A look back at Dave Dombrowski
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A look back at Dave Dombrowski
Shortly after Dave Dombrowski traded away key pieces of Detroit's roster, Tigers ownership decided it was time for a shakeup. Dombrowski was released from his contract Tuesday and the Tigers promoted Al Avila to the role of executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager. Was it the right decision? Here's a look back at Dombrowski's best and worst moves throughout his 14-year stint in Detroit.
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July 5, 2002
Who: Jeremy Bonderman
Trade: Jeff Weaver for Jeremy Bonderman, Franklyn German, Carlos Pena
Notes: Dombrowski was a seller at his first deadline with the Tigers, swapping Jeff Weaver in a three-way deal that returned Jeremy Bonderman, Franklyn German and Carlos Pena. This trade proved to be a steal for the Tigers.
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Jan. 8, 2004
Who: Carlos Guillen
Trade: Juan Gonzalez (P), Ramon Santiago for Carlos Guillen
Notes: The Tigers traded Ramon Santiago to the Mariners for Carlos Guillen after the 2003 season. In his first year, Guillen batted .318 with 20 home runs and led all shortstops with a .921 OPS.
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Feb. 2, 2004
Who: Ivan Rodriguez
Signed: Four-year, $40 million contract
Notes: Credited for helping revitalize the Tigers' franchise, Rodriguez signed a four-year deal with one option year after the Tigers had just lost 119 games.
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Feb. 7, 2005
Who: Magglio Ordonez
Signed: Five-year, $75 million contract
Notes: In 2007, the year after his homer eliminated Oakland in the AL Championship Series, Ordonez became the first Tiger to win the batting title in 46 years and finished second in the MVP race.
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Oct. 4, 2005
Who: Jim Leyland
Notes: Annointed by Dombrowski as the 36th manager in Tigers history, Leyland led Detroit to two pennants and posted a 700-597 record in eight seasons.
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Dec. 8, 2005
Who: Kenny Rogers
Signed: Two-year, $16 million contract
Notes: Rogers signed a two-year deal following the 2005 season. He then went on to go 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA and became a key fixture in the team's run to the World Series.
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June 8, 2005
Who: Placido Polanco
Trade: Ramon Martinez (INF), Ugueth Urbina for Placido Polanco
Notes: The Tigers traded reliever Ugueth Urbina to Philadelphia for soon-to-be free agent Placido Polanco, then signed Polanco to a four-year extension before the season ended.
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Oct. 29, 2007
Who: Edgar Renteria
Trade: Gorkys Hernandez, Jair Jurrjens for Edgar Renteria
Notes: Widely viewed as one of Dombrowski's worst trades as general manager in Detroit, Renteria hit .270 with a .699 OPS in his lone season with the Tigers.
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Dec. 4, 2007
Who: Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis
Trade: Burke Badenhop, Frankie De La Cruz, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern for Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis
Notes: This trade was perhaps the most lopsided in Tigers history, working in Detroit's favor. The gem in the deal for the Tigers was Cabrera, who has solidified himself as one of the best hitters in baseball.
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Dec. 21, 2007
Who: Dontrelle Willis
Signed: Three-year, $29 million contract
Notes: Willis signed a three-year extension with the Tigers, two weeks after coming over from Florida in an eight-player trade. But the move backfired as Willis completely lost his command.
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Dec. 8, 2009
Who: Max Scherzer, Phil Coke, Austin Jackson
Trade: Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson for Max Scherzer, Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, Daniel Schlereth
Notes: This trade was the gift that kept on giving. Not only did the Tigers land Scherzer, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2013, but they also acquired Jackson, who was later dealt to Seattle in a three-way trade that brought David Price to Detroit last July.
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July 28, 2010
Who: Jhonny Peralta
Trade: Giovanni Soto for Jhonny Peralta
Notes: Dombrowski gave up minor leaguer Giovani Soto, who has yet to reach the majors, in exchange for Peralta, an impending free agent at the time. The Tigers then re-signed Peralta to a three-year contract.
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July 30, 2011
Who: Doug Fister
Trade: Charlie Furbush, Francisco Martinez, Chance Ruffin, Casper Wells for Doug Fister, David Pauley
Notes: The Tigers sent four players to the Mariners in exchange for Fister at the 2011 trade deadline. In turn, Fister posted a 1.79 ERA in 11 appearances for the Tigers to close out the season.
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July 23, 2012
Who: Anibal Sanchez, Omar Infante
Trade: Rob Brantly, Brian Flynn, Jacob Turner for Omar Infante, Anibal Sanchez
Notes: Dombrowski traded three prospects, including former first-rounder Jacob Turner, to the Marlins for Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez at the non-waiver trade deadline in 2012. After the season, they signed Sanchez to a five-year, $80 million contract.
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Jan. 25, 2012
Who: Prince Fielder
Signed: Nine-year, $214 million contract
Notes: The signing of Fielder to a $214 million deal was one of the more surprising moves in Dombrowski's 14-year tenure in Detroit. The Tigers boldly stepped up in the Fielder sweepstakes after Victor Martinez suffered a season-ending knee injury in the offseason.
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March 29, 2013
Who: Justin Verlander
Signed: Seven-year, $180 million contract
Notes: With a five-year contract extension, the Tigers will keep Verlander in a Detroit uniform through at least 2019, and perhaps through 2020. It remains to be seen if that's a good thing.
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Nov. 3, 2013
Who: Brad Ausmus
Notes: The Tigers hired Ausmus to replace Jim Leyland following the 2013 season. A former front office assistant for the San Diego Padres, Ausmus had never managed in the majors or minors prior to being offered the position.
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Nov. 21, 2013
Who: Ian Kinsler
Trade: Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler
Notes: Fielder still had $168 million due to him over the next seven seasons, and Dombrowski somehow managed to get the Texas Rangers to take on $138 million over that period. Dombrowski generated financial flexibility while addressing a big need at second base.
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Dec. 3, 2013
Who: Robbie Ray, Ian Krol, Steve Lombardozzi
Trade: Doug Fister for Robbie Ray, Ian Krol, Steve Lombardozzi
Notes: It's an ill-advised trade that will likely follow Dombrowski to his grave. The package the Tigers received in exchange for Fister has since turned into Krol, right-hander Shane Greene and two weeks of Alex Gonzalez. Dombrowski has made nearly 70 trades since being hired by the Tigers in 2001. This trade may have been his worst.
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March 24, 2014
Who: Miguel Cabrera
Signed: 10-year, $292 million contract
Notes: At the time, Cabrera's lucrative extension surpassed the 10-year, $275 million deal that Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees in 2007, as the largest in MLB history. Cabrera is arguably the best hitter in the majors when he's healthy. But can he stay healthy?
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Dec. 11, 2014
Who: Yoenis Cespedes (for Rick Porcello, pictured)
Trade: Rick Porcello for Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Wilson and Gabe Speier
Notes: The Tigers lost Torii Hunter in free agency, and Cespedes proved to be a significant upgrade. The Red Sox also included Wilson, who has proven to be arguably the most consistent reliever in Detroit's bullpen this season. Porcello, meanwhile, is making a strong case for being the worst pitcher in the majors in 2015. Cespedes recently was traded to the Mets.
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July 31, 2014
Who: David Price
Trade: Drew Smyly, Willy Adames, Austin Jackson for David Price
Notes: The addition of Price at last year's trade deadline gave the Tigers a formidable rotation and also protected them for the 2015 season, knowing that Max Scherzer would likely depart in free agency following the 2014 season. But yet again, Detroit came up short in the playoffs. Price was recently traded to Toronto.
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