Tigers News: Detroit could lose bench coach to rival, Bally Sports update

The Tigers have been the heel of the AL Central a lot over the past few decades, but luckily they've never quite sunk to the depths that the division-rival White Sox did this season. A 121-loss season has never been done before, and that benchmark 121st loss came at the hands of none other than the Tigers (who then checked out and dropped two games at the very end of the season, but we don't have to talk about that part).

Chicago's manager Pedro Grifol was fired in August and replaced by interim manager Grady Sizemore, who shouldn't and probably doesn't want to stick around for long. So the White Sox are in the market for a new manager, one who might have to work under brand new ownership, given the bombshell that came out of the southside this week: Jerry Reinsdorf, who has owned the Sox since 1981, is open to selling the team.

The White Sox have already been eyeing potential candidates, including a member of the Tigers coaching staff: bench coach George Lombard, who interviewed for Detroit's manager position before they went with AJ Hinch. The Tigers brass were impressed enough by Lombard to invite him back for a bench coach job, and he interviewed with the Pirates for what's now Derek Shelton's job back in 2019.

Detroit Tigers News: White Sox eyeing Tigers bench coach George Lombard for manager position, Bally Sports complications

In other, more behind-the-scenes, news, the Bally Sports saga has a new development. Diamond Sports Group, Bally's parent company, has been embroiled in turmoil all year; they filed for bankruptcy in March of last year, and announced they would be dropping the contracts of eight teams, including the Tigers, on Oct. 2. However, a rebrand with FanDuel as the title sponsor was announced on Oct. 18 and is set to go in effect on Oct. 21.

This is already being met with pushback from MLB, who have objected to FanDuel's naming rights in court. They argued that Diamond did not notify them of a naming rights plan despite having months to do so.

MLB will broadcast Guardians, Brewers, and Twins games next season (all used to fall under the Bally banner), but it's still uncertain as to where Tigers broadcasts will live next season. The Marlins' broadcast rights were reacquired by Diamond, but the Tigers' and six other team's futures are still up in the air.