As first reported by Adam Spolane of SportsRadio 610 in Houston and then later confirmed by FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Tigers have selected former major league catcher Brad Ausmus to be their next manager. The deal will be finalized on Sunday.
Ausmus had been serving as a special assistant in the Padres’ front office. He was the manager for Team Israel during 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifying but otherwise carries no managerial experience at any level of MLB-affiliated ball.
Ausmus, 44, was also in the running for the Cubs, Mariners and Nationals -- before the Nationals hired Matt Williams.
Jim Leyland stepped down last month after a highly successful eight-year run in Detroit.
The Tigers considered their current hitting coach, Llyod McClendon, Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, Padres bench coach Rick Renteria and Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach before settling on Ausmus.
