DETROIT -- Alex Avila has played in nearly 350 games at Comerica Park in a Tigers uniform. He understands Sunday may be his last.
The catcher is a few short weeks from free agency, and a decline in offensive performance coupled with the unexpected success of rookie James McCann have cast doubts about whether Avila will return in 2016.
Understanding the situation, manager Brad Ausmus gave Avila the start Sunday afternoon against the Twins in Detroit's final home game of 2015.
"I asked him if he wanted to catch [Sunday] because it could potentially be his last game as a Tiger," Ausmus said.