Despite missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Detroit Tigers reportedly exercised manager Brad Ausmus' fourth-year option for 2017 on Tuesday night.
Chris McCosky of the Detroit News was the first to report the move, and it was later confirmed by Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
The Tigers went 86-75, missing the playoffs by 2.5 games. Consecutive losses to the 68-93 Atlanta Braves to close out the season ended their chances of securing one of the two wild-card spots in the American League.
Detroit is 250-234 during Ausmus' three years at the helm, including a playoff appearance in 2014 that resulted in the team getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series.
The Tigers had made three straight trips to the postseason prior to Ausmus' arrival, including a World Series loss under Jim Leyland in 2012.
When asked about his desire to remain as manager following the conclusion of the 2016 regular season, Ausmus said the following, per Fenech: "Yeah. It's a team that’s got a chance to win that's got some good young pitching now. You know, it's got a bona fide ace at the top, and it's got some good young pitching that will, theoretically, just grow and get better."
With a starting rotation featuring the likes of Justin Verlander, Michael Fulmer, Jordan Zimmermann and Daniel Norris, as well as hitting stars such as Miguel Cabrera, Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez, the talent is in place for the Tigers to make a deep run next season.
They have faltered in spite of their talent over the past couple of years, and while Ausmus has yet to pay the price for that, his leash isn't likely to be particularly long in 2017, especially since he'll be managing for a new contract.
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