Tigers pick up club option on manager Brad Ausmus
Despite a second consecutive failure to qualify for the postseason, the Detroit Tigers will not be making a managerial change.
The Tigers announced on Wednesday that they have exercised the 2017 club option on manager Brad Ausmus’ contract.
Ausmus was hired in November 2013 after Jim Leyland’s retirement and has steered the club to a 250-234 (.517) record in his three seasons at the helm.
Though the Tigers won 90 games and took home the AL Central title in Ausmus’ first year, the season ended in a first-round sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, and they haven’t made the playoffs since. Detroit finished 2016 with a record of 86-75 and missed out on a Wild Card spot by 2.5 games.
While the ex-catcher has been good for an entertaining ejection every now and then, his team continues to underachieve in spite of a talented roster and a high payroll. It’s tough to imagine Ausmus getting much longer of a leash if the Tigers don’t start righting the ship in 2017.
