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Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila

By Darragh McDonald | August 10, 2022 at 11:58pm CDT

The Tigers announced that they have parted ways with executive vice president and general manager Al Avila, effective immediately, per a press release from the team. Sam Menzin, vice president and assistant general manager, will continue as the day-to-day contact for the team, per the release. The club’s chairman and CEO Christopher Ilitch says that he will oversee the search for Avila’s replacement.

“Once I decided to make a change, I sat down with Al and thanked him for his nearly 22 years of service to our organization,” Ilitch says in the press release. “Al’s loyalty and dedication has served as an example to all during his time as a leader in our baseball operations department. I will oversee the search process for our next baseball operations leader, in collaboration with several members of our baseball and business operations executive teams.”

Avila is also quoted in the release: “For nearly 22 years, I have given my heart and soul to this franchise, and I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch, along with Chris, for the opportunity and treating me and my family as their own,” he says. “We’ve celebrated successes and enjoyed great moments, and I’m proud to have worked with so many talented people in baseball operations and throughout the organization. I’ll cherish our friendships and the successes we all celebrated together. To Tigers fans, you’re the best and you deserve a winner. I wish the results would have been better this season but know there is a lot to look forward to in the coming years.”

Avila, 64, has been the club’s general manager for a few years now, taking over in late 2015 when Dave Dombrowski departed. The club has effectively been in a deep rebuild for the entirety of his tenure, registering a winning percentage below .400 for four straight seasons from 2017 to 2020. They showed some signs of promise last year and then acted aggressively this winter, hoping to return to contention this season. However, they’ve instead suffered a dismal campaign, compounded by various injuries, resulting in a club sporting a record of 43-68, ahead of only the A’s among American League teams. With the rebuild struggling to bear fruit, it seems the club has decided to change course and will begin looking for a new front office arrangement for the upcoming offseason.

Though Avila’s been the key front office person in Detroit for seven years now, his time with the club actually goes back much farther. He was first hired in 2002, having already accrued a decade of experience in baseball, first with the Marlins and then the Pirates. His first role with the Tigers was assistant general manager and vice president, until his promotion, which made him the first Cuban-born general manager in baseball history.

When he took over as general manager in August of 2015, the rebuild had essentially already begun, as the club traded David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria prior to the trade deadline, while Dombrowski was still at the helm. The club managed to put up a winning record in 2016 but was dismal in the seasons after that. They bottomed out in 2019, going 47-114 for a winning percentage of just .292.

Of course, one benefit of poor seasons is the ability to restock the farm system, with the Tigers having a number of high profile first round draft picks in recent years. Matt Manning, Alex Faedo, Casey Mize, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Jackson Jobe and Jace Jung have been the club’s first round picks since Avila took over, with both Mize and Torkelson having been selected first overall.

With some of that group reaching the majors in recent years, the club had a decent showing in 2021. Their 77-85 record was much more palatable than previous seasons, leading the team to believe it was time to act aggressively and be done with the tanking process. The Tigers followed through by spending big, giving a $140MM contract to Javier Baez, $77MM to Eduardo Rodriguez, $13MM to Andrew Chafin and $5.5MM to Michael Pineda. The club also turned to the trade market, acquiring Tucker Barnhart from the Reds and Austin Meadows from the Rays.

Unfortunately, all of those moves have failed to work out for various reasons, which only compounded other issues on the roster. The mercurial Baez is hitting .220/.262/.372 on the season for a wRC+ of 77. Rodriguez has only made eight starts for the team due to injuries and personal issues. Chafin has pitched well but he can opt-out of the second year of his deal, which he seems likely to do. Pineda has only made ten starts due to injuries and has a 5.27 ERA on the year. Barnhart has hit .198/.258/.228 for a wRC+ of 41, while Meadows has only played 36 games due to various injuries.

In addition to the struggles of the new additions, the club’s core pieces also failed to deliver in different ways. Former first overall pick Spencer Torkelson made the Opening Day roster but struggled enough to get optioned down to the minors last month. Riley Greene missed the start of the season due to injury and has hit at a below-average level since joining the team. Matt Manning has been limited to just four starts on the year due to injuries, while Mize made just two appearances before Tommy John surgery ended his season.

Not all of that can be placed at Avila’s feet, of course, certainly not the injuries. Still, after years and years of agonizing rebuilding, the club and its fans were surely hoping for more signs of good things to come over the horizon and have found little to none of it this year.

Ilitch and the Tigers will now try to find a new leader to guide the team into its next stage. Given the club’s struggles this year, the organization will be looking ahead to another strong draft position next summer, in order to add to the talent youngsters who, despite their struggles in 2022, could still be key players in seasons to come. There’s also another important pivot point coming up over the horizon, as the last guaranteed season of Miguel Cabrera’s massive contract is 2023, which will free up both a roster spot and plenty of payroll space. The person who decides how to handle those situations in the future will be determined in the months to come.

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266 Comments

  1. BrianBrian

    3 years ago

    dude did everything wrong besides drafting

    31
    Reply
    • GMoney2850

      3 years ago

      Lol he drafted Spencer 0for4kelson first overall brah

      18
      Reply
      • cwalla24

        3 years ago

        I get the feeling that almost every other GM would’ve done the same that year though

        40
        Reply
        • misunderestimated

          3 years ago

          The Tigers have failed miserably to develop any position players under Avila.

          And a GM shouldn’t be celebrated for “finding” talent with top 5 picks every year. One, it means the big club sucks yearly. Two, any GM can “find” talented prospects with continual top five picks.

          Reply
        • kcmark

          3 years ago

          Not really. Go look at how many Top picks fail while lower round players excel. It’s not so much who you draft but how you develop them.

          7
          Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          No the tigers haven’t developed a position player in 30 years

          Reply
        • Samuel

          3 years ago

          kcmark;

          B I N G O !

          4
          Reply
        • Rsox

          3 years ago

          Tony Clark, Chris Gomez, Curtis Granderson, Bobby Higginson, Juan Encarnacion, Gabe Kapler, Brandon Inge, Deivi Cruz, Danny Bautista, Alex Avila, James McCann, Omar Infante, Robert Fick, Ramon Santiago, Brennan Boesch…

          1
          Reply
        • misunderestimated

          3 years ago

          @kcmark

          Our thoughts are more aligned than you think. The heralded prospects for the Tigers have been Tork, Greene, Mize and other who were very high first round picks. Any GM can “find” highly touted prospects when picking in the top 5 continually. The Tigers have failed to develop them.

          Outside of Skubal, his other draft picks outside haven’t worked out either by identifying talent properly or a failure to develop them. Anyway you slice it, Avila failed miserably.

          1
          Reply
        • Datashark

          3 years ago

          Tigers Avila Era picks with best pick

          2012 AJ Minter (didnt sign but at least had knowledge to draft him) – overall 2012 was a bust and leaned on Devon Travis who didnt pan out.

          2013 (1st round) Corey Knebel/ (27rd) Joe Mantiply/ AJ Puk (another non-signee)

          2014 completely a bust

          2015 completely a bust so far

          2016 (4th rd) Kyle Funkhouser pitiful best of draft here

          2017 Another bust draft so far

          2018 (1st) Casey Mize, (3) Cody Clemens, (9)Tarik Skubal

          2019 (1) Riley Green

          2020 (1) Torkelson

          Tigers need to revamp their scouting and developing of players – this is a very sad showing.

          2
          Reply
      • Big whiffa

        3 years ago

        Nice one G money !

        3
        Reply
      • xXTheFETTXx

        3 years ago

        Tork was the top pick of that draft. Are you too stupid how to get draft development, drah?

