Possible Tigers manager candidates: McClendon, Guillen

First, it was the general manager.

Next, all signs say it will be the manager.

As the Detroit Tigers' rebooting rolls along – a coin termed by former president and general manager Dave Dombrowski, who was relieved of his duties Aug. 4 after his trade deadline deals starting the reboot – the first order of business for new general manager Al Avila will be finding a new manager.

The Free Press learned late Thursday that longtime owner Mike Ilitch intends to fire second-year manager Brad Ausmus after this season ends, according to a person with knowledge of the front office's plans. The person asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

Tigers general manager Al Avila today said that no decision has been made.

In Ausmus' two seasons with the Tigers, he is 154-148 (.510). Last season, the team went 90-72 and won the American League Central, falling in the first round of the playoffs to the Orioles. This season, they are 64-76 (.457) and in last place in the division.

With the top man in the front office long gone and the top man in the clubhouse next out the door, Avila will look around the league to find the man to right the ship of the Tigers' reboot and will likely land one with extensive managerial experience and a successful track record. Here are a few candidates to be the 38th manager in team history:

■Ron Gardenhire: After a year off since being relieved of his duties with the Twins, Gardenhire, who turns 58 next month, could be ready for a new challenge within the American League Central. He compiled a 1,068-1,039 record in 13 seasons with the Twins, which included six division titles. He carries a strong resume of managerial experience – something that surely won't be overlooked as the organization's experience with the inexperienced Ausmus went south.

■Lloyd McClendon: The Mariners' manager was passed over for Ausmus in 2013 and hasn't found success in Seattle, but carries a strong reputation inside the Tigers' clubhouse – he served on Jim Leyland's staff in a number of roles. If the Mariners' new leadership elects to go in a different direction after the season, McClendon, 56, could carry the ties to make a strong run. He managed five seasons with the Pirates from 2001-05.

■Manny Acta: He spent three seasons with the Nationals from 2007-09 and then three with the Indians from 2010-12, never making the playoffs but never having the talent at his disposal to do so. He is the softer-spoken of a couple of Latino candidates the Tigers could consider, especially with the heavy influence of Latino players in the clubhouse. Acta, 46, hails from the Dominican Republic and has a 372-518 (.418) record as manager.

■Ozzie Guillen: If the front office went with a full-scale change to a firecracker of a name, the Tigers could consider Guillen, who has nine years of managerial experience, including a World Series to his name. Guillen, 51, is close friends with Miguel Cabrera – he also hails from Venezuela – and has one of the stronger personalities in the game. Guillen turned in five winning records in eight seasons with the White Sox from 2004-11 but flamed out after one season with the Marlins in 2012.

■A few familiar faces: It's highly unlikely that Tigers settle on another rookie manager, but first-base coach Omar Vizquel is well-liked in the clubhouse and profiles as a future manager in aspirations and baseball acumen. … Longtime teammates Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson returned to the Tigers scene this season – Trammell as a special assistant to the general manager and Gibson as a broadcaster with Fox Sports Detroit – and both have managerial experience. Trammell was a Dombrowski hire and was handed a bad bunch, going 186-300 in three seasons before being fired after the 2005 season. Gibson, 58, managed the Diamondbacks to a National League West title in 2011 – his first full season – and checked in with two .500 seasons before getting fired late in the 2014 season with a 353-375 mark. With his recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, it's not known whether he is interested in managing again. … Jim Leyland, 70, is in his second season as a special assistant to the general manager after retiring from a 22-year career in the dugout and is likely done with the day-to-day grind.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. Check out our latest Tigers podcast at freep.com/tigerspodcast or on iTunes. And download our free Tigers Xtra app on Apple and Android!