The Detroit Tigers fired their Triple-A manager, Gabe Alvarez, for what they said was an “inappropriate” text to a female co-worker. He says it was just supposed to be a “joke.”
On Tuesday, the Tigers surprised many in and around Minor League Baseball when they announced they were firing Alvarez, the manager of the Toledo Mud Hens. Initially, the Tigers stated that they fired Alvarez “due to a violation of club policy” with no further explanation, specifically saying that they would “have no further comment.”
Now, according to a statement Gabe Alvarez gave to ESPN, the full reason for his firing has been revealed.
“I sent a single text message to a colleague that I intended as a lighthearted joke,” Alvarez said in the statement. “Shortly after sending it, I recognized that the message was inappropriate and did not reflect the values and judgment I strive to uphold, and I immediately reached out to clarify my intent.
“I never intended to cause discomfort or offense, and I regret that the message created this situation. This was an isolated incident and not reflective of my long-standing record of professionalism, respect for colleagues, and conduct over the course of my career.”
After retiring as a player, Alvarez, 52, who played three seasons with the Tigers and San Diego Padres, became a coach at USC, where he attended college.
In his second season after joining the Tigers organization in 2022, he was named Eastern League Manager of the Year while coaching the Double-A Erie SeaWolves. He managed the SeaWolves for three seasons, achieving a 232-178 record and winning three division titles, before they named him the manager of the Mud Hens in 2025. Some considered him to be a possible managerial prospect at the Major League level.
The Detroit Tigers organization has been accused of misconduct towards women in the past
In September of 2025, The Athletic conducted and published an investigation that revealed that at least eight men, including four Detroit Tigers vice presidents and two former Tigers players who worked for the team as broadcasters, had been accused of misconduct toward women.
In the report, multiple current and former employees expressed concerns about the organization’s culture.
“The dysfunction is woven into the culture,” one current male employee said at the time. “It feels like a bunch of guys who can do whatever they want. It’s not a place women can feel safe.”
“There’s just been little things, things that it’s just like, okay, well, it’s because I’m a woman,” said a former female Tigers employee. “And I had never felt that way working in sports. … I’ve never felt that way or so belittled by people in a workplace until I worked for the Tigers.”