TORONTO – The thing that makes you wonder about Dave Dombrowski’s sudden departure from the Detroit Tigers is that smart, savvy and successful executives like him don’t abruptly leave coveted, high-paying jobs mid-season unless there’s a really good reason.
Sure, his contract as executive vice-president of baseball operations and general manager was due to expire at season’s end, but for the club to part ways with him now suggests that perhaps he wasn’t wanted back, or maybe there was going to be some issue getting him to re-sign.
Could Dombrowski already have a landing spot in mind?
In that regard, the following comment from team owner Mike Ilitch in the Tigers’ news release was intriguing: “I’ve decided to release Dave from his contract in order to afford him the time to pursue other career opportunities. I feel this is the right time for the Tigers to move forward under new leadership.”
Whatever the case, Al Avila replaces him in Detroit and opportunity knocks for the Toronto Blue Jays, who interviewed Dombrowski for the general manager vacancy in 2001 eventually filled by J.P. Ricciardi, and have some interest in him to take over as team president once Paul Beeston retires at season’s end.
The president search is believed to still be in the early stages, with a list of potential candidates being shaped. Dombrowski is an obvious target because of his long track record of success in the game, building up farm systems, running teams, making trades and signing free agents.
What team wouldn’t want him?
He’s also got ties to Canada beyond his interview with the Blue Jays, starting off in player development with the Montreal Expos before taking over as GM there. In 1997, he built a World Series winner with the Florida Marlins and in 2002 took over the Tigers, losing 119 games in 2003 before making five trips to the post-season, including the past four years as AL Central champions.
News of his departure caught many off guard.
“I just heard about it, I don’t even know the details, but I can’t say enough good things about him,” said Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos. “You talk about class and professionalism, just his success, look at where Detroit was when he took over, and he turned that place around, he signed a lot of marquee free agents, attendance went through the roof, got to the World Series. Dave’s been doing it a long time and has had success in a lot of places, and I would think his phone will be ringing off the hook.”
The Blue Jays aren’t the only team with an appealing vacancy, as longtime Boston Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino retired last weekend, while the Los Angeles Angels remain without a permanent GM after Jerry Dipoto’s resignation in July.
Both are high profile, big payroll teams with plenty of appeal, and there may be other openings by season’s end, too.
Dombrowski earned $3 million a season with the Tigers, according to Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com, a pretty hefty ticket, and he will surely be looking for a raise.
Andrew Friedman set the bar when he reportedly received a $35-million, five-year deal to leave the Tampa Bay Rays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and how Dombrowski slots in will be closely watched.
So landing him won’t be easy for any interested team, and a willingness to ante up will be required.
One interesting consideration for the Blue Jays is how the sands have shifted since Anthopoulos pulled off four deals prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
His work over the past two seasons, capped by last week’s acquisitions of Troy Tulowitzki and David Price, has led to a significant rethinking of his tenure, and with his contract due to expire at season’s end, as well, he may get some consideration for the president’s role.
Funnily enough, one of Dombrowski’s final deals with the Tigers sent Price to the Blue Jays for Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt.
How interesting it would be if not long after he joined him.