A.J. Hinch Stands Firm: Detroit Tigers Not for Sale, Musk Fumes on X
LAKELAND, FLORIDA—Just five minutes ago, at 8:20 PM PDT on March 16, 2025, A.J. Hinch, the Detroit Tigers’ manager, dropped a bombshell that’s rocking the baseball world. In a press conference after today’s Spring Training practice, Hinch shut down wild rumors that billionaire Elon Musk was set to buy the Tigers for a jaw-dropping $3 billion. “This team’s not going anywhere,” Hinch said, his voice steady. “Not to Musk, not to anyone. Detroit’s ours.” The statement came out of nowhere, and it’s got fans cheering—while Musk, the Tesla titan, is spitting mad on X.
The buzz started last week when Musk, fresh off meddling in government budgets, tweeted about wanting to “revive Detroit” by buying its beloved baseball team. He threw out a $3 billion price tag, claiming he’d turn the Tigers into a “global brand” with high-tech stadium upgrades and a winning streak powered by his cash. Tigers fans weren’t sold—some even protested outside Comerica Park, waving “Not Your Toy, Elon” signs. Hinch, who led the team to the ALDS in 2024, wasn’t about to let Musk waltz in. “We’re building something real here,” he said. “No billionaire’s checkbook can replace that.”
Hinch’s defiance hit Musk like a fastball to the chest. Within minutes, the world’s richest man fired back on X, where he’s got 200 million followers. “Hinch thinks he owns Detroit? I’ll show him what $3B can do,” Musk posted at 8:23 PM PDT. He followed with a string of furious tweets, calling Hinch “a small-time coach with no vision” and vowing to “buy the whole damn league” if he had to. Musk even hinted at pulling Tesla jobs from Michigan as payback, tweeting, “Good luck with your economy now, Detroit.” Fans flooded X with reactions—some mocking Musk with memes of crying billionaires, others praising Hinch as a hero.
This isn’t just a baseball spat—it’s personal. Hinch, under contract through 2025, has turned the Tigers around since 2021, after his own scandal with the Astros. Musk, meanwhile, loves big swings, from SpaceX to Twitter. Buying the Tigers fits his pattern of flashy power plays. But Hinch, backed by owner Chris Ilitch, isn’t budging. “This isn’t about money,” Hinch said. “It’s about pride, fans, and a team that fights.” Ilitch hasn’t commented, but sources say he’s not tempted by Musk’s billions—not yet.
As Spring Training rolls on, tomorrow’s game against the Pirates just got spicier. Will Musk double down? His X rant’s still going—by 8:25 PM PDT, he’d posted 10 times, including a jab: “Tigers haven’t won a Series since ’84. I’d fix that.” For now, Hinch’s holding the line, and Detroit’s rallying behind him. Musk might have cash, but Hinch has the city’s heart.