        6
        Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          Tork is no longer going to be a guy who can carry a team.. His future is pretty well determined.

          Reply
        • Samuel

          3 years ago

          Robert Pierce;

          Who ever said that Tork was “a guy who can carry a team”? Where had he ever show that. How many MLB players “carry a team”? Position players hit once every 9 times. Starters pitch once every 5 or so games.

          Reply
    • amk1920

      3 years ago

      Even that’s debatable. He picked Jobe over Mayer

      9
      Reply
      • Reeve1995

        3 years ago

        Exactly the move that popped into my head.

        Reply
      • panic in detroit

        3 years ago

        That was one I couldn’t justify

        Reply
      • panic in detroit

        3 years ago

        And Simon had a terrible year and never was seen again

        Reply
      • panic in detroit

        3 years ago

        Don’t think him and Dombrowski are on speaking terms

        Reply
      • LouWhitakerHOF

        3 years ago

        Yeah don’t understand that one either, Jobe over Mayer.

        Reply
    • xXTheFETTXx

      3 years ago

      Wow…a MLB scout drafting well. Too bad his top picks haven’t panned out.

      Maybe, and this is just a thought, he wasn’t good at his job.

      1
      Reply
    • Yep it is

      3 years ago

      The Royals still have 20% Moore. I just don’t get it.

      Reply
      • kcmark

        3 years ago

        Have you been watching them since the trade deadline? Witt, Melendez, Pasquantino, Massey, Prato, the position players are arriving just as the pitchers are figuring it out. Singer, Lynch, Bubic….

        And they still have prospects to deal for a big time bat or arm.

        Reply
        • Samuel

          3 years ago

          kcmark;

          Last year at this time I read that the Royals pitchers were “figuring it out”.

          1
          Reply
    • The Saber-toothed Superfife

      3 years ago

      And…didn’t hire the Superfife.

      Reply
    • iverbure

      3 years ago

      I don’t think he did a great job by any means but any team that loses nearly their entire starting rotation to injuries is going to struggle badly.

      2
      Reply
      • misunderestimated

        3 years ago

        Other teams like the Rays still win. They had 17 on the injured list and just came through Detroit taking 3 of 4 while maintaining a wildcard spot.

        The biggest problem was the historically bad offense Al assembled of which only Meadows has missed any significant time. Terrible results, undeveloped talent, atrocious FA signings and lost trades are the real reason Avila is now mercifully gone.

        3
        Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          Odd when every decision you make turns up Snakeyes, for 7 years. Now 1 draft you made is is a sure bet. 50×7, 350 players not 1 sure thing. You’re going to lose your job

          1
          Reply
    • hozie007

      3 years ago

      To be fair….the Dombrowski era and Avila era as Tigers GM’s are two very different era’s – Dombrowski was given authority to spend a substantial amount of money to sign draft picks and All-star caliber FA’s at the behest of Mr. Ilitch to win a WS before he died….unfortunately they came close but that didn’t happen. After Mr. Ilitch died, his son took over and moved to reduce payroll but keep a team on the field sufficient to compete. Tigers haven’t been seriously competitive since 2014. Time for new blood.

      1
      Reply
      • Robert Pierce

        3 years ago

        But Avila had 7 years, 350 players drafted, and a free agent period to sign players with some money. How did that work out? He failed on 2 #1 draft picks

        Reply
    • alproof

      3 years ago

      He also traded Michael Fulmer (instead of that piece of garbage Gregory Soto) and got his usual worthless pile of garbage.

      Reply
      • TroyVan

        3 years ago

        Actually, that Gipson-Long kid has had two very strong starts at Erie. Even I was surprised.

        1
        Reply
    • Show all 31 replies
  2. Edp007

    3 years ago

    Somebody’s gonna get a boat load of desperate ownership cash to try and fix this mess lol

    2
    Reply
    • GabrielJames

      3 years ago

      Perfect job for Theo Epstein to finally show everyone how overrated he is.

      17
      Reply
      • User 4245925809

        3 years ago

        Epstein is good with drafting and building an organization, same with trades for the most part. Where he is awful at is with FA’s.

        Detroit has had poor GM’s for a long time. Avilla put them in a position bad enough of being able to draft Torkelson and the teams have not really improved. Dombrowski was Dombrowski.. Emptying every kid he could and paying overage veterans way to much forever.

        Epstein wouldn’t be bad.. As just a GM, who has someone over his head to put a stop to the rotten FA deals he always makes. Avilla was not better his short time, E-Rod wasn’t hard to spot as a bad sign, some of us Sox fans pretty much knew he was a bad deal waiting to happen.

        8
        Reply
        • MuleorAstroMule

          3 years ago

          Baez was a head-scratcher too, honestly. There’s no way that skill set ages well.

          31
          Reply
        • funkytime

          3 years ago

          Johnsilver, you show you have no idea what you’re talking about when you call Dombrowski a bad GM. He took over the worst team in the league in Detroit and had them in the World Series in 4 seasons. And they were perennial contenders under him. He also built the Expos into contenders, and build a World Series winning team in Miami of all places, while also obviously winning one with the Red Sox. He’s made every team he’s ever run into contenders.

          Sounds like the only things you know about him is what the media said about him when he was run out of Boston.

          24
          Reply
        • robert-5

          3 years ago

          Partial agree, he is pretty good at certain aspects of building a team and identifying talent, but definitely sketchy w big FA signings – but who isn’t, those deals are often busts.
          He is probably best suited to a team President type role where he isn’t the one responsible for signing contracts but can point out targets to a shrewd negotiating GM. That would be ideal.

          2
          Reply
        • Samuel

          3 years ago

          Robert;

          He seem to be doing quite well with the Phillies.

          If things keep going the way they are he’s up for ‘Executive of the Year’.

          2
          Reply
        • Phaedrus002

          3 years ago

          Plus, dude is a free-swinger. That works in a bandbox like Wrigley, but in Detroit it a graveyard for long fly balls. Improve the defense, get some rabbits that can make contact vs striking out and turn those gappers into doubles and triples….Or, get some pitching depth and bring the fences in to encourage more homeruns (that’s a double-edged sword)

          2
          Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          Dembrowski was a great GM in Detroit. Name all the prospect he traded away they regretted. He traded prospects for proven talent, rarely lost a trade. Even the bad signings he made he recovered from with schrewed deals. From 2006 to 2012, he did was was called a rebuild on the fly, really who does that in this day and age. He never fixed the bullpen which is why he never was a ring in Detroit, but he is a good GM

          13
          Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          Theo Epstein is the greatest gm/team president in all of PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. He ended 2 100 year team droughts for 2 different organizations. That’s never been done be before ever, it will never happen again.
          That man knows talent and how to run an organization.

          2
          Reply
        • Airo13

          3 years ago

          The tigers farm was fools gold. Eugenio Suarez for Alfredo Simon was for sure a DD mistake though. Dombrowski did make some great trades with the tigers overall. Him and Illitch’s desire to win one before he died are the main reason the tigers are what they are now though.

          2
          Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          I don’t think they regret the Suarez signing now, he had 3 good seasons. 2 all star type years. The rest not so good

          Reply
        • Airo13

          3 years ago

          Simon was abysmal. Suarez could have at least been a good trade chip later on. That was one trade that had me scratching head the second I heard about it. Not like Simon had much of a track record. Tigers traded for him after one good season at age 34…

          2
          Reply
        • Dogs

          3 years ago

          Plus, while in Detroit, he had to put up with Mike Illich butting in & signing players & offering long overpriced extensions which put him at a huge disadvantage. Dave is still my favorite GM & wish he would/could come back.

