The Detroit Tigers aren’t going to increase payroll before building the foundation.

That’s exactly what Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Tuesday afternoon on MLB Network in an 8-minute conversation with studio host Brian Kenny.

On MLB Network, Kenny asked Harris if the Tigers plan to spend like they used to. The Tigers had a top-six payroll in MLB for six seasons in a row, according to Spotrac, from 2012-17 under late owner Mike Ilitch, peaking at $200.2 million in 2016.

Harris believes Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch, Mike’s son, will increase payroll in the future, though he didn’t reveal a timeline.

“From the moment I got here, Chris Ilitch said that we would have the resources we need to build a really competitive club and to build a club that can sustain winning over a long period of time,” Harris said on MLB Network, when asked if payroll will increase. “We’re not quite there yet as far as spending at that level because we need to build the foundation of this team to put us in a position to supplement it with free agent signings in the upcoming winters.

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“I have confidence that the resources will be there. The Ilitch family has always supported the Tigers, and they are ready and eager to do it. I’m actually sitting in the world headquarters for Little Caesars because we have scouting meetings across the street at Little Caesars. I’m confident that the resources will be there. We just have to develop the core that we’re going to spend around, and we also have to target the players in upcoming winters that can really help us.”

The Tigers’ payroll ranks 23rd in the 2024 season, at $106.5 million, nearly $60 million lower than the average of all 30 teams. Javier Báez, a struggling shortstop signed to a six-year, $140 million contract by former general manager Al Avila, is making $25 million, which equates to 23.5% of the total payroll this season.

The Tigers ranked 20th in payroll last season, at $121.5 million.

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It’s unclear if the Tigers are close to completing the foundation, and therefore, it’s unclear if the Tigers are close to spending big like Harris believes will happen at some point.

Former No. 1 overall picks Spencer Torkelson and Casey Mize — drafted and developed by the Avila regime — aren’t performing like franchise cornerstone players, while former No. 5 overall pick Riley Greene is a streaky hitter for the third season in a row. Colt Keith, who inked a club-friendly contract extension before his first game, is starting to settle in as a rookie. Late-round picks Tarik Skubal and Kerry Carpenter have been steady studs, along with Reese Olson, but Skubal — an American League Cy Young candidate — is going to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

“We’re a young team that’s still finding our way,” Harris said of the 2024 Tigers, currently at 26-27 overall and in fourth place in the American League Central. “We’ve shown some flashes of some really exciting play on both sides of the ball. I think we’re searching for that consistency that comes with maturation of young hitters and young starting pitchers in the big leagues. With youth often comes variance, and I think we’re living week to week here, but we’ve seen a lot of positive signs under the hood and some of those are translating to performance in recent weeks.”

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The Tigers only have two more full seasons of Skubal.

If the window isn’t open now, when will it open?

Jackson Jobe, a 21-year-old elite pitching prospect, isn’t close to getting out of Double-A Erie and seems more likely to make his MLB debut in 2025. Max Clark, a 19-year-old center fielder whom Harris selected No. 3 overall in the 2023 draft, is down in Low-A Lakeland playing alongside 19-year-old shortstop Kevin McGonigle, the No. 37 overall pick in 2023.

The bad Báez contract comes off the books after the 2027 season. After this year, Báez is owed $25 million in 2025, $24 million in 2026 and $24 million in 2027.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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Last week, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) approved funding for three developments across Detroit with affordable housing components.

The most notable development is of the Higginbotham School, located at 8730 Chippewa Street near Wyoming and 8 Mile. The historic school, listed on the National Register for Historic Places, will have two additional new construction buildings next to it, with a total of 100 units between the three buildings. All units will be reserved for tenants between 30% to 80% Area Median Income (AMI). A community and non-profit space is also part of this development.

The $36 million development is led by URGE Development. MSHDA approved $25 million in total funding. 

MSHDA also approved funding for upgrades to the Peterboro Place Apartments, located at Peterboro and Woodward. The board approved $14.7 million for the project, which has 70 permanent supportive housing units, with seven of those as accessible units. Residents of the building have rental assistance options for homelessness and support services.

The third development, Minock Park Place Apartments, is for seniors in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhoods. The $22 million project received $12.8 million in loans. The new four-story building will have 36 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments, with 24 for tenants earning up to 60% AMI, and 18 for tenants earning up to 50% AMI.

“The developments approved by the Board this month will have a large impact on some of Detroit’s most vulnerable residents,” said Amy Hovey, CEO and Executive Director at MSHDA. “Projects like these reflect our mission of partnering to provide quality affordable housing.”