Tigers say goodbye to Andy Van Slyke

Tom Gage / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Whether he wanted to, Andy Van Slyke is now free to explore "other opportunities."

The Tigers announced Friday that Van Slyke, their first-base and outfield coach, won't be returning after four seasons with the team. The other five coaches will be back, however.

Manager Jim Leyland had great admiration for the job Van Slyke did with the team's outfielders. "He works them," Leyland said more than once.

He worked them because Van Slyke always had asked a lot of himself as a five-time Gold Glove outfielder.

"I want the good catch to be routine for them, and the exceptional catch to be ordinary," Van Slyke said about his approach to coaching the Tigers' outfielders.

When contacted on the phone, Van Slyke said he enjoyed his four years with the Tigers, wishes them nothing but the best, but doesn't know what his next career step will be.

"I've done some postgame here in St. Louis. Broadcasting is a possibility," Van Slyke, who played from 1987-84 under Leyland in Pittsburgh, said from his home. "But so is baseball if I still want to be a manager. I know I'd have to ride the buses, but I'd be willing to do that.

"I want to say, though, that the Tigers and Jim were nothing but good to me. They were tremendous. It was a pleasure being part of their organization."

Speaking of which, the replacement for Van Slyke, 48, probably will come from within the Tigers' organization.

Gene Roof, a former coach with the Tigers (1992-95) who has spent 24 years in the organization, could be the leading candidate. Roof has served since 2001 as the Tigers' minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator.

The five coaches invited to return next season: Rick Knapp (pitching), Lloyd McClendon (hitting), Gene Lamont (third-base), Rafael Belliard (infield) and Jeff Jones (bullpen)

tom.gage@detnews.com