          3
          Reply
        • Sky14

          3 years ago

          He essentially pioneered tanking. Once those high draft picks were gone, he couldn’t keep it together.

          Reply
        • paddyo furnichuh

          3 years ago

          Easiest way to know when someone’s analysis is off base, the term “always,” is used.

          Reply
      • jk

        3 years ago

        Preller will be available soon

        12
        Reply
        • bronyaur1

          3 years ago

          Doubtful. He just signed a new long term deal.

          Reply
        • Edp007

          3 years ago

          Gotta be a Zep fan

          Reply
      • Louholtz22

        3 years ago

        Seriously? How in the hell is Theo overrated? Boston hadn’t won a WS in forever. They got three rings. How many have the Yankees and Dodgers had recently? One. He also got one with the Cubs. Lame take

        5
        Reply
        • robert-5

          3 years ago

          Truth is he can build an organization, but he can’t figure out how to maintain it when the team is actually winning at the ML level, he couldn’t pull the trigger and trade Kris Bryant to restock the farm when he was still putting up decent numbers but the team was getting worse. He couldn’t trade Schwarber after the ‘19 season when he put up an .870 OPS, so they end up cutting him (why?!?) and got NOTHING for him.
          They traded lots of talent away for rentals and could not restock the farm or develop ANY of their own pitching. None! Will always be grateful for Theo and Jed, but it was definitely time for Theo to move on, and he recognized it.

          1
          Reply
    • Show all 20 replies
  3. AshamedMethGoat

    3 years ago

    Midseason, no less.

    1
    Reply
    • Ham Fighter

      3 years ago

      There is 6 weeks to play

      10
      Reply
      • Jon M

        3 years ago

        Is that not midseason?

        5
        Reply
        • Cosmo2

          3 years ago

          It is, it is

          1
          Reply
    • GarryHarris

      3 years ago

      The Tiger’s season has long been over.

      Reply
  4. Bustedstuff88

    3 years ago

    this is what happens when the suckage flows for too long…..

    DO BETTER DETROILET

    14
    Reply
  5. MadThinker

    3 years ago

    As the Rock used to say: FINALLY!!!

    18
    Reply
  6. pburns65

    3 years ago

    Cora and Bloom are next.

    3
    Reply
    • Ham Fighter

      3 years ago

      Cora should have been fired after that 28 run loss make Jason veritek manager

      17
      Reply
      • miltpappas

        3 years ago

        Cora should have been fired when he used Hansel Robles as if the guy were Trevor Hoffman.

        1
        Reply
        • iverbure

          3 years ago

          Cora should be fired if you only have a ten cent brain with the memory of a goldfish.

          1
          Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      3 years ago

      It’s funny, Cora is highly thought of by fellow managers and front office staff around the league. But I rarely hear any compliments about him from Joe Sixpack Sox Fan. He did get ya to a couple post season berths, did he not ?

      1
      Reply
  7. amk1920

    3 years ago

    A well deserved firing. Using your big contract capabilities on ERod and Baez is awful. They weren’t taking the next step with him

    24
    Reply
    • tiredolddude

      3 years ago

      Saw enough of Baez when he was a Cub to wonder what the Tigers were thinking. Whether you’d call him a showboat or prima Donna, it’s hard to imagine him as a positive influence on a team trying to rebuild.

      18
      Reply
      • solaris602

        3 years ago

        As a Cubs fan I was happy to see Baez sign anywhere except with CHC, and anyone who has seen him play regularly since he came up understands why. Not sure whose to blame for the ERod fiasco, but his 2022 season has been an expensive throwaway. Can’t recall a rebuild that has gone so wrong in so many ways for so many years. Regardless of luck and circumstances you gotta lay all of it at Avila’s feet.

        4
        Reply
        • Samuel

          3 years ago

          The recent Phillies rebuild was just as bad….maybe worse.

          5
          Reply
        • GareBear

          3 years ago

          I’d say the Rox too but they insist it’s not a rebuild so idk

          1
          Reply
    • Joe It All

      3 years ago

      You can blame him for signing them instead of others but it takes two to tango. It’s very possible that Rodriguez and Baez were the two best free agents who agreed to sign with Detroit. I’m not putting down the city of Detroit because it has its bright spots like all cities do but across the four major sports, Detroit has never been a city to attract marquee free agents. Aside from Brett Hull signing with the Red Wings and Pudge Rodriguez signing with the Tigers nobody comes to mind. I don’t consider Chauncey Billups to be a star the way some do and Prince Fielder unfortunately had his career cut short. Those are the top free agents Detroit has landed in the last quarter century.

      14
      Reply
      • hitztheball

        3 years ago

        Detroit is a great sports town. If you win, players will come. The Wings were considered the Yankees of hockey as they would outspend and players wanted to come here. 10 Hall of Famers on the 2002 team

        9
        Reply
        • Joe It All

          3 years ago

          The Red Wings were amazing then but how many of those Hall of Famers came to Detroit as a free agent and not through a trade or were homegrown players? Again, I’m not knocking Detroit, I just made a statement about free agency and the city of Detroit. It’s not a put down on Detroit by any means.

          1
          Reply
        • Tork

          3 years ago

          Hitztheball. Those late 90 early 2000s red wing teams were unreal. Good call

          Reply
        • jopeness

          3 years ago

          Yzerman and Fedorov were a sick duo

          Reply
        • jopeness

          3 years ago

          Yzerman and Fedorov were a sick duo, I still have my Redwing jersey from 1993

          Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterber, Kozlov, Yzerman, Federov,

          Reply
      • hitztheball

        3 years ago

        We’re the same coaches there when he had a career year last year?

        Reply
      • hitztheball

        3 years ago

        Were the same coaches there when he had a career year last year?

        Reply
      • sweet lou 4 hof

        3 years ago

        Magglio Ordonez, Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones, Torii Hunter, V Mart and Anibal Sanchez were all pretty decent free agent signings for the Tigers

        6
        Reply
        • Robert Pierce

          3 years ago

          Don’t forget the most important one Fernando Vina, because of him pudge came, then Magglio.

          Reply
      • GarryHarris

        3 years ago

        If a player thinks he’s too good for Detroit, he can go choke on himself in front of his mirror elsewhere.

        Reply
      • Robert Pierce

        3 years ago

        Have to pay more, corea was the better option. Avila and Illitch went with the off brand, and now will pay the price for it severely

        Reply
    • iverbure

      3 years ago

      No non playoff should sign any free agents to muti year contracts. That’s the rule.

      Reply
      • atmospherechanger

        3 years ago

        According to some on this site, only 1 way to do things around here.

        “The Model”.

        Playoff bound or Tank/Rebuild. All in or all out. Spend every penny to win or sell everything of value for Top Picks & The Prospects.

        Nothing says an organization doesn’t have the capacity to develop their young players like The Tank. Have to get the Top Ranked guys 5-8 years straight because their ability to develop their new crop of signees doesn’t exist. Never mind teams like the Dodgers & Rays have figured out how to bring forth streams of young players regardless of their draft position. Cleveland seemingly growing Pitching.

        The Tank sets the community & fans back for years waiting for the “competitive core” to come forth. Then realize The Model didn’t work. The trust of the fans is lost, so another plan is implemented.

        But at least..they followed The Model.

        Oh & another thing..if the MLBTR community determines you’re not a contender, you’ll not spend a dime on players of value. It’s not part of The Model.

        Reply
  8. MadThinker

    3 years ago

    As theRock used to say: FINALLY!!!!

