Dan Connolly

Sunday musings: Showalter on Tigers’ Brad Ausmus and Paredes placed on waivers

By Dan Connolly

Posted on May 15, 2016

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has dealt with the whispers – and the screams, really – about his job security over the years. He’s left and/or been kicked aside from three previous organizations. So he said he definitely feels for other managers when they have to go through that process.

A process that Detroit Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus is currently undergoing – the Tigers, with a payroll of nearly $200 million, have lost 11 of their last 12, including three straight at Camden Yards heading into Sunday.

“Brad, I respect how he’s handling it. You don’t take it personally. You do, but you don’t. It’s the nature of the job,” Showalter said Sunday morning. “That’s why not just anybody can do what Brad does.”

Showalter had high praise for Ausmus back in 2014 when their teams faced each other in the American League Division Series in what was Ausmus’ first year as a big league manager. That perception hasn’t changed, Showalter said.

“I watch the games here. He’s putting everybody in the right positions. I’d do all the same things he’s doing,” Showalter said. “You go through periods where the execution of what should happen doesn’t happen. But he’s part of their solution, not their problem. Trust me. He’s good. And I wouldn’t tell ya that if I didn’t think it, I’d just leave it alone.”

Showalter has known Ausmus for decades; Ausmus was originally a Yankees’ minor leaguer when Showalter managed in New York’s system. He never actually managed Ausmus, but says he still remembers when the Yankees lost Ausmus in the expansion draft to the Colorado Rockies in 1992. Ausmus caught in the majors for 18 seasons.

“The person that made us not protect him in the expansion draft, I still remember the conversation,” Showalter said. “We lost some good players.”

Ultimately, Showalter said he feels for what Ausmus is going through as a manager right now.

“Oh yeah, of course you do,” he said. “We’ve all been there, will be again. It’s the nature of the business.”

Paredes on waivers

Designated hitter Jimmy Paredes, who has been on the disabled list all season with a left wrist sprain suffered in spring training, was placed on waivers Friday, according to a source. The Orioles hope to know if he cleared waivers Sunday afternoon.

Paredes’ minor league injury rehabilitation assignment ends Sunday, so the Orioles had to promote Paredes to the majors, designate him for assignment or ask waivers on him. The 27-year-old Paredes no longer has minor league options.

He hit .275 with 10 homers and 42 RBIs for the Orioles last year; at one point in late May last year he briefly led the AL in batting average. Limited defensively, he’s primarily a DH, and the Orioles have several big league options for that spot including Pedro Alvarez, Matt Wieters and Mark Trumbo.