Detroit Tigers hire Rob Metzler as assistant GM and VP

Scott Harris makes his first front office hire for the Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers just announced the hiring of former Tampa Bay Rays senior director of amateur scouting Rob Metzler as their new assistant GM and VP. He will lead the team’s efforts in drafting and amateur scouting, both domestically and internationally, essentially taking Scott Pleis’s old role. Pleis was let go on Oct. 8.

Metzler’s role in Tampa included being responsible for all day-to-day scouting activities. He also oversaw their drafts. Players drafted by Metzler over the past few years include Shane McClanahan, Nate Lowe, Joe Ryan, and Taylor Walls.

Here’s what Scott Harris had to say about the hire, via the press release linked above:

“I hope all Tigers fans will join me in welcoming Rob and his family to our organization,” said Scott Harris, Detroit Tigers President of Baseball Operations. “I am thrilled to add an executive of Rob’s caliber to lead our Amateur and International Scouting departments. Rob’s track record of success with the Rays speaks for itself, and his innovative approach to talent acquisition will help us achieve one of our main goals: to acquire, develop and retain young talent in Detroit.”

We’re finally starting to see the pieces fall into place in Harris’ front office. Harris seems to realize the Detroit Tigers scouting and development over the past several years has been dreadful. Poaching from the Rays is a good start.

Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reports that Metzler was not resposible for international scouting with the Rays, so that’ll be something new for him. Poor international scouting has argubably been the biggest thing holding this team back, so hopefully he can fix that.

One thing the Detroit Tigers continue to do is use elevated titles to get good, smart people from other organizations to come to Detroit. They did it with Harris (GM to president of baseball ops), and now they’ve done it with Metzler.

Yesterday, the team let go of David Chadd, leaving them with two assistant GMs. Now with Metzler in the fold, they’re back at three.

The news train is back on track after a couple weeks of silence. A GM hiring has to be coming soon.