    2
    Reply
  9. Nabillionaires Live for Crismania

    3 years ago

    Time to hire Alex Avila for the GM role now

    1
    Reply
    • neo

      3 years ago

      don’t be silly– Miggy is right there and needs something to do next year where he doesn’t need to pretend that he can go through a162

      Reply
    • neo

      3 years ago

      don’t be silly– Miggy is right there and needs something to do next year where he doesn’t need to pretend that he can go through a 162 game schedule.

      Reply
      • Dutch Vander Linde

        3 years ago

        Nah! he’s going to be the manager next year.

        Reply
      • Jon M

        3 years ago

        Don’t be silly!!

        1
        Reply
  10. Win Cor

    3 years ago

    Mike Schildt

    5
    Reply
    • hoof hearted

      3 years ago

      Agree

      Reply
  11. pinstripes17

    3 years ago

    Long overdue, one of the worst GMs of this era

    12
    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      3 years ago

      Former Tiger GM Randy Smith would like a word. He wants his “trophy” back!

      8
      Reply
      • Rsox

        3 years ago

        Smith may have been lousy but he made some epic trades:

        With the Padres
        1993: traded Gary Sheffield and Rich Rodriguez to the Marlins for Trevor Hoffman, Jose Martinez and Andres Berumam

        Traded Fred McGriff to the Braves for Melvin Nieves, Donnie Elliott and Vince Moore

        Traded Greg Harris and Bruce Hurst to the Rockies for Andy Ashby, Brad Ausmus and Doug Bochtler

        1994: traded Derek Bell, Phil Plantier, Ricky Gutierrez, Doug Brocail, Craig Shipley and Pedro Martinez (not that Pedro Martinez) for Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley, Andujar Cedeno, Brian Williams, Roberto Petagine and Sean Fresh

        1995: traded Andy Benes and Greg Keagle to the Mariners for Marc Newfield and Ron Villone

        With the Tigers
        1996: traded Sean Bergmann, Todd Steverson and Cade Gaspar to the Padres for Melvin Nieves, Richie Lewis and Raul Casanova

        Traded John Flahery and Chris Gomez to the Padres for Brad Ausmus, Andujar Cedeno and Russ Spear

        Traded Cecil Fielder to the Yankees for Ruben Sierra and Matt Drews

        Traded Greg Gohr to the Angels for Damion Easley

        Traded Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, C.J. Nitkowski, Trever Miller and Daryle Ward to the Astros for Brian Hunter, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and Doug Brocail

        1997: traded Travis Fryman to the Diamondbacks for Joe Randa, Gabe Alvarez and Matt Drews

        1999: traded Justin Thompson, Gabe Kapler, Frank Catalonotto, Francisco Cordero, Bill Haselman and Alan Webb to the Rangers for Juan Gonzalez, Gregg Zaun and Danny Patterson

        2000: traded Brad Ausmus, Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz (not that Nelson Cruz) to the Astros for Roger Cedeno, Chris Holt and Mitch Meluskey

        2001: traded Todd Jones to the Twins for Nark Redman

        Traded Juan Encarnacion and Luis Pineda to the Reds for Dmitri Young

        10
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        • GarryHarris

          3 years ago

          Randy Smith suffered from heavy owner interference.

          Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          3 years ago

          @Rsox That was an awesome swing down Memory Lane, thank you. Those were some epic trades. And it goes to show you what can happen to most prospects that GM’e (and fans) like to cling to…vast majority are total busts. Will see what happens to Volpe and Peraza lol.

          2
          Reply
        • nickolai

          3 years ago

          Thanks! That was fun to bring those memories back!

          Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      An elite baseball scout.

      If he doesn’t retire he might like to work out of the Philadelphia area.

      Reply
  12. Col_chestbridge

    3 years ago

    As a Guardians fan this is a sad day

    20
    Reply
    • solaris602

      3 years ago

      Bummer. Does this mean DET won’t be handing out albatross contracts like there’s no tomorrow?

      1
      Reply
  13. philsark94

    3 years ago

    The fruits of a long rebuild should have been visible by now. The sad truth is that it never happened. Continued calamity. Hopefully, brighter days are ahead for Detroit baseball.

    9
    Reply
    • bigjonempire

      3 years ago

      They had the #10 farm system by MLB.com and #13 by ESPN before the season started. They have talent there it just needs a bit of finishing school.

      1
      Reply
      • Robert Pierce

        3 years ago

        You know why the farm system was ranked so high. It’s because Greene and tork was still considered highly ranked prospects. Now today Greene is barely hanging on. And tork is probably done. They have 1 player in the top 100,and he is 2 years away. So how you rank their prospects today? Avila, was quoted as saying they need to trade skubal in order to restock their depleted postion player stock. You understand Avila was open to rebuilding,from his own rebuild, why would he do that if his farm system was so good?

        4
        Reply
        • For Love of the Game

          3 years ago

          Greene is 21 and Torkelson is 22. They are not “done.” Most future MLB stars are still in the minors, even still in college, at those ages.

          4
          Reply
        • misunderestimated

          3 years ago

          With Al’s reign mercifully ended, maybe they can finally develop talent. The Tigers haven’t produced a quality homegrown position player since what, Curtis Granderson? Certainly none under Avila.

          Reply
  14. Michael Hayes

    3 years ago

    NY GM Cashman should be next

    2
    Reply
    • daledantony

      3 years ago

      Why?

      1
      Reply
  15. JimmyForum

    3 years ago

    If they hire Theo Epstein by Friday, they can still make the playoffs

    15
    Reply
    • warnbeeb

      3 years ago

      LOL!!!

      Reply
    • Cat 7

      3 years ago

      HAHAHAHA

      Reply
    • Tork

      3 years ago

      Haha. My Twins sure as hell won’t be standing in there way! Doors wide open

      Reply
  16. mrfolgers

    3 years ago

    Sell the team, pizza man!

    6
    Reply
  17. Jm207* 2

    3 years ago

    Best thing to happen to this team outside of hiring Fetter in the past 7 years.

    7
    Reply
  18. warnbeeb

    3 years ago

    Actually Hinch should be bumped up to GM.

    3
    Reply
  19. Tacoshells

    3 years ago

    Wooooow

    Reply
  20. NashvilleJeff

    3 years ago

    Bet his son doesn’t even get asked about it the next time he’s on his analyst job at MLBTV.

    2
    Reply
  21. miggywrld

    3 years ago

    BEST DAY EVER FOR US TIGERS FANS

    16
    Reply
    • YakAttack

      3 years ago

      Yes. Yes it certainly is!

      4
      Reply
  22. Old York

    3 years ago

    Good. Another garbage time GM. I could have done better.

    2
    Reply
  23. dmazcomp

    3 years ago

    I suspected he’d be let go when they did nothing of note at the trade deadline. I wondered if, perhaps, he was not allowed to make any moves beyond the obvious ones. That said, I had more patience with him than most, but it was time.

    On a side note, I sat by him and Jim Leyland at a Mud Hens game about a year ago. They weren’t very fan friendly, even though all I did was briefly thank them for their years of service and stayed out of their hair. My impression was he didn’t get much kindness from fans. Made it hard for me to defend him after that.

    8
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    • El Duderino

      3 years ago

      I had many great times at the Mudhens and Clippers games back when I lived in Ohio. A true shame that they gave you a cold shoulder.

      2
      Reply
      • dmazcomp

        3 years ago

        I agree El Dude. Great venue for games. Wonderful atmosphere.

