Detroit Tigers somehow decide to keep manager Brad Ausmus in 2017

Despite missing the playoffs this year, the Detroit Tigers will reportedly keep manager Brad Ausmus for at least one more year.

The Detroit Tigers were in playoff contention virtually right to the end of the regular season this year, before falling 2.5 games shy of a Wild Card spot with an 86-75 record. That was actually a marked improvement over 2015, when the Tigers won 74 games and finished last in the AL Central. Manager Brad Ausmus was on the hot seat entering the season, but this year’s improvement has apparently given him some measure of job security.

According to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, the Tigers will exercise their contract option for 2017 with Ausmus. An official announcement is expected to come soon.

Ausmus just completed his third season as Detroit’s manager, with a 250-234 regular season record. The Tigers won a division title in 2014 (90-72 record), followed by a Division Series sweep. But the last two years have not met expectations, and Ausmus’ status was put into doubt again when the team was officially eliminated from the postseason.

The Tigers were aggressive in free agency last winter, committing more than $200 million to starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann and outfielder Justin Upton. But Zimmermann had an injury-riddled 2016, making just 18 starts (19 appearances), and he was not very good when able to take the mound (4.87 ERA over 105.1 innings). Upton put up his requisite power numbers when it was all said and done, with 31 home runs and 87 RBI, but he started 2016 slowly and his batting average (.246) and on-base percentage (.310) were both sub-par.

There’s not much Ausmus can do about injuries and underachievement on the Tigers’ roster. But a manager can make a difference by pushing the right buttons, and it’s worth wondering if Ausmus could have bought the Tigers a few more wins with better strategic decisions. A win or loss in May or June looks trivial at the time, but with Detroit narrowly missing potential game-tilting situations take on greater importance in hindsight.

Next: Top rookies that will impact 2016 MLB playoffs

Keeping Ausmus reeks of a financially-driven decision, even if Tigers’ owner Mike Ilitch has generally thrown money around willingly in free agency. Exercising a contract option removes the cloud of speculation regarding his status heading into the winter, but Ausmus could still be the first major league manager fired in 2017.