Scott Harris had a tough call at the end of an even tougher week, but two trades were a sign he gets it

A confession from Monday evening:

Someone was so busy writing a column immediately after the Casey Mize deadline deal that he missed a Tigers e-mail alert: Scott Harris would be available at 7:30 p.m. for a press conference with Harris offering explanations and revelations.

There would have been a couple of questions asked here, although nothing the noble media brethren didn’t deftly cover.

So, as a Tigers Trade Deadline unlike any we ever have seen from Motown’s baseball’s annals yet is digested, and after listening to Harris’ ample and even penitent details about all of Detroit’s dealings, a few next-day thoughts are offered, beginning with:

JUDGMENT: This was Harris’ best week running the Tigers since he came aboard in October, 2022. Discipline was an imperative. He could have rationalized that the Tigers had a playoff shot and needed to hang onto their two ace starters. But he knew, as some of us had concluded, the Tigers were light. They could get overly focused on 2026 and miss a rare chance to add talent that could put this team in prime-time shape in the American League Central for years to come.

It was viewed here before the deadline that the Tigers would get five or six players, heavy on pitchers, from Skubal and Mize swaps. Those trades not only could boost a system light on arms, but add muscle that could make Detroit a division winner and more potent playoff team in years ahead.

They did that while also bringing aboard a potential star hitter, outfielder Zyhir Hope, which also matched earlier thoughts on the relative brand of trade package Harris could expect from Skubal and/or Mize.

“It comes out of an area of relative need,” Harris said, explaining part of his decision in making the deadline deals. “There was an imbalance — a lot of position talent, and we were light on the pitching side.”

The Tigers needed quality, and quantity, and they seemingly got each in these August moves.

ACCOUNTABILITY: It was impressive, the — yes, humility — Harris displayed during his Monday retrospective. That’s not a trait we’ve necessarily seen.