The Tigers were gunning for the World Series when Brad Ausmus took over as a rookie manager in 2014. When he left four seasons later, they were gunning for the first overall pick in the draft.
This was partly on Ausmus, whose clubs clearly underachieved. And it was partly inevitable. The Tigers, comprised of aging stars on bad contracts, were headed for a rebuild one way or another.
That rebuild is in its second full season. Ausmus, now the manager of the Angels, has quietly kept track of it from afar.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon with his team in town for a three-game series with Detroit, Ausmus said the Tigers could be back in business sooner than some people think. It hinges on the strength of their farm system delivering on its potential.
"I know the Tigers have some good young arms in their system, for sure. They were beginning to stockpile them when I was here," Ausmus said. "Some of them, like (Spencer) Turnbull, you're seeing. He came up at the end of last year. They have some other guys, including even (Casey) Mize, who obviously was the No. 1 pick last year.
"Pitching's a big part of winning baseball games, so (the rebuild) could be shorter than what people predicted if those guys kind of come to."
The Tigers' top three prospects -- and four of their top six -- are pitchers, according to MLB Pipeline. Mize, Matt Manning and Alex Faedo are all impressing in Double-A Erie. Turnbull, as Ausmus mentioned, is already turning heads in the majors.
There are high hopes for Franklin Perez, Beau Burrows and Kyle Funkhouser as well. If pitching wins championships, the Tigers are in a good place.
In all likelihood, the team is still a couple seasons away from competing for the playoffs again. In the meantime, they'll reap the rewards that come with losing.
"In baseball, it's obviously become a lot more commonplace to go through a rebuild process," Ausmus said. "But hey, look at the Astros. They did it. And I'm sure their fans are enjoying the fruits of that right now."
Regarding his time as Tigers manager, Ausmus said "it's all good memories." He's still in contact with general manager Al Avila and some of the players and coaches from those teams.
He acknowledged the Tigers "didn't perform like I was hoping we would," but he doesn't carry that disappointment with him.
"It doesn't weigh on me. This is baseball. I mean, I don't take that to bed with me at night. If I hadn't gone about my business the right way, maybe I would regret it. But we just didn't win," Ausmus said. "It's as simple as that."
Ausmus came under fire within the Tigers fan base throughout his tenure, particularly when things unraveled at the end. He received a smattering of boos when he was introduced prior to the start of Tuesday night's game.
He understands the fans' feelings.
"They want a winner," Ausmus said. "When I got here, they had won three divisions in a row. We won the division my first year here. They were used to watching a winner and they wanted a winner. What fan goes to the ballpark and isn't upset that their team loses? So I don't begrudge that at all."
The Angels are off to a slow start under Ausmus, entering play Tuesday night with a record of 15-19. He said his time in Detroit continues to serve him well in Los Angeles.
"I think the experience here definitely has benefited me now. Instead of having to think through situations, whether it's tactically or in the clubhouse, you can react to it because you've seen it before," Ausmus said. "It makes it much easier in any decision-making process."
