Detroit Tigers: 5 dream candidates to be the team’s next GM

Brandon Gomes, general manager—Los Angeles Dodgers

If the Detroit Tigers can’t copy the Dodgers by stealing the Rays’ top dog, they why not poach Friedman’s right-hand man?

Gomes, 37, has been a fast-riser in the executive world. He pitched in the big leagues from 2011-15—ironically all with the Rays—before joining the Dodgers as a pitching coordinator before the 2017 season. He worked his way up from there, earning his current title of executive VP and GM on Jan. 18 of this year.

Gomes has worked alongside Friedman for the past few years, so he has to have learned a lot. It’s worth wondering whether he wants to run his own show, rather than work in the shadow of one of the brightest minds in baseball—and I know just the team for him to take over.

With his Dodger connections, he could bring in some people from their front office to help further modernize the Tigers organization. He could also bring some people from the Rays’ front office due to his connections from his playing days.

A combination of Gomes and A.J. Hinch seems like a good GM/manager pairing. It’s clear the Detroit Tigers need someone to come in and breathe some fresh air into their front office, and Gomes seems like a good fit for that role.