Tigers manager Brad Ausmus’ contract expires after the season, and as the club rebuilds, his future is unclear, Evan Woodbery of the MLive Media Group writes. “I can’t say that’s out of the question,” GM Al Avila said when asked about the possibility Ausmus would return for 2018. “I haven’t talked to him about it at this point. At some point we’ll sit down when we have some time and things settle down and we’ll see where that goes.” Ausmus himself declined to say anything too specific about the situation, though he did note that he thinks “there’s a lot of upside to young players because of the enthusiasm and energy and will to learn.” Last year, Ausmus expressed frustration about his uncertain future, only to have the Tigers pick up his option. Now there are no more options remaining on his deal, and the franchise appears to be heading in a different direction. He’s compiled a 308-310 record in most of four seasons in Detroit. Here’s more from the Central divisions.
- After dealing Justin Verlander and Justin Upton this week, the Tigers will continue to get younger, promoting third baseman Jeimer Candelario and righty Myles Jaye today, as Woodbery notes. The 23-year-old Candelario, who the Tigers acquired in July in the deal that sent Alex Avila and Justin Wilson to Chicago, has batted .265/.343/.484 at the Triple-A level this year. He ranks fourth in MLB.com’s list of the Tigers’ top prospects. With Nick Castellanos transitioning to the outfield, there is (or could eventually be) space open for Canedelario at third base. Jaye, 25, has posted a 3.96 ERA, 7.9 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 131 2/3 innings in the rotations of Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers added him in a March 2016 trade that sent Bryan Holaday to Texas.
- Cubs shortstop Addison Russell hasn’t played in a game since Aug. 2 due to an ongoing case of plantar fasciitis, and manager Joe Maddon informed the media that he’ll be out for another three weeks after aggravating the injury during a rehab assignment (link via MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat). An MRI confirmed the setback. With Russell on the shelf for another three weeks, the Cubs will continue to lean on Javier Baez as their primary shortstop, though Chicago also selected the contract of versatile utilityman Mike Freeman yesterday. Freeman isn’t likely to see many starts, but he gives Maddon some depth at the position and some insurance in the event of an injury to Baez. Here’s more from the Central divisions.
- Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy offered a candid assessment of his opt-out clause when speaking with Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. “It would be pretty stupid if I did,” said Kennedy when asked about the possibility of exercising that clause. “You don’t go to the free-agent market pitching how I’ve been. No one is going to want that.” Set to turn 33 in December, Kennedy started the season with a strong April and has had some patches of success in 2017. However, he’s been shelled for 36 runs in his past 36 1/3 innings, allowing 49 hits (nine homers) and 17 walks against 30 strikeouts in that time. His current 5.47 ERA would be the worst full-season mark of his career and all but eliminates the possibility of forgoing the remaining three years and $43MM on his contract. Royals fans will want to check out Dodd’s column in full, as it’s packed with candid quotes from Kennedy and additional insight from manager Ned Yost.
If the Tigers are smart they try to keep him and sign him to an extension, not the year to year BS they parroted last off season. To lay the mess the Tigers have become on Ausmus is patently unfair (but what fans tend to do). One of the better young minds in the game, and he has shown a lot of growth in his tenure with the Tigers. He works well with the younger players especially. Why waste all that on the job training only to have him go succeed elsewhere? If I am Ausmus, I am going to become a free agent if they do not offer a multi year extension.
The FO is to blame. The amount of bad contracts they have is ridiculous
The contracts they gave were bad for sure, but they cleared out a couple of huge contracts with the Upton and Verlander trades. Should’ve at least moved Kinsler as well but I’m sure there wasn’t much interest
They only have Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez left for “bad contracts.”
*and Zimmerman
Problem is they owe Cabrera 30 mill per year for like the next 7 seasons. That’s more than just “a bad contract”. Mike Illitch ran the organization payroll wise like a major market team which Detroit is not. Now they are left holding the bag. Still to this day as a Tiger fan I do not understand why the FO felt the need to extend Cabrera to a contract of that value and more specifically that length. And I don’t want to hear about hindsight being 20/20. Extending a player for that long at that price has worked out when? Especially since player in question is under contract until he is…..42 I think?!?!
