Jim Leyland is stepping down as manager of the Tigers, confirms Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported the news. The team has a news conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET.
Leyland, 68, reportedly told his players it was time for someone younger to step in and do the job at the end of the ALCS. GM Dave Dombrowski told Heyman it was "not the time" to discuss Leyland's future immediately following ALCS Game 6 on Thursday, but did say they would "sit down in the next day or two" to figure things out.
In eight seasons under Leyland, the Tigers went 700-597 (.541) with three division titles (2011-13) and two AL pennants (2006 and 2012). Detroit thrice won 90+ under his watch, including 95 wins during his first season in 2006. Leyland inherited a team that went 71-91 in 2005 and a dreadful 43-119 as recently as 2003.
