Is it really unreasonable to wonder whether a rumored-to-be-disinterested owner, who has to reference note cards in order to speak about specific players, would listen to serious offers on his MLB franchise?
Epstein's big-spending philosophy is at extreme odds with Chris Ilitch's frugal ways. And that's only one reason why this combination could never work.
Until or unless Ilitch is willing to share the burden of responsibility, via engaged ownership and committing to spending like a serious contender, it won't matter who the Tigers' general manager is — Detroit will continue to wander the baseball wilderness.
Whenever fans want a manager or executive replaces, it does take on a somewhat blood-thirsty nature. Think Matt Millen with the Detroit Lions, Rich Rodrigues with Michigan, more recently Jeff Blashill with the Red Wings.
How else can you explain Chris Ilitch allowing the man who's completely botched this rebuild oversee another? Ilitch's priority is to maximize the Tigers' profitability with minimum investment, and Avila serves that interest.
Through one-third of the season the Tigers are one of the worst teams in baseball, just one year after a surprising 2021 campaign gave fans hope that the team's five-plus-year rebuilding period was over.