Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

====2017====
{{Main|2017 Detroit Tigers season}}
Mike Ilitch, the Tigers owner since 1992, died at the age of 87 on February 10, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|first1=John|last1=Gallagher|first2=Bill|last2=McGraw|title=Tigers, Red Wings owner and pizza titan Mike Ilitch dead at 87|url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/2017/02/10/ilitch-detroit-pizza-red-wings-tigers-hockey-forbes/91475642/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=February 10, 2017|access-date=February 16, 2017|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216091211/http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/2017/02/10/ilitch-detroit-pizza-red-wings-tigers-hockey-forbes/91475642/|url-status=live}}</ref> The team remains in an Ilitch family trust, under the leadership of Mike's son, [[Christopher Ilitch]].<ref name="ilitchowned">{{cite web |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170218/NEWS/170219847/who-owns-the-tigers-family-plan-is-a-matter-of-trust |title=Who owns the Tigers? Family plan is a matter of trust |author=Bill Shea |website=Crain's Detroit Business |date=February 18, 2017 |access-date=February 26, 2017 |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004022250/https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170218/NEWS/170219847/who-owns-the-tigers-family-plan-is-a-matter-of-trust |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jim|last=Lynch|title=Son Christopher rises to fill Ilitch's big shoes|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2017/02/14/son-christopher-rises-fill-ilitchs-big-shoes/97876866/|website=The Detroit News|date=February 14, 2017|access-date=February 23, 2017|archive-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222002401/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2017/02/14/son-christopher-rises-fill-ilitchs-big-shoes/97876866/|url-status=live}}</ref> Like the Detroit Red Wings, the Tigers honored their owner in multiple ways, the most prominent being a "Mr. I" uniform patch.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Shea|title=Opening Day: Sunny skies as Tigers honor 'Mr. I'|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170407/BLOG003/170409884/opening-day-sunny-skies-as-tigers-honor-mr-i|website=Crain's Detroit Business|date=April 7, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017|archive-date=June 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614200306/http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170407/BLOG003/170409884/opening-day-sunny-skies-as-tigers-honor-mr-i|url-status=live}}</ref>

After a disappointing record through the All-Star break, the Tigers began committing to a rebuild, trading J. D. Martinez,<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=D-Backs acquire J.D. Martinez from Tigers|url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/d-backs-acquire-j-d-martinez-from-tigers-c242930486|website=MLB.com|date=July 18, 2017|access-date=July 18, 2017|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926035809/https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/d-backs-acquire-j-d-martinez-from-tigers-c242930486|url-status=live}}</ref> Alex Avila and [[Justin Wilson (baseball)|Justin Wilson]] in July,<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=Tigers trade Justin Wilson, Alex Avila to Cubs|url=https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/tigers-trade-justin-wilson-alex-avila-to-cubs-c245479820|website=MLB.com|date=July 31, 2017|access-date=July 31, 2017|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223214502/https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/tigers-trade-justin-wilson-alex-avila-to-cubs-c245479820|url-status=live}}</ref> plus Justin Upton and Justin Verlander in August.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=Justin Upton traded from Tigers to Angels|url=https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/justin-upton-traded-from-tigers-to-angels-c251666640|website=MLB.com|date=August 31, 2017|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308125256/https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/justin-upton-traded-from-tigers-to-angels-c251666640|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=Justin Verlander traded for 3 top prospects|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-verlander-traded-for-3-top-prospects-c251775622|website=MLB.com|date=September 1, 2017|access-date=October 25, 2018|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412124351/https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-verlander-traded-for-3-top-prospects-c251775622|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 22, the Tigers announced that the team would not extend manager Brad Ausmus' contract past the 2017 season, ending his four-year tenure as manager. Under the management of Ausmus, the Tigers had a record of 314–332 (.486 winning percentage) and won one AL Central division title in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Ashley|last1=MacLennan|first2=Kurt|last2=Mensching|title=Tigers will not renew manager Brad Ausmus' contract after 2017|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2017/9/22/15871456/brad-ausmus-contract-not-renewed-tigers-fired|website=Bless You Boys|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2017|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004034815/https://www.blessyouboys.com/2017/9/22/15871456/brad-ausmus-contract-not-renewed-tigers-fired|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tigers went 6–24 in September, ending the season in a tie for the worst record in MLB with the [[2017 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]]. However, due to a tiebreaker, the Tigers were awarded the number one overall pick in the [[2018 Major League Baseball draft|2018 MLB Draft]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Rogacki|title=Tigers will have No. 1 overall pick in 2018 MLB draft|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2017/10/1/16389858/2018-mlb-draft-order-detroit-tigers-san-francisco-giants-philadelphia-phillies|website=Bless You Boys|date=October 1, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003113533/https://www.blessyouboys.com/2017/10/1/16389858/2018-mlb-draft-order-detroit-tigers-san-francisco-giants-philadelphia-phillies|url-status=live}}</ref>