Five younger candidates for the Phillies manager job

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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 22: Manager Brad Ausmus #7 of the Detroit Tigers smiles watches from the dugout during the third inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on September 22, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Manager Al Avila said before the game Friday that Brad Ausmus would not return as the Tigers manager. Ausmus will finish the season as manager. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Brad Ausmus

Brad Ausmus is in the same position as Pete Mackanin right now. Last week he was informed that he would not return as the Tigers manager for 2018 and is in a lame-duck position in Detroit. After Sunday, Ausmus will be without a job and certainly available to pursue.

The Tigers are in the same position the Phillies were in a few years ago: they are finally starting to recognize the need to rebuild and have begun tearing everything down in Detroit. They traded away some of their better players (J.D. Martinez and Justin Verlander) but still have some bloated contracts on their payroll. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

Ausmus was the Tigers manager from 2014 until now. They won the AL Central in his first season but were swept in the American League division series. The Tigers finished second last year in the division, but it has since come crashing down.

Ausmus is the prototypical Ivy-League, young manager that is starting to gain popularity in baseball. However, there was talk of a disconnect between him and his players by the end of this season, which could be an issue in the hiring process.

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