Dave Dombrowski will be an in-demand free agent

By: Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Dave Dombrowski is going to be a little like free-agent Max Scherzer last winter.

The Detroit Tigers released Dombrowski from his executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager.

And so like Scherzer who was highly in demand before landed a seven-year deal with the Washington Nationals, hits the open market this off season as an executive in demand.

First things first, there soon will be a vacancy at the 1 Blue Jays Way with president Paul Beeston’s contract expiring Oct. 1. 

The Jays interviewed Dombrowski in the fall of 2001 after GM Gord Ash was fired, but could not compete with the team payroll or the title the Tigers were offering and the Jays executives Paul Godfrey and Herb Solway hired J.P. Ricciardi.

While the Blue Jays are one possible landing spot for the former Expos GM, there are others:

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are looking for a GM after Jerry Dipoto departed.

Larry Lucchino is stepping down as CEO/president of the Boston Red Sox after his contract expires at the end of the year.

There is talk that the Seattle Mariners could make a change in GM Jack Zduriencik.

And who better to be the point man to land a franchise for Montreal than Dombrowksi, but to date a group has not emerged to pay for a stadium.

Edward Rogers of Rogers Communications began a search with the Chicago White Sox last Nov. 4attempting to pry executive vice-president Kenny Williams away from the Chicago White Sox as a replacement for Beeston, who still was in office. Rogers and University of Western Ontario class mate Roger Rai also talked to the Baltimore Orioles about hiring GM Dan Duquette.

The Orioles wanted prospects Jeff Hoffman and Max Pentecost -- first round picks in June of 2014 -- and Mitch Nay for a guy wearing a suit.

Hoffman was part of the package GM Alex Anthopoulos used to obtain Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies.