Scott Harris has hilarious response to Tigers free agency rumors live on MLB Network

For an MLB general manager at the Winter Meetings, perhaps the only thing worse than having to address free agency rumors is having to address free agency rumors ... on live television. Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris learned that the hard way on Monday.

Harris joined Monday's live broadcast of MLB Tonight after MLB Network insider Jon Morosi had reported earlier in the day that the Tigers were showing interest in free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. When asked about the veracity of the report, Harris looked like a deer in headlights before cracking a nervous smile.

"Oh man," he chuckled awkwardly. "If I've got to respond to every tweet, we're going to be up here all night."

Poor guy. He was put on the spot, and, all in all, he handled it about as well if he could have. The hosts laughed it off and carried on with the interview. But the awkwardness of Harris' initial reaction only seemed to fuel the speculation about Goldschmidt being linked to Detroit.

Tigers GM Scott Harris' hilariously awkward response to free agency rumors fuels Paul Goldschmidt speculation

The Tigers do need corner infield help, and Goldschmidt would make sense. It doesn't appear that the Tigers are planning to move on from Spencer Torkelson anytime soon despite his offensive struggles over the previous two seasons, and Harris expressed a desire to add veteran leadership to the Tigers' talented, young roster.

Goldschmidt is a seven-time All-Star, has won five Silver Slugger Awards and four Gold Gloves, and was named National League MVP in 2022. At 37 years old, he isn't the same hitter he used to be, but he could provide some veteran leadership to a young Tigers clubhouse and perhaps even serve as a mentor to Torkelson, who has struggled to stick at the Major League level.

The fit is there on paper, but only will tell whether the Tigers are seriously interested in signing Goldschmidt. In the meantime, though, Harris may want to brush up on the latest reports surrounding his team before he goes on live TV again.

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