Report: Tigers to fire manager Ausmus after regular season
Two and done.
Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus will be fired once the regular season concludes, reports the Detroit Free Press' George Sipple.
Sipple notes that former president and general manager Dave Dombrowski "fought off ownership so that it didn't happen much earlier."
Dombrowski was let go by the Tigers on Aug. 4 and replaced by Al Avila, who gave Ausmus a vote of confidence at the time.
Ausmus, who enjoyed an 18-year professional career, has been Detroit's manager for two seasons. The club won 90 games in 2014, and was swept out of the playoffs in the American League Division Series by the Baltimore Orioles, but 2015 has been a different story.
The Tigers are last in the American League Central at 64-76, and traded away David Price, Yoenis Cespedes, and Joakim Soria at the July deadline.
Ausmus had no comment on the situation after Sipple text messaged him about his status. Tigers officials didn't get back to Sipple, either.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Avila will not make a decision on Ausmus until the end of the season.
"I spoke to Mr. I (owner Mike llitch) today and to Brad and I can reconfirm that our evaluation is ongoing and a decision has not been made," he said. "That report did come as a surprise ... No decision has been made."
Avila also issued an official statement on Friday.
Ausmus signed a three-year contract in 2013, with an option for the 2017 season. He has a 154-148 record running the Tigers.
Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports reported that former Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is the heavy favorite to replace Ausmus.