Tigers’ GM reportedly outbid for his son in free agency
Dec 7, 2019, 4:08 PM | Updated: 4:25 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Alex Avila reacts after striking out against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
One can only wonder what the mood will be at the Avila household around the holidays.
Former D-backs catcher Alex Avila agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday.
Apparently the Twins weren’t the only team bidding for Avila’s services, as MLB Network insider Jon Heyman tweeted the Detroit Tigers were also pursuing the backstop.
Tigers GM Al Avila was in the unusual position of being outbid for his own son. Twins got Alex for $4.25M. It’s not known what Detroit bid but it’s believed to have been a bit less. In any case, in his 12th season, Alex is surely looking to play for a contender.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 6, 2019
The general manager of the Tigers is Al Avila — his dad.
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This wasn’t the first time Al showed he didn’t play favorites with his son.
The general manager let his son hit free agency in 2015 after Alex was drafted by the Tigers and spent seven seasons with the club.
He re-signed with the Tigers following the 2016 season, only to be traded by his dad to the Chicago Cubs during the 2017 season.
In the past two years with Arizona, Avila hit .184 with 16 home runs and 44 RBIs in 143 games while serving as the team’s backup.
Heyman added Detroit’s bid is not known but it’s believed to be less than what Minnesota was offering.
Although, at 32-year-old, Heyman said Alex is surely looking to play for a contender.
Considering the Tigers lost 114 games in 2019 while Twins won the American League Central, maybe his dad being outbid wasn’t the worst thing.
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