Tigers Are So Cheap GM Al Avila Got Outbid for His Own Son
By Michael Luciano
Brand new Minnesota Twins catcher Alex Avila, the son of Detroit Tigers GM Al Avila, may not be on the best of terms with Dad after the latest twist in his free agency saga.
Avila signed a $4.25 million deal with Minnesota. While Avila's Tigers put in a bid for his son, it was a bit less than what the Twins offered, leading the 32-year-old catcher to go up north.
Tigers GM Al Avila was in the unusual position of being outbid for his own son. Twins got Alex for $4.25M. It’s not known what Detroit bid but it’s believed to have been a bit less. In any case, in his 12th season, Alex is surely looking to play for a contender.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 6, 2019
Ouch. You'd think if anyone would vouch for Avila's skill and value as a player, it would be his dad. I know that baseball is a business, but this seems particularly cold. Were John Hicks and Grayson Greiner too valuable to risk them losing playing time to Avila?
This could make for some awkward glances across the table at the Avila household on Christmas morning. Not to mention, Al has already traded his son on one occasion, dealing him to the Cubs in 2017.
They're gonna have an awkward Xmass dinner...
— Sullivan Scollay (@clamrag) December 6, 2019
Avila is probably happy that he went to a team ready to try and win a championship as opposed to basement of the MLB, but the fact that apparently Thad Levine values Avila more as a player than his own father has to sting just a little bit.