Tigers Will Keep An "Open Mind" In Searching For Ausmus' Replacement

(UPDATED) DETROIT, MI — Detroit Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus will not return as manager for the 2018 season. Al Avila, Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager, made the announcement Friday afternoon prior to the team’s game with the Minnesota Twins.

Ausmus led the Tigers to a playoff in his rookie season as manager in 2014, compiling a 90-72 record. But the team slumped badly the following year, winning only 74 games. As of today, Ausmus’ overall record stands at 312-325 for a .490 winning percentage, according to baseball-reference.com.

Ausmus told the media after the announcement that he didn’t play to return, even if the Tigers’ wanted him back:

Ausmus took the reigns from popular veteran manager Jim Leyland, who twice led the team to the World Series. Fans questioned his hiring from the start, wondering why a veteran team with a win-now mentality would hire an unproven manager.

Avila told MLB.com that a search for Ausmus' replacement has already started.

"We plan to keep an open mind in considering current members of the coaching staff for positions in 2018," he said, "but that will be in conjunction with the manager we hire."

Avila said the Tigers rough 2017 wasn't entirely Ausmus' fault. "Brad has done an admirable job under, at times, difficult circumstances -- especially this season -- and we appreciate his professionalism and dedication to the Tigers the past four years."

A former Detroit Tigers’ player, Ausmus’ is highly regarded by baseball pundits. Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons made no bones about his feelings in a Twitter post:

Fans seemed to agree. One even speculated that Ausmus could reunite with former Detroit Tigers’ General Manager Dave Dombrowski in Boston:

In the past few days, members of the media that cover the Tigers on a day-to-day basis noted that Ausmus’ tenure might be up. They noted his using the term “the manager” when talking about the team’s chances in 2018.

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