DETROIT ¨C Tigers assistant general manager Sam Menzin resigned last week amidst an investigation into alleged improper conduct, sources told MLB.com. The Athletic reported that two former Tigers employees and another non-Tigers employee said Menzin sent them unsolicited lewd photos.
¡°Upon being made aware of the allegations as to Sam Menzin¡¯s conduct, the club promptly completed an investigation,¡± the Tigers said in a statement to The Athletic. ¡°Before the club could terminate Mr. Menzin, he resigned. This type of behavior is contrary to our standards and has absolutely no place within our organization. We have a positive and safe culture for our colleagues and will continue to emphasize respect, inclusion, and professionalism.¡±
The Athletic reported that a human resources official for the Tigers was in contact with women last week inquiring if they had received lewd photos.
Menzin was one of the longest-tenured members of the Tigers front office when he abruptly resigned on Thursday. He began with the club as a baseball operations intern under then-president/GM Dave Dombrowski in 2012 before gaining a full-time role as an analyst and baseball operations coordinator. He became director of baseball operations and pro scouting under GM Al Avila, then was promoted to assistant GM in 2021. He ran the club¡¯s baseball operations on an interim basis after Avila was dismissed in August 2022 until Scott Harris took over as president of baseball operations at season¡¯s end.
Menzin stayed on as an assistant GM under Harris, handling player acquisitions, contract negotiations, arbitration, payroll projections and MLB rules compliance. He also oversaw upgrades at the Tigers¡¯ Lakeland facility.
Menzin was with the team in Spring Training and into the season. He was working in the office as recently as Thursday, according to a source, before the abrupt resignation. At the time, the team would not disclose a reason, confirming only that Menzin resigned.