        No biggie on the cold shoulder. I’m sure people usually annoy them at games, but I didn’t ask for a handshake, picture, or autograph. I just said hi and thanks, and got a brief nod. In fairness to Leyland, he seemed to have a great deal of trouble hearing.

        1
        Reply
    • Mickey777

      3 years ago

      dmazcomp,
      I had the Extreme pleasure of sitting next to Dave Dombrowski at a Salem Red Sox game when he headed up the Sox. Couldn’t have been nicer! Talked baseball with him for 9 innings interrupted only by him posing for pictures with other fans. He had completed the Chris Sale trade and he told that the white Sox really wanted Benintendi in that trade but eventually settled for Yoan Moncada. One of the the best baseball nights of my life!!!

      10
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      • dmazcomp

        3 years ago

        Great story Mickey. Thanks for sharing. Wish my encounter went more like that. They were polite, but clearly not comfortable with being approached.

        1
        Reply
  24. LouWhitakerHOF

    3 years ago

    Tigers need a new GM and an owner willing to spend. ERod and Baez, the only two decent signings. And they both don’t want to be there.

    3
    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      According to the posters here……..

      Everyone does.

      Then every team can go to the World Series every year.

      1
      Reply
  25. Sideline Redwine

    3 years ago

    How did this take so long?

    6
    Reply
  26. stymeedone

    3 years ago

    This is scary for the direction of the team. At the start of the year, everyone was hopeful and positive about the outlook for the team. Injuries have decimated the performance, unfortunately. I really would have liked to see what this team could do if healthy. Everyone expected a push to .500 this year. Now someone new will come in. I don’t want to see this roster overhauled because he wants “his” players, not Avila’s. Seen it happen too many times. 10 starting pitchers going on the IL in one year is a fluke, and not the fault of the GM. If anyone should have been fired, its the hitting coaches.

    5
    Reply
    • getrealgone2

      3 years ago

      That’s what the Braves people are saying about Grossman. The Tigers’ hitting coaches screwed up his swing.

      1
      Reply
      • stymeedone

        3 years ago

        Grossman can’t really blame the hitting coaches, as they are the same ones that managed to get a career year out of him last year. My complaint is when Every player but Miggy got off to a poor start, these coaches showed no ability to get the players back on track. Baddoo, Schoop, Candelario, Grossman, Barnhart, Baez, all bad from day one. Only Haase has rebounded this year from his poor start.

        7
        Reply
    • Animalize

      3 years ago

      How and why are so many Tigers players getting injured?! Someone needs to figure this one out.

      Reply
  27. getrealgone2

    3 years ago

    Don’t really follow the Tigers. From the comments this is a good thing.

    2
    Reply
  28. sabres3277

    3 years ago

    It’s about time. Seven years of a rebuild and we are as bad as we ever were and his trades left a lot to be desired. Instead of convincing Ilitch to wait and spend a little more and sign Correa he decides to give over 20 Million a year to Baez who has never been able to hit a slider and is a strike out machine. He did draft some good pitching but until the last few years never addressed the hitting either through the draft or trades.

    7
    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      3 years ago

      Good points, but the Tiger did offer Correa far more dollars than he settled for in Minnesota.

      4
      Reply
      • stymeedone

        3 years ago

        And Correa is hitting .260 with declining power, and defense. Paying more than your own high bid would surely have been used against Avila as well.

        3
        Reply
  29. weaselpuppy

    3 years ago

    Inability to develop young talent and inability to move pieces when they had value, riding them to zero, then terrible dump trades where the prospects never amounted to anything.

    Really really poor job. Way too late, Illitch. Avila ain’t no DD and Chris isn’t Mike for damn sure…

    9
    Reply
  30. HalosHeavenJJ

    3 years ago

    Count me as one who thought the Tigers would take a step forward this year and was wrong. I didn’t think they’d win the division but I thought we’d see a competitive team with some youthful upside emerge.

    Not a bad gig for an incoming GM. Not the best, but there’s some nice young pitching talent, Torkleson, and the end of Miggy’s contract on the horizon.

    6
    Reply
  31. hook316

    3 years ago

    Updating my resume now to forward to Me Ilitch

    3
    Reply
  32. Rsox

    3 years ago

    Tiger fans everywhere breathe a collective sigh of relief that the Avila era has ended.

    If Theo Epstein were to take another GM job it would have to be in Cleveland where he would bring home a championship, completing the trifecta of ending Baseball’s largest championship droughts and cementing himself as a Baseball god

    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      Cleveland doesn’t need Theo……

      1. They aren’t a large market team with gobs incoming revenue to make up for the awful free agent signings.

      2. Their Baseball Ops guy understands pitching.

      2
      Reply
  33. CravenMoorehead

    3 years ago

    TBH Yankees GM Brian Cashman should be joining him in the unemployment category this winter if that team has another early playoff exit. It seems like for every good move he makes 2 awful ones.

    3
    Reply
  34. futuregm12

    3 years ago

    Here’s to hoping the Royals do the same

    1
    Reply
  35. misunderestimated

    3 years ago

    Hallelujah! The sun is shining. Birds singing. Today is glorious!

    4
    Reply
  36. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    3 years ago

    Too bad. I always liked Al.
    Just think they could have just hired me……sad.

    Reply
  37. chound

    3 years ago

    Awful GM. Long overdue.

    6
    Reply
  38. In nurse follars

    3 years ago

    A gm needs to be good lucky. Not many are. Or work for an owner who is so rich he can buy the best players available. And even then it’s all good luck that they come together for a magic season. Agreed, time for a change. But if you don’t have good luck, baseball offers lots of bad luck.

    3
    Reply
  39. GB85

    3 years ago

    The sea was angry that day, my friends.

    13
    Reply
    • Animalize

      3 years ago

      Titleist

      Reply
  40. ralphkramden55

    3 years ago

    It’s about time! Nearly every move Avila made turned out to be disastrous. A very inept GM. And Chris Ilitch even more inept as the owner of daddy’s team. Never even hear from the guy. Would love to see the team sold but highly unlikely.

    4
    Reply
  41. hyraxwithaflamethrower

    3 years ago

    The only surprise here is that it didn’t happen much, much sooner.

    6
    Reply
  42. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    3 years ago

    Sad, really.

    Reply
  43. sss847

    3 years ago

    let Motor City Dan Campbell have the job man

    3
    Reply
  44. amjr

    3 years ago

    About effing time!

    2
    Reply
  45. KingTiger

    3 years ago

    ’bout friggin’ time…
    This cat had many more than 9 lives.
    Not selecting Marcelo Mayer with the #4 pick last year was the final straw for me.
    Epstein would be OK, although I would prefer someone from the Tampa Bay GM Academy.
    Go Tigers!!!

    2
    Reply
    • Michael Macaulay-Birks

      3 years ago

      You can have bloom

      Reply
  46. TroyVan

    3 years ago

    I think it was a combination of his drafting and letting players hit .200 with no movement of those players whatsoever.

    Jackson Jobe was a bad pick. At the end of a rebuild, you don’t take a high school pitcher when time is of the essence and they are known to be high risk picks. The glaring hole was shortstop and to see the success that those shortstops are having must have irked Ilitch while seeing Jobe struggle a bit in the Florida Complex League.

    And his trades. Wow. Might as well have kept Fulmer. I think that was the last straw.

    3
    Reply
  47. Tacoshells

    3 years ago

    Ohhhh so sad :'(

    Reply
  48. Lefty_Orioles_Fan

    3 years ago

    Avila lost his way… honestly I am not surprised.
    The rebuild has gone wrong

    Reply
    • C Yards Jeff

      3 years ago

      @Lefty_Os_Fan: agreed. I liked their rebuild plan . Very Houston Astros like. Tank. Get high draft pickups, develop these picks to establish a young foundation with team control. Then expand payroll via signing FAs and and trading for proven league talent. Avila did all that. Unfortunately it failed. And it should fall on the head of the GM. Time for a change. And now, not later.

