Reactions To The Tigers’ Front Office Changes

The Tigers shook up their front office earlier today, shocking many by announcing that Dave Dombrowski would no longer serve as the team’s general manager and that long-time Dombrowski lieutenant Al Avila would assume the role of executive vice president and general manager.  Said Tigers owner Mike Ilitch in today’s press release: “I’ve decided to release Dave from his contract in order to afford him the time to pursue other career opportunities.” 

Some more details on the decision, reactions to the move and a few rumors as to where Dombrowski may or may not end up…

Yahoo’s Jeff Passan writes that Dombrowski has become the biggest free agent on the market, and his contract, wherever he signs, should begin the trend of correcting the undervalued nature of executives.  Dombrowski was earning roughly $3MM per season, but Passan wonders why the top minds tasked with overseeing a Major League team, six minor league clubs, domestic and international scouting departments, and much more earn just a fraction of what a back-of-the-rotation starter would earn on the free agent market.  Passan notes that while Andrew Friedman’s reported five-year, $35MM contract with the Dodgers was a step toward correcting that inefficiency, the coming payday for Dombrowski should serve as a further benchmark for the future salaries of executives.  Passan lists the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Angels, Mariners and Brewers as speculative landing spots for Dombrowski, adding that the Blue Jays have considered him over the past year while seeking a replacement for retiring CEO Paul Beeston. 

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale writes that Dombrowski was seeking a raise, but the specific reasons for the split between the two sides remain unknown.  Nightengale opines that the Red Sox make the most sense for Dombrowski, though he speculatively lists the same teams as Passan did, adding in the Orioles (which would make sense if GM Dan Duquette does end up taking a higher position with another team this winter).  Nightengale writes that Dombrowski’s trade deadline actions spoke volumes about his integrity, as he knew that his departure could be imminent but still found a way to convince Ilitch to authorize the trades of David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria to create a brighter future for Detroit, even if he wouldn’t be around to be a part of it. 

At today’s press conference, Avila said that Brad Ausmus will continue to serve as the Tigers manager for the rest of the season, writes MLive.com’s Chris Iott. “[ Ausmus] is our manager for the rest of this season for sure,” said Avila. “ I have all the confidence in him.  I think he’s done a good job.  Just like everything else from here on out, everything will be evaluated.  Our staff will be evaluated.  Our major-league club will be evaluated as we have done in years past.” 

In a second piece, Iott writes that Avila acknowledged being in an “awkward” position by inheriting the job as GM of the team for which his son, Alex Avila, plays.  The newly minted GM recants the story of the 2008 draft, when he asked that the organization not draft his son.  He says now that the organization made the right call when looking at the body of work his son has compiled, but he made it clear that there won’t be any nepotism at play when deciding the team’s future. “ You know how you go back to Little League and the dad used to be the coach and his son always played and was the fourth batter?”  the elder Avila rhetorically asked reporters. “ That ain’t gonna happen here.” 

The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo writes that Dombrowski’s sudden free agency places him “on a silver platter” before the Red Sox, who could use a set of eyes to oversee GM Ben Cherington.  Team sources tell Cafardo that Cherington isn’t going anywhere, but adding someone of Dombrowski’s caliber to oversee the baseball operations department and help in the trading department — where Dombrowski has long excelled — would be a boost to the organization.  Cafardo also spoke to Yankees GM Brian Cashman about the news.  Cashman told Cafardo that he was “shocked” to hear of it, adding that Dombrowski could get a job “any place he wants.” 

There figures to be plenty of speculation as to where Dombrowski lands, but for the time being, the Red Sox may not be that place, writes Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.  Edes cites a Red Sox source in stating that the team is not pursuing Dombrowski for an executive role. 

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald cites a Major League source in writing that the Red Sox do plan to reach out to Dombrowski, but a match looks “iffy.”  Any conversations with Dombrowski would be due diligence, but Silverman says there’s “informed speculation within baseball circles” that Dombrowski could be Toronto-bound, and he also notes that Dombrowski’s philosophies don’t necessarily line up with the strong analytical tendencies of the Boston front office. 

Suffice it to say, there are conflicting reports and opinions when it comes to the Red Sox and Dombrowski, as ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweets that he’s heard rumblings that Dombrowski could indeed be in the mix for the Red Sox. 

ESPN’s Jayson Stark tweets that there’s buzz in the industry that Dombrowski will end up as the new president of the Blue Jays, though despite those rumblings, today’s news was unexpected. 

Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times tweeted shortly after the news of Dombrowski’s departure that Angels sources to whom he spoke didn’t envision Dombrowski landing in Anaheim. 

Unless the Red Sox change their moneyball philosophies and give Dombrowski the latitude to run things with no interference, I see no reason why he would want to go there. 

When a person establishes the cred he has over the period of time he has, he’ll demand the right to do things his way.  I can’t see the Red Sox ownership giving that to anyone. 

