The Detroit Tigers announced Friday that they will not bring back Manager Brad Ausmus next year after four seasons that included a division title amid declining fortunes as the franchise battles age, injuries and the departure of some key stars.
General Manager Al Avila announced the move Friday.
Ausmus was 312-325 over nearly four full seasons, including a Central Division title in his first year. But the Tigers have generally underperformed since then. Detroit is shedding payroll, although the Tigers still have Miguel Cabrera’s huge contract.
A year ago, the Tigers exercised the 2017 option on Ausmus’ contract after a 12-win improvement from 2015. The Tigers have finished first, last and second in the AL Central during his tenure and were just a half-game out of the bottom spot entering play Friday.
MARLINS: Executive Jack McKeon says he has been told he will not be retained by the new ownership group.
The 86-year-old McKeon managed the team when it won the World Series in 2003 and for the past 12 seasons has been a special assistant to owner Jeffrey Loria.
McKeon says he was advised of his dismissal not by the new ownership group, but by current team president David Samson, who also is not expected to be retained.
METS: The team plans to have ace Noah Syndergaard make a one-inning start Saturday against the Nationals in his first major league game in nearly five months.
Syndergaard has been out since April 30 because of a partially torn lat muscle on his right side.
FOUR TEAMS have announced plans to extend the protective netting at their ballparks in the wake of the incident Wednesday in which a young girl was injured by a foul ball at Yankee Stadium.
They would join 10 major league teams that have already done so.
The Reds announced Thursday they would extend their netting to the ends of each dugout, starting in the 2018 season.
Most teams currently have netting that protects the seats behind and near home plate but ends at each dugout.
The Padres also said they would install netting to the end of each dugout in time for the 2018 season, following “several months of planning.”
The Rockies and Mariners were less specific about what they would do with their netting, but both pledged to expand it at their ballparks.
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