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Tigers Part Ways With Dombrowski, Surprising Many With Timing Of GM's Dismissal

Tigers President, CEO & GM Dave Dombrowski yesterday "was dismissed" by team Owner Mike Ilitch, and while the outcome "wasn't a shock, the timing was, stirring all sorts of unsettling questions," according to a front-page piece by Bob Wojnowski of the DETROIT NEWS. Dombrowski was in the final year of his contract but had "just orchestrated three trades that sent big names away." Tigers VP & Assistant GM Al Avila "takes over" after serving as Dombrowski's "longtime right-hand man." This is a "risky, reactionary gambit that you hope the Tigers don't come to regret." It is the "latest in a pattern we've seen with the Ilitches and their teams, the Tigers and Red Wings." Just as coach Mike Babcock "left the Wings when the Maple Leafs craved him more (and paid him more), Dombrowski couldn't reach a deal, and now becomes one of baseball's top executive free-agents." The 59-year-old was making a reported $3M per year, "one of the top executive salaries in baseball." Avila, 57, "doesn't have the same cachet, but he's a respected talent evaluator with deep ties to Latin America, and was instrumental in deals" for Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera and RF J.D. Martinez. The Tigers "thought so highly of him, they put a clause in his contract denying him permission to interview for other GM jobs." Avila said that he was "given the security of a new contract, and would evaluate everything after the season, including the status" of manager Brad Ausmus (DETROIT NEWS, 8/5). In Detroit, Bill Shea noted the moves "eliminate, at least for now, the team president and CEO positions from the front office hierarchy," with Avila filling the role of Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM. Exec VP/Business Operations Duane McLean, like Avila, "will now directly report to the owner" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 8/4).

THIS IS MY SHOCKED FACE: In Detroit, Mitch Albom in a front-page piece writes the move was "one of the more stunning announcements in recent Tigers history -- if only for the timing." Dombrowski had "just traded two Tigers stars" -- P David Price and LF Yoenis Cespedes -- "plus his closer, Joakim Soria, all for young prospects." The Tigers "essentially tossed in the towel on winning it all this season." Albom: "Did that tick off his boss so much that it got Dombrowski fired?" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/5). Also in Detroit, Lynn Henning writes this "mess of a baseball season in Detroit almost certainly created a tipping point." But something else "had to have happened between Ilitch and Dombrowski to have spurred Tuesday's exit by a man who helped craft Detroit's baseball restoration" after Ilitch hired him in '01. With four years of 3-million-plus attendance and two trips to the World Series, this has been "an extraordinary partnership, even if it failed to deliver" a World Series title. Ilitch "appeared to say as much last week when he gave Dombrowski the go-ahead to trade" Price and Cespedes and "re-craft his baseball team." Dombrowski, after "properly convincing his boss that the playoffs were probably a mirage, worked like anything but a lame-duck GM as he played sweaty-palms poker with his cohorts and began to retool the Tigers with a series of bold deadline deals" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/5). ESPN.com's Christina Kahrl wrote, "If there's a surprise, it's that this happened so soon." Accountability "goes with the job, but seeing Dombrowski ousted so soon after it had become apparent a fifth straight AL Central title wasn't likely, instead of waiting until after the season, seems sudden" (ESPN.com, 8/4). MLB Network’s Joel Sherman suggested that Dombrowski wanted out, based on the fact that Dombrowski’s “right-hand man” will take over as GM (“MLB Now,” MLB Network, 8/4).

BLAME THE OWNERS? In Detroit, Drew Sharp writes under the header, "Don't Forget Ilitch's Fingerprints On Tigers Mess." Dombrowski's "stunning exit as GM doesn't absolve ownership's role in the Tigers' current predicament." When "affixing blame for the assorted failures that resulted" in yesterday's front office reorganization, accountability "must start with ownership." Sharp wonders why there was not "a representative from the Ilitch family present" at Avila's introductory press conference. Ilitch's absence "was understandable considering his health concerns." But his son, Ilitch Holdings President & CEO Chris Ilitch, "couldn't free up an hour from his busy schedule to stand with the Tigers' new chief executive?" Dombrowski "executed [Mike] Ilitch's vision." There "wasn't anything he did that didn't come without ownership's direct approval," and there were "occasions when Ilitch strongly encouraged his general manager to take certain aggressive action" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/5). The DETROIT NEWS' Wojnowski writes it was "poor form that no one from ownership spoke" at the presser, leaving Avila to "answer as honestly as he could." Dombrowski "curiously had no statement in the press release" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/5). ESPN’s Rick Sutcliffe said, “I think that Mr. Ilitch got really upset that they became sellers. He felt like everybody was in it. Mathematically, they're still in it but obviously Dave Dombrowski didn't feel that way. When he started getting rid of some people that's when, all of a sudden, there started to be a little bit of turmoil” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 8/4). FS1’s Jon Paul Morosi: “I do believe that ownership and perhaps, specifically, Christopher Ilitch ... has had increased influence in the organization and I think he looked at the payroll ... and said, ‘You know what, maybe there’s a different way to do this’” (“MLB Whiparound,” FS1, 8/4). FS1’s C.J. Nitkowski said, “(Dombrowski) was there at the right time, when their owner, Mr. Ilitch, was willing to extend payroll. … They took their chances, they went for it, they had a really nice run, they were unable to get that ring, but I think Dave Dombrowski kind of saw the writing on the wall” (“MLB Whiparound,” FS1, 8/4).