      2
      Reply
      • stymeedone

        3 years ago

        It isn’t known whether it failed. Injuries to Mize, Manning, Eduardo, Alexander, Pineda, Faedo, Brieske, Garcia, Wendt, Turnbull, Skubal, Rogers, Candelario, Meadows, Greene, Kreidler, Grossman, Cisnero and Funkhouse, all had something to do with this years result. If Lady Luck lets them be relatively healthy next year, and the rebuild succeeds, who gets to apologize to Al?

        3
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        • C Yards Jeff

          3 years ago

          @stymeedone: thanks for the intel. I knew there were injury issues, but not to this degree. Ouch!

          To part ways with such a loyal + valued employee of 2 plus decades had to be painful for ownership to follow through on.

          1
          Reply
        • misunderestimated

          3 years ago

          @ styme

          The Rays just came on to town and took 3 of 4 from the Tigers. They have 17 on the injured list including many better pitchers than the tigers.

          And there’s this thing called development. No one ever needs to apologize to you Al. You failed to develop the talent.

          3
          Reply
        • Pads Fans

          3 years ago

          Full list of player days on the injured list. Sort by days. spotrac.com/mlb/disabled-list/cumulative-team/

          Reply
      • Animalize

        3 years ago

        @C: Why did the Astros flourish but the Tigers train-wrecked?

        Reply
      • TroyVan

        3 years ago

        IMO, they weren’t ready to come out of the rebuild just yet. They didn’t need those free agent signings just yet. The pitching was there (as their draft choices forecasted). But, the position players that lacked in those early choices obviously were absent when the rebuild was supposedly over.

        There is some batting talent coming, but its a year or two away from the pitchers.

        1
        Reply
      • GarryHarris

        3 years ago

        The tigers didn’t tank, they are truly terrible.

        1
        Reply
  49. vaderzim

    3 years ago

    At least the Tigers figured things out

    Reply
  50. dugmet

    3 years ago

    Who is next? When will Boston fire Chaim Bloom?

    Reply
    • Michael Macaulay-Birks

      3 years ago

      Soon hopefully

      Reply
  51. benhen77

    3 years ago

    About 5 years too late on that one, Ilitch

    2
    Reply
  52. Davetn

    3 years ago

    James Click for GM

    Reply
    • Astros Hot Takes

      3 years ago

      no 🙂

      Reply
  53. Luke Strong

    3 years ago

    The Tigers worst GM in franchise history. The jury is still out on a lot of our top picks, Avila could wind up looking like a genius if a bunch of them develop into great players, but it looks like we are a long way off from that.

    Credit where it is due, no team could win anything with Cabrera’s contract and his subpar production over the past 5 seasons. $32 million could have been going to a far superior player, and this fault lies squarely on the late Mike Illitch, who should have known better when he handed out the deal. Cabrera has become a curse, he’s the only guy on the team who can draw fans and there is no other option but to continue rostering him.

    1
    Reply
    • fortunateson

      3 years ago

      Hey, but at least he smiles a lot. There’s that

      1
      Reply
    • Dtownwarrior78

      3 years ago

      I won’t go that far. Randy Smith was terrible, but also didn’t have the money to play with that Al Avila did. That might be a toss up

      1
      Reply
  54. Stan "The Boy" Taylor

    3 years ago

    All of his first round draft picks: “Matt Manning, Casey Mize, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Jackson Jobe and Jace Jung” are highly regarded. I wonder how many GMs can say that?

    Reply
    • Wowwwwww

      3 years ago

      Anyone with a string of early first round picks…

      8
      Reply
      • tigergreg

        3 years ago

        Exactly. Easy to hit on top 10 picks. What have all his 2nd and 3rd round picks done? Nothing.

        1
        Reply
        • For Love of the Game

          3 years ago

          But he’s had some luck in the high 20th rounds and the 9th (Skubal).

          Reply
        • GarryHarris

          3 years ago

          Tarik Skubal wasn’t a first rounder.

          Reply
      • El Duderino

        3 years ago

        Moniak and Randolph say hello.

        Reply
    • Dtownwarrior78

      3 years ago

      Yes, they were all “highly regarded” but aren’t most every top 10 pick? I know it happens, but it’s not crazy hard to miss on consistent top picks, and an FYI, we still don’t know if he’s really “hit” with any of these guys as of yet.

      1
      Reply
  55. tradepartner

    3 years ago

    About damn time. What a disappointment this “rebuild” has become. There are some good candidates out there to replace him

    Reply
  56. Dtownwarrior78

    3 years ago

    This is one hell of a long time coming. This article speaks of his early successes, but that was due to Dombrowski and not Avila. He has done absolutely everything wrong as a GM. He lost every trade he made (JV,JD, David Price, Cespedes, etc), he hasn’t drafted worth a damn since taking over, and every time he spent any money it failed. The fact that it took this long leads me to believe that it has added another 4-5 years onto this rebuild. There is no way Baez will opt out of this awful contract we have him playing the way he has. And who knows what is ever going to happen with Mize, Manning, Tork, etc. I truly hope whomever they decide on has the wherewithal to pick this club up and get them back to respectability. Who would have thought after the way last season ended that the Tigers would be in worse shape than the Lions, Wings or Pistons.

    3
    Reply
  57. miltpappas

    3 years ago

    And yet, the media thought his signing of E-Rod was brilliant in spite of Eduardo’s history of injuries

    Reply
    • stymeedone

      3 years ago

      @miltpappas
      I did not see any predictions of Eduardo having personal problems and leaving the team. Never happened in the past. No one predicted it.

      2
      Reply
  58. Mr_KLC

    3 years ago

    Geoff Luhnow gets raised from the dead.

    3
    Reply
  59. wileycoyote56

    3 years ago

    Break out the champagne

    Reply
  60. Brassroo

    3 years ago

    Awesome! Should have been fired at least 4 years ago! Now we can finally start a rebuild since Al only made everything worse.

    1
    Reply
  61. Edp007

    3 years ago

    Jack Morris as GM. First move Baez in a package for Ohtani. 🙂

    1
    Reply
    • Phaedrus002

      3 years ago

      I disagree. Ohtani can run and that would be welcome, but Comerica is a graveyard for flyballs. You need rabbits that can run those gappers into doubles and triples…forget the 3-run homerun in that park. Improve the defense and YES dump Baez if you can. His swing is too big for that park. Should have kept Cron for a couple more years, some pop and a pretty nice average hitter. Small ball is the key in that park

      3
      Reply
  62. Stan Not the Man

    3 years ago

    Doesn’t deserve a GM shot anywhere else. Proved he’s a total failure at that position.

    Reply
  63. LouWhitakerHOF

    3 years ago

    Didn’t Iilitch just endorse him not long ago and give him a new deal?

    1
    Reply
  64. MarlinsFanBase

    3 years ago

    Hey Mr. Theo Epstein, here’s a job for you since we know you’ll never go to teams like the Pirates or Royals.

    Or are you going to pull off a Phil Jackson and wait until you’ve got something like MJ, Scottie, Kobe, Shaq or the cleared payroll to add guys like that…Like Manny, Schilling, Pedro, etc?

    1
    Reply
  65. MarlinsFanBase

    3 years ago

    All Avila has had a good run. Should’ve been fired years ago, but hung in there until this year. It’s good work if you can get it.