I’m guessing the Jays are the #1 option.  Not sure there is a #2 at this point.  But a well financed organization that is under performing, along with a hands-off ownership, might well move some people to turn their operations over to DD.  The Mariners are the only candidate I see as of right now.  Padres might be a long shot if the owner wakes up. 

Reading your description of the characteristics of a team that would fit him, I thought Mariners before getting to your mention of them. 

I suppose it depends on his role.  I could also see him working for MLB.  I could also see a surprise team involved in a presidency.  I know the White Sox seem like a long shot, and they probably are… But if Dombrowski is still around and Kenny Williams took the Toronto job as was rumored in the past…I could see Dombrowski taking over on the south side. 

There’s too much made about Dombrowskis lack of analysis.  I know for a fact his Montreal organization was spearheading their use in the 1980’s.  Oakland wasn’t the only dog on that fight. 

As for Chicago.  Dombrowski is a Western Michigan grad who interned with Roland Hemond at the old ballpark.  He charted and even rolled tarp if need be.  He can have almost any job he wants though

Agreed.. I came to the Mariners as a conclusion right after I read “well financed organization that is under performing, along with a hands-off ownership”.. That fits the Mariners better than in other organization.. With DD’s knack for trades and the Mariners current roster he could be the missing link in getting them a championship.. What a huge upgrade he would be over the joke of a front office that they have now..

Every MLB team uses statistical analysis.  The high-level issue is – does that drive their decision making?  The next level down is – are they wedded to certain philosophies such as driving up pitch counts to a point where BA with RISP in critical games takes a 2nd seat?  That defense is not as important as getting a bat in the line-up, play the guy and any position he can stand at. 

I was just speaking about Dombrowski in particular during his Montreal days because I have personal knowledge of their use during that era and what he also left for Kevin Malone.  That was a day when analysis certainly wasn’t prevalent in the media.  I just state this about DD because I’ve read recent commenting on his lack of analytical approach.  The bare fact is that analysis predates almost everyone and goes back to John McGraw and Branch Rickey.  Earl Weaver might be the modern era genesis of them…add that to Eric Walkers research which led to Sandy Alderson who was onto analysis about the same time as Bill James.  No nothing new…but Dombrowski, much like Sandy Alderson was an early proponent of our advanced analysis

Take a long ,hard look at the perpetual, wretched state the Tiger farm system has stayed in under Dombrowski.  If Boston was to approach him?  Would want him hands off with the farm system, something that Boston has done a fine job of from Duquette on.  Last thing they need is someone that has no clue how to draft, scout and trades the few people their own system does manage to develop away. 

The Tiger organization, at one time used to be very good at scouting, drafting and development.  I live in Lakeland where they have a FSL league team and have had it for decades.  This team has produced Allan Trammel thru here, Lou Whittaker, Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris and more.  Notice something?  None for a couple of decades.  This organization has lost it’s way and I see it every day.  The kids being drafted and developed just are of inferior quality. 

This team isn’t drafting and developing like they used to, probably because they are not spending like a major market team in this area, like they are on back end pitchers, which they are.  Take some of that money they spend on a reserve player and move it to a few extra scouts making 30k (all they make) per season. 

Might find out that the team won’t find themselves having to get old every season like they have every year of late and improve from within. 

Right.. I remember reading something about a week ago where Illitch was going to turn his concentration to a new arena for his other team and step back from baseball.. That could have been some reporters speculation though.. Hard to tell what is fact and what is speculation with today’s media..

That I would love….DD was running analysis back in the 80’s…it was a top end organization… That 1994 team was largely his formulation.  Montreal was my team, so I’ll always have a soft spot for an Expos chance

That 94 team would have been great to watch in the World Series.. I remember they beat the pants off about every team they faced that year.. Plus, they were young and could have had a dynasty had they brought in the playoff and World Series money which would have let them pay for the roster in the following years instead of selling them off..

Hiring Dombrowski to be GM and kicking Cherington back to player development would probably be a very smart move for the Red Sox.  Cherington is great at identifying prospects, but is completely over matched when it comes to running the big club, so putting him back into a position where he can excel would be a good decision. 

But it’s done fairly frequently.  Teams just call it reassignment.  I know several people that have held various roles…they’ve moved back and forth… Sometimes as they maybe aged they took on a role that included less travel.  There’s some overlap in responsibility.  Guess it depends on the organization as well.  Colorado kind of had a core group of baseball operations people and evolved it.  They were there forever, but most have moved on

Dombrowski wasn’t released for him to pursue similar opportunities.  Otherwise, he probably would’ve stayed with Detroit.  He is in line for a promotion somewhere.  If that were to be the Red Sox, he would probably become Head of Baseball Operations, or some job that would put him above Cherington (who would remain GM).