The Detroit Tigers nearly let their season slip away. What was once a commanding 15.5-game lead in the AL Central completely vanished. A team that once held the best record in baseball stumbled badly down the stretch, ultimately finishing one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the division standings.
They did manage to secure the final wild card berth—just barely. Detroit ended the regular season with the same record as the struggling Houston Astros but advanced thanks to owning the tiebreaker.
Guiding the team through it all was manager A.J. Hinch, a former Astro himself. Given the late-season collapse and uncertain playoff outlook, one might assume Hinch’s job is in jeopardy. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Tigers intend to extend Hinch’s contract. Nightengale noted that while the deal was nearly finalized weeks ago, Detroit’s dramatic downturn put the timing on hold.
MLB insider Bob Nightengale reports that the Tigers are nearing a contract extension agreement with AJ Hinch.
At first glance, the timing might seem strange. After all, when a team collapses down the stretch, the manager is usually the easiest person to blame. But dig a little deeper, and it becomes clear that without AJ Hinch, things could have been far worse.
Hinch took over in Detroit after serving a suspension for his role in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, stepping in during a rough period for the franchise. The Tigers were rebuilding, and there was significant upheaval in the front office—Al Avila was out, and Scott Harris came in ahead of the 2023 season. Through all that, Hinch helped steer the team through its rebuild. In 2024, he turned a young and inexperienced roster into a surprising playoff contender, finishing 86-76.
Thanks to that progress—and a red-hot start to the 2025 season—expectations rose quickly. But even though Detroit ended this season at 87-75, a one-win improvement, it felt like a letdown, especially considering the collapse at the end.
Still, how much of that should fall on Hinch? As the year went on, it became obvious the roster had flaws. Third base was a weak point all year, especially after Harris missed out on signing Alex Bregman. The bullpen was another issue—aside from a solid showing from Kyle Finnegan, Harris’s deadline moves didn’t pan out. Injuries also plagued the starting rotation, leaving Tarik Skubal as the lone dependable starter for much of the season—something well outside of Hinch’s control.
Throughout it all, Hinch remained steady. His playoff experience and calm leadership became a stabilizing force for the young Tigers, guiding them through a turbulent year.
Given all that, it makes sense that Detroit would want to lock him in for the long term. Still, nothing is finalized yet. A poor showing in the playoffs could force the team to rethink.
And there’s another wrinkle: Bob Nightengale speculates that Houston might come calling. With Joe Espada on the hot seat after the Astros missed the postseason for the first time since 2016, a possible reunion with Hinch could be in the cards—though any such move is far from clear at this point.
For now, though, it appears the Tigers see Hinch as the right leader to guide them forward—at least for the foreseeable future.
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