    So, did he beat out Mike Hill as the best self-preservationist in MLB? I personally think Hill still holds the title.

    2
    Reply
  66. sabres3277

    3 years ago

    Most Tiger fans are knowledgeable and loyal fans, but if Ilitch doesn’t hit this hire out of the park he will regret it. We have Miggy for one more year and we only have big money tied up in Rodriguez and Baez and they can move on in “24 with opt outs. Based on that I think the new GM will have the chance to spend some money on available free agents, especially to improve the offense, which is a top priority based on this years hitting disaster. And on that note, the hitting coach should have been fired in June based on some of the worst batting approaches I have ever seen. I also hope Meadows get’s better soon as I think he could be an asset when healthy.

    3
    Reply
    • Phaedrus002

      3 years ago

      Comerica is a GRAVEYARD for fly balls. So, you build the club for that park. Linedrive contact hitters that can run those power alley shots into doubles and triples. Improve your defense and get more pitching depth to avoid the 5.00+ ERA. Why did anyone in the front office think their team was capable of hitting HR’s consistently in that park….it like trying to hit a ball out of the Grand Canyon

      3
      Reply
      • joefriday1948

        3 years ago

        It is one of the worst ballparks for fans. They build the field miles away from the fans because they felt fans would run on the field. It is a disgrace. Needs seats built on the field to provide fans a half decent view.

        1
        Reply
        • not alkaline

          3 years ago

          joefriday agree. Well stated

          Reply
        • For Love of the Game

          3 years ago

          CheapassJoe, buy better tickets and you won’t have to sit in the nosebleed seats!

          2
          Reply
      • Robert Pierce

        3 years ago

        Well, before you can hit homeruns you have to be able to hit the baseball
        Eveyone on the team has below league average ops.

        Reply
      • Animalize

        3 years ago

        @Phaedrus Pirsig: Rabbits usually can’t hit. So what’s the solution there??

        Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          3 years ago

          Rabbit Maranville could hit!!! (Though mainly singles, more of a glove-first kinda guy.)

          Reply
  67. yankista

    3 years ago

    Bla bla bla

    Reply
  68. TheStevilEmpire1

    3 years ago

    I have a feeling this is a happy day for Tiger fans.

    1
    Reply
  69. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    3 years ago

    I for one, will miss you, AL.
    You should have hired me.

    Reply
  70. gotigers68

    3 years ago

    Four years too late…..

    1
    Reply
  71. seaver41

    3 years ago

    this was years late…….guy was ill equipped for the big boy seat.

    2
    Reply
  72. AzTigersfan

    3 years ago

    All I can say is it’s about time illich has fired Avila hes been way over his head since he was hired as GM he was a scout under the dombrowski and that’s all he could do. he signed nothing but bad contracts Zimmerman Rodriguez it’s still out on baez i’m so glad he’s gone

    Reply
    • Phaedrus002

      3 years ago

      All true. In that park (a graveyard for fly balls) you need excellent defense and contact hitters. When they hit the gaps those power alley line drives turn into doubles and triples. Baez was hitting HR’s in a bandbox and his “big” swing does not play well in Comerica Park. They need better defense, base runners and stealers, deeper pitching staff…OR, bring in the fences and bring on the 5.00 ERA’s

      1
      Reply
      • Robert Pierce

        3 years ago

        From 2006 to 2015 the ball park wasnt an issue.. I for one enjoy watching from section 147. It’s my spot in the park

        1
        Reply
  73. doorights

    3 years ago

    I know of 3 GM savants in BU Fantasy who’d fix all Tiger-ills. They’re far better than Avila who forced early-retirement adding Javy Baez at his $$/toxicity to a rebuilding team!! #Keggers;#Awobs;#Lowlife

    Reply
  74. Pads Fans

    3 years ago

    I can hear the Tiger’s fans cheering all the way out here in SoCal.

    Reply
  75. superunclea

    3 years ago

    Notice everywhere Dombrowski goes he leaves an unfixable mess behind?

    2
    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      superunclea;

      You misspelled Theo.

      Reply
  76. Phaedrus002

    3 years ago

    Ah, ERod was not a good signing….Baez??? Dude is a strikeout artist and hit HR’s in a bandbox so CoAmerica was not the correct destination for that swing. Let’s face facts folks….Detroit is a graveyard for fly balls. You need to build a team of rabbits who are CONTACT hitters and can run. That field is built for doubles and TRIPLES….that said you don’t need more FREE swingers trying to hit the ball out of the Grand Canyon. Two choices here. Hitters – contact hitters and base-stealing artists and forget about the 3-run homerun. Pitching. – that speaks for itself. Forget the 4.50 and 5.00 ERA’s. Get some good ground ball pitchers and improve the defense. The second choice (if you must) Bring those fences in so you can hit more HR’s, but you better have the pitching depth to counter that occurrence.

    2
    Reply
  77. Amanda

    3 years ago

    the eduardo deal never made sense, he gave up on himself and baseball after he got covid and wasnt able to return, you dont sign a guy like that at best is a number 3 starter to a 5 year deal.

    Reply
    • AL34

      3 years ago

      He has myocarditis from the vaccine. He was diagnosed with that when he was with the Red Sox. It is inflammation of the heart. It has a life expectancy of 5 years.

      Reply
  78. Lester1255

    3 years ago

    Jeff Luhnow anyone? But he’s probably too busy with his soccer team.

    1
    Reply
  79. tigersgm

    3 years ago

    Finally. Long overdue.

    Reply
  80. gotigers68

    3 years ago

    I hope this doesn’t mean seven more years of a rebuild…

    Reply
  81. bigjonempire

    3 years ago

    If I was in charge I would hire Ben Zauzmer and ask him to trade Baez for whatever he can get. Maybe back to the Cubs. They probably need a corner outfielder and a new shortstop but otherwise I let the youth movement happen.

    Reply
  82. Citizen1

    3 years ago

    But why? Detroit looks like Detroit city and they haven’t won anything.

    Reply
  83. NoNegativity

    3 years ago

    Dombrowski Hamstrung the franchise with the Cabrera contract I am not Al Avila fan

    Reply
    • Citizen1

      3 years ago

      By the orders of owner illich who wanted a won now. Mlbtr tends to promote these large contracts in writing and polls
      Agent owned.

      1
      Reply
  84. joefriday1948

    3 years ago

    He build a dynamo in Detroit and the team was just too good for its division. The word on the street is is Avila is headed to take over the Colorado Rockies and bring over a bunch of Tigers.

    1
    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      3 years ago

      Huh??? If that’s supposed to be funny you missed the mark.

      1
      Reply
  85. Robert Pierce

    3 years ago

    Literally every decision he made failed

    2
    Reply
    • Animalize

      3 years ago

      Even ordering the kung pao.

      1
      Reply
  86. BSHH

    3 years ago

    This year was very disappointing for the Tigers: The results weren’t there, the roster looks very little encouraging on the position players’ side, the prospect pool isn’t highly regarded, IFA signings have brought very little talent and the Baez contract in particular looks bad. So Illitch made the right decision now.

    Avila reacted with class, and I wish him all the best as a person. But his tenure as GM simply didn’t help the Tigers towards success. It may not have been his fault on every scale, but he is the one to blame.

    This comes as some surprise. But recently, beat writers started to turn on Avila. So obviously someone knew something, I guess…

    Gruß,
    BSHH

    1
    Reply
  87. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    3 years ago

    I never, ever said, “Fire Al Avila”.

    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      3 years ago

      Alex is that you?

