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

Matt Arnold, general manager—Milwaukee Brewers

Arnold, 43, has bounced around several organizations, including the Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, and you guessed it, the Tampa Bay Rays. He also worked closely with Andrew Friedman during his time in Tampa.

He has been the right-hand man to Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns for the past seven years. It sounds like he is being groomed to one day take over for Stearns. But is he that patient? Is it possible that he may want to run his own show sooner?

Stearns and Arnold have made for quite the team in Milwaukee. They’ve won the NL Central twice in the last four years (2018, 2021) and have become a pitching factory, Guys like Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer, Devin Williams, Josh Hader, and others have become household names for the Brew Crew.

However, much like the Tigers, they have struggled to develop hitters, though that could be changing soon, as they have a trio of outfielders in Triple-A right now that could all reach the big leagues next season in Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, and Garrett Mitchell. They also have one of the best teenage prospects in baseball in Jackson Chourio down in High-A.

For the Tigers, anyone that is from the Friedman tree should be considered a good candidate. Anybody that has been able pick his brain and apply what they learned from him in making the Tigers a competitive team should be somebody Tigers fan should want.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Tigers have poached from the Brewers’ organization. Current director of player development Kenny Graham came from Milwaukee. Perhaps they could use that connection to lure Arnold away from the Brew Crew.

The one major roadblock to that happening might be the Brewers’ organization itself. The New York Mets tried to pry Arnold away from Milwaukee to be their GM last season, but their request was denied. The Mets also tried to take Stearns, but that was blocked as it would have been a lateral move. Would the Brewers relinquish their grip on Arnold for the Tigers?

It’s hard to see that happening. It really sounds like the Brewers like him, as they gave him a contract extension last offseason as well. It would be nice to have a mind like Arnold’s to lead the Detroit Tigers’ front office, but Tigers fans may have to look elsewhere.