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Detroit Tigers News: Chris Ilitch Doesn’t Technically Own the Tigers

By Matt Snyder

Nov 22, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; (Left to right) Detroit mayor Mike Duggan and Christopher Ilitch and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores react during a press conference at Cass Tech High School. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; (Left to right) Detroit mayor Mike Duggan and Christopher Ilitch and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores react during a press conference at Cass Tech High School. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Tigers news takes a look at the club’s ownership situation after the passing of venerable team owner Mike Ilitch.

Christopher Ilitch has taken over day-to-day ownership duties of the Detroit Tigers following the death of his father, Mike Ilitch, but details of the team’s actual ownership structure aren’t entirely clear

According to Bill Shea of Crain’s Detroit, Chris Ilitch will indeed continue to operate the club but the actual ownership stake was transferred to a family trust.

"Details of the trust arrangement are private, and the family isn’t commenting on its structure. The Ilitch family issued a succession-planning statement in May 2016 that confirmed Chris Ilitch would continue to oversee their holdings, but it didn’t reveal specifics of ownership structures.…While the trust’s structure is unknown, Malis said it’s possible that Marian Ilitch could be named the beneficiary of the trust (and receive income from the trust) while Chris Ilitch is the controlling trustee. MLB allows such arrangements because its gambling prohibition applies to a trust’s controlling trustee, not its beneficiary."

Wherever the money ends up, it seems clear that the Tigers will be operated differently under Chris Ilitch’s control. The days of overspending revenue are likely gone for good. The club will have to invest more heavily in draft and development and won’t be able to rely on making big splashes in free agency with much regularity.

It will be very interesting to see how ownership reacts to the Tigers’ eventual success or failure in 2017. Will they be quick to unload contracts if they get off to a slow start? Will they be able to acquire reinforcements at the trade deadline if they’re in a pennant chase?

Based on general manager Al Avila’s offseason comments (and lack of adequate bench depth acquisitions), it doesn’t seem like there’s much more money available in the budget.

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Next: Detroit Tigers All-Time 25-Man Roster

The Tigers are likely headed for some lean years as they get their payroll under control and move toward a more sustainable budget. Do they have one more run in them before they have to break things down?

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