Agree 100%. The atmosphere is so toxic up there maybe it would be best for him to test the market first and see what is open
you are horribly off base in your assessment of ausmus. he’s one of the worst managers in the league and the tigers have thoroughly underachieved under his watch. they would crazy to bring him back, and if they don’t, there is zero chance he immediately gets another shot at managing somewhere else
The Tigers were not a good team. Blame the FO not Ausmus
That’s what casual fans say about nearly every manager.
Nats, Mets, Cards, Detroit, etc.
Baez will be fine he does everything very well should get a gold glove for his work
“Ian Kennedy offered a candid assessment of his opt-out clause… ‘It would be pretty stupid if I did.'”
Pretty selfish if you didn’t.
That’s as dumb as saying a guy is selfish for exercising his no trade clause.
And you’d do the same thing in a heartbeat if you were in his position.
Brad that has to be one of the most amazingly ignorant posts I have seen
Never understood how lowly Padres give their mgr a new contract ( over 33 games back!) but Brad has never had that security with Tigers.
Padres have tried to be terrible, Tigers (until the past month or so) have tried to be good. That’s the difference
What does one have to do with the other?
6 years, $184mm left on the Cabrera contract. What I don’t understand is how the rest of baseball world can see how bad the contracts are when signed, but the owners think it’s a good idea. Yes you shed some really bad contracts, but you have a gaping hole for the next 6 years, paying this guy a AAV of $31 million. As much as you want to get younger and start rebuilding, a contract like that could hinder that process for the next 5-6 years
I could see the Mets signing Ausmus after the season, if the Tigers don’t. I think he would be a good fit over there, with their more traditional front office.
Brad Ausmus shows no imagination when making a lineup card. For example, Upton batted sixth most of the season while players batting below .260 were at the top of the lineup. He leaves pitchers in too long. He fails to use the intentional walk in strategic places. Case in point, July 2, Jose Ramirez hit a 3 run HR, his second of the game, with runners on second and third base. He took over a team that was better than the team Leyland took to the ALCS in 2013. As of September 1, 2017, Brad has 308 wins and 313 losses in four years. . How anyone can continue to defend his amateurish approach to managing a top-notch team (in pre-season, Mad Dog Russo picked the Tigers to win the 2017 World Series) is beyond me. Brad should have been gone on June first of this season when there was still hope.
You’re using batting average to determine where a player should bat in the line up? Really? Also he leaves pitchers in too long because he doesn’t have many reliable options on his staff. And anyone who picked the 2017 Tigers to win the World Series should have been put out to pasture years ago.
Did it occur to you that Russo is not a hood judge of team talent? Why does batting average alone dictate the order? Did you want Upton hitting leadoff? Huh? So Ramirez hit a homer … so he needs to be intentionally walked? Was it the same oitcher? Score? Inning? Etc?
It sounds like yo do not understand the game too well so I would not think you could identify a good manager
As far as Miguel Cabrera goes, a rebuilding team that’s not going to be close to their payroll ceiling for 3 years at least is exactly the kind of team that can afford to pay someone a massive salary as he declines. It’s not a good thing to have the contract on the books, but it’ll be a long time before it’s squeezing the team.
Why did Kennedy even ask for an opt out? He got like double what he was worth in the first place.
Ha, this is a pretty good question. Guessing KC was simply unwilling to any higher money – wise and so he got the opt-out as a consolation (and, as you know, the opt – out is always player – friendly, despite some fans incorrectly perceiving it as mutually – beneficial).
Yeah, if he could’ve gotten, say, 5/$85M with no opt – out, he should’ve taken it, because the odds that he would opt – out were basically zero from the day that he signed
If he could have gotten one more dollar with no opt out he should have taken that
Lol yeah, that’s probably true. Maybe he wanted flexibility in case he really hated Kansas City, idk.
Hates it more than he likes being paid double what he’s worth?