Dave Dombrowski won’t get a chance to bring that elusive World Championship to Detroit. The Tigers announced on Tuesday that Dombrowski was being released from his contract as EVP of baseball operations and GM, and that he’d be replaced by assistant GM Al Avila.
Dombrowski had been the Tigers GM since 2002, replacing the beleaguered Randy Smith. The Tigers started slowly under Dombrowski’s management, losing 106 games in 2002, 119 in 2003, 90 in 2004, and 91 in 2005.
But the team won the AL pennant in 2006, and finished under .500 just once after that pennant-winning season. Detroit won four straight AL Central titles from 2011-14 (a streak that seems likely to end in 2015), and also claimed the 2012 AL pennant.
It appears that Dombrowski, Avila, and Tigers owner Mike Iltich clashed over the team’s immediate future, and this statement in the press release from the Tigers by Avila seems to indicate he thinks the team can contend this year.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity, and honored and grateful to Mr. Ilitch for having the faith and trust in me to run the ballclub in our continuing pursuit of a World Series championship,” said Avila. “After 24 years in professional baseball and 14 with the Detroit Tigers, I believe I’m uniquely qualified to be successful in this role in leading this organization. We’re confident we can make a strong push to win this year, and that we have the foundation in place to win next year and for years to come.”
Dombrowski is in a good situation right now, because there are plenty of potential landing spots in the coming months. Dombrowski’s sights are likely going to be higher than another GM position, but the large market Angels and Phillies are likely going to be in the market for GMs this winter. If he’s hunting a team president job, the Blue Jays (who Dombrowski traded David Price to last week) will have that position open after the season.
The fallout in Detroit is going to be interesting as well. Dombrowski put them in a better position to compete next season by trading Yoenis Cespedes, Price, and Joakim Soria, but they still have $111 million committed to their 2016 payroll, including $74 million to Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and Justin Verlander, who have all spent time on the DL this season and are on the wrong side of 32.
Al Avila, the challenge is yours, and yours alone…good luck.
[MLB.com]
