Tigers will not renew contract of manager Brad Ausmus

— -- The Detroit Tigers will not renew Brad Ausmus' contract after the 2017 season, ending the manager's four-year tenure with the franchise.

The Tigers entered Friday at 62-91 and will finish with their fewest wins in a season under Ausmus, who is 312-325 overall in Detroit.

"As we transition the ballclub in a new direction, I feel it's best we have a new approach and a fresh start with the manager position," general manager Al Avila said in a news release. "Brad has done an admirable job under, at times, difficult circumstances, especially this season, and we appreciate his professionalism and dedication to the Tigers the past four years.

"Our search for a new manager is underway. We plan to keep an open mind in considering current members of the coaching staff for positions in 2018, but that will be in conjunction with the manager we hire."

Ausmus led the Tigers to an American League Central title in his first season at the helm in 2014, but that was his only postseason appearance.

Detroit is shedding payroll, although the team still has Miguel Cabrera's huge contract.

The Tigers earlier this season dealt ace Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros for a trio of prospects they believe will help them down the road. Detroit drafted Verlander in 2004 with the No. 2 overall pick; he was Rookie of the Year two years later and won the AL Cy Young Award and MVP honors in 2011. He also threw his second career no-hitter that season and led the Tigers to their first of four consecutive AL Central titles.

A year ago, the Tigers exercised the 2017 option on Ausmus' contract after a 12-win improvement from 2015. The Tigers have finished first, last and second in the AL Central during his tenure and were just a half-game out of the bottom spot going into Friday's game.

Ausmus took over after the 2013 season, when Jim Leyland stepped down. There was speculation toward the end of 2015 about whether Ausmus would be back, but the Tigers kept him and the following year were only a half-game out of a postseason spot before dropping their final two games at Atlanta. There was no such chance this season.

Ausmus, 48, was a catcher for 18 major league seasons. He played for the Astros, Tigers, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.