Dave Dombrowski has been a general manager longer than any American League counterpart. He has built and rebuilt teams for 20 years, developing a reputation as one of the foremost baseball team architects.
He turned the Montreal Expos into winners as the boy GM, took the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and transformed the 119-loss Detroit Tigers of 2003 into the American League champions of 2006.
Everything he did was golden ... until this year.Dombrowski, 51, put together a team that was the envy of baseball. He spent $138 million on a club many speculated would be one of the greatest offensive forces the game had ever seen. A World Series return was fully expected.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the Fall Classic, as nearly every major move Dombrowski made in the off-season backfired:.
• Shortstop Edgar Renteria, obtained from Atlanta, had a so-so offensive season and struggled defensively. Jair Jurrjens (13-10, 4.12 ERA) had a very good year for the Braves and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez was invited to the Futures Game for baseball's top prospects.
"We gave up a lot for him," Dombrowski said. "But we felt he had the ability to make the difference for us. We were wrong."
Dombrowski said he didn't have the range at short, but said that with Brandon Inge back at third that could lessen his inability to reach grounders. Renteria's $12 million contract for next year will be bought out for $3 million and he could come back at a lower price.
• Left fielder Jacque Jones came from the Chicago Cubs for infielder Omar Infante, and was so bad that he was let go in April. Dombrowski said he thought the strong second half Jones had in 2007 was an indicator that he would make a difference.
• First baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis came from the Marlins for six players, including two key prospects, pitcher Andrew Miller and outfielder Cameron Maybin. The only player who flourished was Cabrera, who led the American League with 37 homers and had 127 RBIs, but Willis' control problems were a key failing. He didn't win a game and spent nearly three months in the minors in search of his control.
"I don't know that anybody could have predicted this," said Dombrowski of Willis, whom he signed to a three-year, $29 million contract extension. "Apparently, it was a bad decision, a decision that has not worked out so far."
• Picking up Armando Galarraga (13-7, 3.73), who led all American League rookies in wins, came in a minor league deal for outfielder Michael Hernandez. It was barely a note prior to spring training, but ended up being a great acquisition. He, in essence, replaced what Jurrjens took to Atlanta.
And so Dombrowski has to recover his magic touch after hitting a big chuck hole in the road to the postseason.
"No. 1, we have to improve our pitching," Dombrowski said, "and our bullpen for sure. And we have to improve our defense."
Kenny Rogers, a winner of 219 big league games and Detroit's 2006 post-season hero, tailed off at the end of the season but remains a possibility. Rogers, 43, said the Tigers are the only team he wants to play for if he doesn't retire. Dombrowski said he plans to talk with Rogers when his mind is made up.
"We have to make some decisions where we go to put dollars," Dombrowski said. "But we're not looking to reduce (the payroll) significantly."
He said catcher and shortstop are the biggest questions marks. But he might go with Ramon Santiago at shortstop until prospect Cale Iorg is ready, and could end up obtaining a veteran left-handed hitter to platoon with rookie catcher Dusty Ryan.
Dombrowski currently expects the rotation to be Justin Verlander ("We've got to get Justin Verlander to be Justin Verlander."), Galarraga, Zach Miner and Jeremy Bonderman, returning from surgery. He said the fifth starter will come from the pool of Willis, Nate Robertson and free agent Freddy Garcia.
They aren't likely to pursue the big-time free agent pitchers like CC Sabathia or A.J. Burnett, and Dombrowski all but ruled out pursuing closer Francisco Rodriguez. But they might go after Colorado closer Brian Fuentes or a starter such as Derek Lowe of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who grew up in Dearborn.
"We don't need an All-Star at every position," said Dombrowski, who is looking for players who fit a role, guys who have intangibles.
Joe Torre said getting third baseman Casey Blake from the Indians sparked his Dodgers. And that is what Dombrowski will be beating the bushes for -- a guy who becomes glue. Maybe a free agent shortstop like David Eckstein, who was the World Series MVP for St. Louis against Detroit in 2006, would be a fit.
"I'm my own harshest critic about what happened last year," Dombrowski said. "Now, what we've got to do is go out and fix it."