Heartbreaking: It’s time to give Chris Ilitch his flowers for Framber Valdez signing

It’s not always easy to hand out praise in Detroit — not after years of cutting corners, slashing payroll, and preaching "patience" disguised as competitive strategy.

So when Chris Ilitch deserves a little credit, it comes with a deep sigh and a reluctant nod. But fine. Here it is.

The Tigers made their biggest splash of the offseason when they signed Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal — and it happened because Ilitch said yes in the face of uncertainty.

When Scott Harris met with the media at the start of spring training this week, he made something very clear: ownership backed this move before the Tigers knew how their arbitration battle with Tarik Skubal would shake out. Before they knew exactly what their ace would cost. Before the payroll math was clean.

For years, Tigers fans have wondered whether Ilitch was truly willing to flex when the moment demanded it. The franchise hovered in that uncomfortable middle ground — rebuilding, retooling, recalibrating — but rarely committing. This time, he committed.

Valdez is a frontline arm entering his age-32 season, signed to real money, at a time when the Tigers are clearly trying to convert trajectory into contention. Add in the reunion with Justin Verlander, the signing of Kenley Jansen and the re-signing of Kyle Finnegan, and this suddenly looks like a pitching staff designed to win games in October.

Scott Harris credits Chris Ilitch for making early financial commitment to Framber Valdez

Ilitch approved the spending amid risk. Harris admitted that the Tigers didn’t know how arbitration would land and that they didn’t have a perfect financial roadmap. Ownership could have easily said, “Let’s wait.” But they didn't.

For a fanbase that has spent the last decade questioning whether ownership’s competitive fire still burned the way it did in the late Mike Ilitch era, this is meaningful. It signals that when baseball operations brings a compelling case, the checkbook isn’t locked away.

Needless to say, one offseason doesn’t rewrite history. One aggressive push doesn’t erase past conservatism. Tigers fans are allowed to remain skeptical. But skepticism and acknowledgment can — and should — coexist.

This is the first time in nearly a decade that Detroit is carrying a top-10 payroll with legitimate expectations attached. That doesn’t happen without alignment and investment from ownership.

So, yes — begrudgingly — Ilitch gets his flowers. Because for the first time in a long time, the Tigers aren’t just talking about building toward something. They're paying for it. And in Detroit, that’s worth recognizing.