AJ Hinch sends blunt message to Tigers' front office about Tarik Skubal rumors

At this point, it doesn't feel too hyperbolic to say that Tigers fans would riot if Tarik Skubal is traded away at the deadline, especially since they already seem to be on the verge of mutiny after mere rumors about a Skubal deal.

The Tigers should not trade Skubal, period. The fact they are willing to listen to teams that do have the goods to make an irresistible offer is maddening, even if they don't actually hear anything good enough to entertain. On top of that fact that Skubal has quickly become beloved in Detroit, a trade also just doesn't really make sense.

Despite a slide through June, they're still just a few wins away from being a .500 team, and the front office's pleas for patience with some of the younger players have actually paid off. Colt Keith has been one of the best rookies in baseball, if not the best, since May 1. Riley Greene was an All-Star. Andy Ibáñez, Wenceel Pérez, and Justyn-Henry Malloy are coming up in big moments.

There's no reason that they should be trading their proven ace for a slew of talented and potential-filled, yes, but still untested prospects.

AJ Hinch basically said as much in an interview on 97.1 The Ticket. He didn't totally address the question — what did he think about the Skubal trade rumors? — but said plainly, "I want to buy."

AJ Hinch shut down support of a potential Tigers Tarik Skubal trade quickly

PoBO Scott Harris has made his position clear in the past: the Tigers won't spend until their young players prove themselves and can really get this team in the postseason picture. It's not entirely his fault, either; it's not his money that he's spending. However, it does set off a chain reaction of anger that leads all the way to the top and ends with Chris Ilitch, who is one of the most independently wealthy owners in baseball, but isn't willing to invest in the Tigers.

Hinch wants to buy? Well, get in line behind the fans. Buying could actually be the key to helping this team go the distance, but it's definitely not happening at the trade deadline. If we're lucky, and the Tigers can produce a winning season by the end of the year, then we might see more aggression on the free agent market than we did this past offseason, but even that feels a bit naïve.

Hinch's opinion on whether or not Skubal should be traded is, unfortunately, worth just about as much to the front office and ownership as fans' opinions. They haven't been afraid of forsaking the fanbase before, but doing it again with Skubal might be a final straw for some.