having the ball in their court.
Sounds like the standard is being a perennial wild card team.
Gotta start somewhere, right? Beats orgs which have perennial sub-.500 goals.
Beats the 10 years before that.
Hopefully they can find someone in their “loaded farm system” to play centerfield and Hinch gets over his Parker Meadows fetish.
If I’m Harris I’m putting Max effort to find that player
I see what you did there…
Hinch did the best he could, and it showed in that 15-inning gauntlet. It’s up to Harris to make roster improvements so that Hinch can take the Tigers to the next level.
The thing that impressed me about Hinch was the first 2–3 seasons with The Tigers….he somehow got way more wins out of those groups than they deserved.
Well, it was a great season and everyone had fun. That’s the whole point, right? Just because they forgot to hire the Superfife, went on a massive losing streak and then somehow, somewhere forgot to win the World Series is irrelevant, isn’t it? Rah, rah! Go team! It was a great season. Hinch did a great job, despite taking Flaherty out at the exact wrong moment of the 21st century. Incredable!
I’m just kidding, of course, – except the part about hiring the Superfife.
Never change. Ever!
Can’t blame Hinch for the middle of the order going 0-27 or something like that. The only hitter that scares teams is Carpenter. Expect McGonigle to make the team with Clark, Briceno and Liranzo not far behind.
Greene .219 BA since July 1st. Only saw 12 pitches in 6 PA final game. Hard to manage that.
His biggest mistake in the last game was pitching 2 run Tommy in the 15th. But Harris didn’t give him better options to choose from, so it was either him or Montero.
Sure you can!
Oh,.well…time to join the Kitty Russell Fan Club…..again.
Who do you think KRFC should suggest trading or signing? (No Bregman comments, please) Who needs a 40 spot and how much room does the FO really have? We value your opinion….
I agree that he’s one of the best managers in the sport and deserves the extension. It does seem odd to announce it now instead of when they signed him.