Although the Detroit Tigers are the worst team in the AL Central and the second-worst in the American League, manager Brad Ausmus is set to return for the 2016 season.
General manager Al Avila made the announcement prior to the team's game on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. Previous MLB rumors focused on Ausmus' status with the team beyond 2015, and a couple of reports even suggested the Tigers would not bring him back next year.
"After almost two months of watching this team play, evaluating our staff, manager and a lot of discussion with my staff, I've concluded that Brad Ausmus should be our manager going into 2016," Avila said, via Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
"The most important time is, when things are going bad and the (stuff) hits the fan, let's just say, OK, now let's see what these guys are made of," he added. "That's when the real inner person comes out. And (Ausmus) has shown me that he is calm, cool and collected and has continued the course, continued working through all kinds of stupid (stuff that's been going out there. And that's what's impressed me. That's impressed me."
Ausmus won the AL Central with the Tigers in his first season as manager in 2014, but this year has been an absolute disaster as the club has endured internal struggles as well as countless injuries. Detroit went from one of the best in the MLB to one of the worst in just one year.
Nonetheless, the players are apparently fond of Ausmus. First baseman Miguel Cabrera came to the manager's defense earlier this year and others including second baseman Ian Kinsler and catcher James McCann expressed their approval of Ausmus this weekend.
"We know what we're getting with Brad," Kinsler told Fenech. "Obviously, this season didn't go the way any of us planned but he led us to a division title his first year and we're happy with him as manager."
"That's good news," McCann said after hearing Ausmus would be back. "I like Brad. I like him a lot. I know there's a heck of a lot more I can learn from him."
Ausmus, 46, is 162-155 in two seasons as manager of the Tigers. He's also the manager of Team Israel, who will attempt to qualify for the 2017 World Baseball Classic next year.
