Ron Gardenhire may have his eye on the Detroit Tigers' managerial vacancy.

Katie Strang of The Athletic reports Gardenhire, in his first season as bench coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks, is "extremely interested" in the Tigers' gig, citing "someone close to him."

Strang adds that, as of Tuesday, the Tigers have not reached out to the 2010 American League Manager of the Year or asked the D-backs for formal permission, but "would do so at the appropriate time."

The 59-year-old Gardenhire managed the Minnesota Twins for 13 seasons and won six AL Central titles. But the last of those titles came in 2010, and the Twins lost 383 games over a four-year stretch before Gardenhire was fired after the 2014 season.

George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press also had Gardenhire on his list of candidates to replace Brad Ausmus, who was told last week that he would not return.

Strang lists several other possible candidates, including Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora and Miami Marlins third base coach Fredi Gonzalez.

-- Doug Mittler