Detroit Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila isn't going anywhere.
↵Last week, the New York Mets requested permission to interview Avila for their vacant GM spot, despite reports that former Oakland A's GM Sandy Alderson is reportedly the favorite for the job. This led to speculation that the Mets were attempting to comply with Bud Selig's directive to include minority candidates in the interview process.
↵That is now a moot point, however, as the Tigers turned down the Mets' request. The team is allowed to do under the terms of Avila's contract, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.
↵Last year, they declined the Mariners' request to speak with Avila, as well. (That was curious, since the Tigers allowed him to interview with Seattle five years earlier.)
↵But Avila has been allowed to interview with other teams before. He talked to Arizona, Baltimore and Cincinnati about their vacant GM positions previously.
↵So why are the Tigers keeping a tight hold on Avila now? One guess is that they intend for him to take over for Dave Dombrowski when his contract expires after next season. That might be why Avila seems perfectly content to stay with the Tigers and bide his time.