Detroit Tigers: 3 possible candidates for the manager job beyond 2020

The Detroit Tigers really need to make a push to interview Don Kelly, he could be the guy this organization needs to be here through the remainder of the rebuild.

It has been suggested in the past, so after Gardenhire’s departure, it becomes an even more real possibility. Bringing back Don Kelly to the Detroit Tigers organization, this time as a manager, is the most intriguing move and the one to consider.

Kelly is currently serving on Derek Shelton’s staff in Pittsburgh with the Pirates after being on the coaching staff with the Houston Astros in previous years. Before that, Kelly was a scout for the Tigers, who showed that he can excel in baseball.

The former utility-player and either fan-favorite or least fan-favorite in the Motor City has interviewed for managerial positions in the past, but now might be his time for a breakthrough.

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Coming back to the organization he started with and getting his first chance to manage at the big league level is more than worth it.

Kelly is an excellent baseball mind who deserves his chance to manage, especially after gaining valuable experience on managerial staff with the Astros and now Pirates.

For a newcomer to an organization, Kelly was able to rise from scout to bench coach quickly, making the transition to bench boss would be the next step up for Kelly.

Another “inexperienced” manager might be worrisome for Tigers fans after the Brad Ausmus experience.

Bringing in Kelly would be a gamble, but it is not as risky as it seems; he is a coach who made a rapid ascent and likely would find his stride quickly.

While these are all assumptions, a quick rise from scout to bench coach, and the way former colleagues talk about his eye for the game, it seems like it backs this up.

Time will tell, who knows, Kelly could end up being a disaster and result in a two-year tenure before getting fired, but being optimistic, he may be the answer to get the Tigers through the end of the rebuild.

Ultimately, isn’t that the goal? Getting the Detroit Tigers through the painstaking rebuild to a point where they are competitive once again would be a dream come true.