END OF AN ERA: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes, "We don't know the specific reasons for the breakup, but it's no secret Dombrowski was seeking a raise." When it "became clear there was going to be no resolution, they agreed to disagree, and just like that, Dombrowski is baseball's marquee free agent." Dombrowski "could have a handful of teams bidding for his services by October and surely will be working for someone by the annual GM meetings in November." Dombrowski "inherited a rusted Ford Taurus, and now a shiny black Escalade sits in the Tigers' parking lot." He took over a team that lost 106 games his first year, lost a historic 119 games the next season, and three years later was "in the World Series" (USA TODAY, 8/5). SI.com's Jay Jaffe wrote under the header, "Dave Dombrowski's Departure Marks The End Of An Era For Detroit Tigers." The sudden and "almost shocking shakeup ends an exciting chapter of baseball in Detroit." Dombrowski "rebuilt the franchise into one of the game’s powerhouses following a very lean stretch of nearly two decades" (SI.com, 8/4). FS1’s Dontrelle Willis said of Dombrowski, “He’s a good man, very smart man, but doesn’t really have a feel of what’s going on ... inside the locker room. I think it was mutual both parties parted ways and get some new blood in there but a familiar face that people trust and people can talk to” (“Fox Sports Live,” FS1, 8/4).

HOT STOVE DAVE: In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes Dombrowski within hours of being released "had been linked" to the Angels, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Mariners and Brewers (L.A. TIMES, 8/5). YAHOO SPORTS' Jeff Passan wrote Dombrowski has become the "first marquee free agent from the Class of 2015 to hit the market." The Tigers' success "cemented Dombrowski's place in the upper echelon of executives and as the most successful of his generation." He ran the Expos at 31, won a championship with the Marlins and "navigated a 119-loss Tigers team into an annual powerhouse with an unmatched ability to win big trades and a knack for building a team around stars" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/4). In Toronto, Bob Elliott writes Dombrowski is "going to be a little like free-agent [P] Max Scherzer last winter," as the exec will be "highly sought after this off-season" (TORONTO SUN, 8/5). In Boston, Nick Cafardo writes the "most visible landing spot for Dombrowski would be" with the Angels. He also "has a personal reason for being on the West Coast, with his daughter an aspiring singer" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/5). But the L.A. TIMES' Shaikin cites a source as saying that he "considered it unlikely that Dombrowski would land in Anaheim" (L.A. TIMES, 8/5). Meanwhile, CBSSPORTS.com's Mike Axisa noted, "Long before Rob Manfred replaced Bud Selig as commissioner, there were rumblings Dombrowski would get consideration for the job." He could opt for a "cushy job in MLB's executive offices" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/4). SNY’s Chris Carlin said, “You got to believe he could end up in a big spot, maybe Boston next year” (“Loud Mouths,” SNY, 8/4). ESPN’s Pedro Gomez said, “Philadelphia may be open now that Andy MacPhail has taken over there. We don’t know what the future of Rubén Amaro is. ... Dave Dombrowski, I have been told, if he wants to work next season he will absolutely have a job” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 8/5).

MONSTER MOVE AHEAD? In Boston, Hael Silverman cites a source as saying that the Red Sox "will speak with Dombrowski," but that conversation "could turn into more of a courtesy call than a serious exploration of Dombrowski’s desire to come to Boston." Dombrowski is coming from a Detroit organization where the owner "had little to nothing to do with baseball decisions, ceding all such matters" to him. Having that kind of autonomy under Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry "does not appear to be in the cards" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/5). However, ESPN BOSTON's Gordon Edes cited a source as saying that Dombrowski "is not in the running for a position" with the Red Sox (ESPN.com, 8/4). The BOSTON GLOBE's Cafardo writes Dombrowski "is one of those executive superstars." Every place he has been, he has "made the team better." He is an "excellent organizer, a guy who makes great trades, and he is one of the best out there at building an organization." Cafardo: "Can the Red Sox afford not to consider Dombrowski?" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/5).

MEET THE NEW BOSS: In Miami, Manny Navarro writes the Tigers "made both a stunning and historic move," as Avila becomes the first Cuban-born GM in MLB history (MIAMI HERALD, 8/5). MLB.com's Jason Beck noted Avila "spent nearly a quarter century working with" Dombrowski, "from Latin American operations to scouting director to top assistant." He had the type of rise that "logically leads to a shot" as a GM, but teams "never hired him." Though Avila has "scouted, he has been much more the executive, overseeing Minor League signings and working with Dombrowski on Major League trades." Avila's reputation in player development "remains, and it might have been a key to him getting the nod" from Ilitch (MLB.com, 8/4). In Michigan, Chris Iott writes Avila "is an open book" compared to Dombrowski (MLIVE.com, 8/5). MLB.com's Beck writes any immediate changes "are likely to be minimal." A new GM "usually gets the chance to hire his own manager." But Avila said that Ausmus "will maintain his post." Once the season ends, there "could be a lot of evaluating going on, not just on the managerial position, but the front office as well" (MLB.com, 8/5). Meanwhile, Ausmus yesterday said that both he and the team were "surprised to learn" of Dombrowski's release. But he added, "I don't think it will be disarray. Al has been here for years and I certainly know him and have worked with him so I don't think there's any type of issue there" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/5).

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