      1
      Reply
  88. jerg22

    3 years ago

    This is long overdue. Instead of an extension in 2019 the guy should have been shown the door or given a different role. His F.A. Signings were horrific. Pelfrey, Zim, one of the garbage lowes.
    Etc..

    1
    Reply
  89. jerg22

    3 years ago

    This teams idea of “analytics ” was an abacus until as recently as 5 years ago. With all do respect instead of an extension the guy should have been let go/reassigned a few years ago.

    Reply
    • The Saber-toothed Superfife

      3 years ago

      An abacus is all you need, IF you know what you are doing….

      Therefore:
      Abacus=Love

      No wonder the world’s falling apart…..too many calculators…..

      Reply
  90. jerg22

    3 years ago

    This teams idea of “analytics ” was an abacus until as recently as 5 years ago.

    Reply
  91. Jgwi2az

    3 years ago

    Who didn’t have to look up mercurial ?

    1
    Reply
  92. ArianaGrandSlam

    3 years ago

    After all building a baseball team is a gamble. Who knows who becomes a good player and not get injured.

    Reply
    • theodore glass

      3 years ago

      Building any pro sports team is a gamble.

      Reply
  93. Wilmer the Thrillmer

    3 years ago

    I can’t believe Avila held on to the GM job for 8 years.

    In 2014 the Tigers went to the playoffs for their 4th straight season. In 2015 Al Avila was promoted to GM and the Tigers prompty became the worst team in baseball. The only reason there’s hope in Detroit is because they’ve had 8 straight years of very high draft picks.

    I’m sure Avila has a great baseball mind however his stint as GM was a bust. But at least he leaves the team with a well stocked farm system.

    Reply
    • The Saber-toothed Superfife

      3 years ago

      Rated 24th! That sure is…well stocked…..I hope my fridge does better this weekend….

      Reply
  94. Bright Side

    3 years ago

    What’s amazing, how long it took to fire him. Owners are loathe to fire their GMs, They have to get their hands dirty to find a replacement. Case in point, Shallow Hal still hasn’t fired Cashman.

    Reply
  95. theodore glass

    3 years ago

    He was done the moment he started talking about another rebuild.

    Reply
  96. GarryHarris

    3 years ago

    I wonder if Wayne Krivsky is available? He did a great job with Cincinnati but it was so long ago.

    Reply
  97. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    3 years ago

    I wonder if this means A.J. Hinch will be ousted next? Usually brand new GMs like to bring in their own guy and hate being stuck with the former guy’s erstwhile manager. Unless it’s paving the way for Jeff Luhnow, then AJ should be pretty safe lol.

    1
    Reply
    • GarryHarris

      3 years ago

      I like Hinch. He manages the pen very well. He doesn’t deserve to be fired. I believe the Tigers owners have been involved with manager selection so I assume he will stay on if he even wants to.

      3
      Reply
  98. quantomoffandom

    3 years ago

    I am glad Avila is gone. It is to bad we cannot fired the Owner. I love how he laid all the blame on Al. Chris seem to think he was an innocent bystander.

    1
    Reply
  99. Robert Pierce

    3 years ago

    In all honesty Chris has no interest in this team.

    He doesn’t seem involved at all

    3
    Reply
  100. warnbeeb

    3 years ago

    Go to consistently good franchises and hire their 1st asst. to the GM or Director of Scouting. Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers, Rays, Astros is where I’d start.

    Heck, there has to be someone in the Orioles front office who knows something. They started rebuilding after the Tigers and look at them now.

    3
    Reply
  101. tradepartner

    3 years ago

    Some good young assistants out there. Don’t need one of the re-treads
    Agree on dumping Baez asap
    Buy out Miggy and move on
    Lots of good young (hurt) pitchers on the roster

    Reply
  102. TheStevilEmpire1

    3 years ago

    It’s incredible how things changed for this franchise from the 2000’s to now. This is a cautionary tale of how tanking can backfire horribly.

    All of that losing hasn’t translated into surefire talent in the draft. The Miggy contract I assume has handcuffed them to some degree as well in the spending department.

    Underperforming and injured players on the big league team and underwhelming development on the farm, what a mess, Detroit. My condolences to your fans.

    1
    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      Most rebuilds fail…..

      Always have. Always will.

      It’s a numbers game. Almost all teams that are not competing as a top 10 team are in some sort of rebuild. When a rebuild is successful that team will be competitive for 4-5 years. Meanwhile sustainable contending teams such as the Astros and Dodgers compete almost every year by constantly reloading with new players. After all, MLB is competition.

      1
      Reply
      • ac000000

        3 years ago

        Astors tanked right with the cubs to get their championship.

        1
        Reply
        • Samuel

          3 years ago

          ac000000;

          Perhaps you missed it….

          The Astros have kept winning…..the Cubs long ago stopped.

          The immortal Theo. Genius.

          2
          Reply
  103. Robert Pierce

    3 years ago

    Theo end 2 100 year championship droughts with 2 different organizations. It doesn’t matter what happens now. He is a God and always will be.

    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      Please……

      The great Baseball Ops people are those that built organizations that continually competed because they refreshed the ML team.

      Any decent Baseball Ops person with a large market payroll can pi** away money signing name veteran FA’s that have one or two good years but get paid for 5-7 to merge with 6-8 prospects – many of whom were drafted high over a period of 5 years – can win. The object is to keep winning, and to do that in MLB you have to develop your own players….especially pitchers. Epstein was awful at that in both Boston and Chicago. But the baseball God did the thing all cowards do – didn’t take responsibility and was forever firing his pitching coaches each year.

      Tell me how come the Astros keep winning, and they even changed the GM and manger. They currently have the best record in the AL with the 8th highest payroll in MLB.

      The Astros built an organization. Epstein bought 2 championships…and it was not Dombrowski that left his organizations in tatters, it was Epstein.

      Reply
      • Samuel

        3 years ago

        Epstein was not a “God”, he was a sugar high.

        The owners of the franchises he worked for don’t want him back. Henry did take him back once – the situation got even worse.

        1
        Reply
  104. Chemo850

    3 years ago

    Preller is next for sure. As soon as they get bounced in the first round this year (assuming they even make the playoffs) that dude is getting the boot big time. People keep saying what a genius he is while he consistently fails to even make the playoffs with one of the highest payrolls of all time….

    Reply
  105. CKinSTL

    3 years ago

    There are going to be some tough choices for the new GM. The team was seemingly emerging from a deep rebuild.. do you continue that path or take a year (or two) to retool?

    Reply
  106. The Saber-toothed Superfife

    3 years ago

    Poor Al.

    Reply
    • The Saber-toothed Superfife

      3 years ago

      He missed so many opportunities……
      He couldn’t even trade Goodrum to the Pirates……….

      Reply
  107. Hello, Newman

    3 years ago

    Solve two festering problems.. hire Chris Antonetti.

    Afterwards, follow the Cardinal’s model.

    Reply
  108. StroDawg

    3 years ago

    Hinch & Luhnow reunion?

    1
    Reply
    • brodie-bruce

      3 years ago

      @strodawg as smart as jeff is i don’t see him ever getting a gm/pbo job ever again, the 17 fiasco kinda of ruined his chances. in this hypothetical situation team x hires jeff as the new gm/pbo around 90%+ of mlb fans are going to say any success team x has is because of cheating. long and short jeff is a bad or move, then again mel gibson went on a career ending rant about jews and few years later has a job. so i guess anything is possible but hiring jeff would be a pr nightmare and not a move a team makes unless there absolutely desperate, and i don’t view the tiggers being that desperate but i also could be very wrong too.

      Reply

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