WATCH: Tigers announce manager Brad Ausmus not coming back

DETROIT (WJ BK) - The Detroit Tigers announced Friday Manager Brad Ausmus is not being retained after 4 years as manager.

Ausmus will manage until the end of the season and will not be returning next year. General Manager Alex Avila said his contract will not be renewed on Friday. 

"It is not a happy day for me or the organization, we will not be extending the contract for Brad Ausmus," Avila said."I don't have any regrets, I still believe in Brad."

Avila said that payroll and lack of depth in the team's minors "paralyzed" them on making changes. 

Ausmus was the 37th manager in team history and over his four-year tenure finished with 312-325 (.490 record). 

In a press release he said, "As we transition the ball club in a new direction, I feel it's best we have a new approach and a fresh start with the manager position. 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 we will be in conjunction with the manager we hire." 

Ausmus spoke briefly to the media in the dugout, saying that he felt the team should have been better despite injuries but added, "I look in the mirror and say I'm at fault."  

He added that the Tigers need a new voice, "So I was at ease with it." 

Ausmus was first hired in 2014 to take over the team that had been managed by Jim Leyland. The team was coming off a 2013 American League Championship Series loss and was stacked with talent including Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, and Ian Kinsler.

In his first season at the helm, the Tigers won the American League Central and lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series. The Tigers have not been back to the playoffs with Ausmus as manager since 2014.

Over his four years as manager, Ausmus compiled a 312-325 record during that time. The Tigers are 62-91 this season and officially entered rebuild mode earlier this summer when they traded away Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Justin Wilson, and Alex Avila. 

Ausmus played in the Majors from 1993-2010 including two stints with the Tigers. This job was his first managing job at any level in baseball.

This is Ausmus' last season under contract with the Tigers after his fourth-year option was picked up last year.  

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