The Detroit Tigers have released from his contract general manager Dave Dombrowski, CBSSports reports. The announcement made on Tuesday also stated that Dombrowski's top assistant Al Avila would be taking over his post.

"I would like to thank Dave Dombrowski for his 14 years of service," Tigers owner Mike Ilitch said. "Together we've enjoyed some success, but we're still in aggressive pursuit of our ultimate goal: to bring a World Series title to Detroit and Michigan. I've decided to release Dave from his contract in order to afford him the time to pursue other career opportunities. I feel this is the right time for the Tigers to move forward under a new leadership."

According to Avila, he was asked about taking the job as GM on Saturday, while also saying that he wasn't sure what led to Iltch's decision to make the change. The new GM told reporters that he has a multiyear contract, which he signed the day the announcement was made. The length and terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"It's long enough to have security in trying to continue a winning tradition," he said.

Avila has spent the past 24 years as a front office executive, taking over the role of general manager for the first time.

As CBSSports.com notes, after winning a World Series with the Marlins back in 1997, Dombrowski went to Detroit and took the helm of the Tigers organization's resurgence.

The Tigers won the AL pennant in 2006 and returned to the World Series in 2012. In all, Detroit made five postseason appearances under Dombrowski, including four straight through 2014, as pointed out by CBSSports.com.

The Tigers have slipped from their successes in the previous seasons, trading ace left-hander David Price to the Tornto Blue Jays for assets. Detroit is currently at 51-54, three games back in the wildcard race.