options for the Lions. Theo Riddick had a promi

DETROIT -- When the Detroit Tigers spent millions last offseason to sign Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton, it appeared they extended their window of opportunity to challenge for a championship for another couple of years.One of those chances went by the wayside in 2016.The Tigers were eliminated from the AL wild-card race on the final day of the season, missing the playoffs for a second straight year. It was a bitter disappointment for a team that came into 2016 with a payroll around $200 million and a roster still built around Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander -- two stars who had very productive seasons but are now in their mid-30s.A lot of hard work for naught, Verlander said. You cant say a wasted year because we battled and we gave it everything we had. ... Still, all the hard work in the offseason, all the hard work during the season, and then it comes to an end on the last day. Its tough.Detroits 86-75 record was a 12-game improvement over 2015. The Tigers have not made any announcement about the future of manager Brad Ausmus, but general manager Al Avila can keep the roster largely intact if he wants to. Its not until after the 2017 season that Detroit could face substantial losses in free agency.Here are a few things to know heading into the offseason:YOUNG ARMSWhen the Tigers acquired Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd last year in trades for Yoenis Cespedes and David Price, Detroit hoped those three could provide young, cost-controlled pitching in the seasons to come. The Tigers reaped the rewards of those deals even earlier than expected.Fulmer went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 26 starts. Norris wasnt healthy enough to make that kind of impact, but he was 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA and averaged more than a strikeout per inning. Boyd was 6-5 with a 4.53 ERA.Those three pitchers are perhaps the biggest reason Detroit was able to stay in the postseason race all the way until the end.WILL BRAD BE BACK?The Tigers are 250-234 in three seasons under Ausmus, and theyve finished first, last and now second in the AL Central on his watch. Ausmus did not want to speculate about whether hed be back next year.If Al thinks he would rather have someone else, I would respect his decision, Ausmus said. If Al would like me to do it, I would love to do it.FEAST OR FAMINEZimmermann and Upton, the two big free agents who joined the Tigers last offseason, went through their share of frustration. Zimmermann was 5-0 with a 0.55 ERA in April, but his season ended up being ruined by neck problems, and he finished with an ERA of 4.87.Upton hit 31 home runs, 18 after Aug. 20.COMING AND GOINGDetroit infielders Erick Aybar and Casey McGehee and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia can become free agents, and the Tigers have team options for next season on outfielder Cameron Maybin and closer Francisco Rodriguez.Detroit can keep all its biggest stars for 2017, but after that, Upton and J.D. Martinez can become free agents.STAYING HEALTHYThe Tigers had their share of injury problems this year, but they had to be encouraged by Cabrera and Verlander, both of whom were able to stay healthy. Victor Martinez also was available to play in 154 games and hit 27 home runs after managing just 11 the previous season.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Chase Headley Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Christian Villanueva Jersey . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. http://www.padresrookiestore.com/ . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Manuel Margot Jersey Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears have not won a game this season, and they have not beaten the Detroit Lions since 2012.One victory would end two slides.Chicago is 0-3 for the second time in as many seasons under coach John Fox and would match its worst start since 2000 with a loss Sunday against Detroit. The last time the Bears beat the Lions (1-2) was when they took both games in 2012.I dont care about winning right now, linebacker Willie Young said. Its just about doing the best that I can as Willie Young to lead by example regardless of the adversity. You might see me smiling. Im not accepting losing by no means.While Young seems more concerned about the team maintaining the right approach, the fact is the Bears are in a difficult spot. Theyve been dealing with injuries and poor play in just about every area. They might have to get by without quarterback Jay Cutler again after he sat out last weeks game against Dallas because of a sprained right thumb.And theyre staring at a line of tough opposing quarterbacks after what initially looked like a lighter stretch in the schedule.The Bears could not beat Brock Osweiler or a pair of rookies in Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott while losing to Houston, Philadelphia and Dallas.Things arent getting easier, with Detroits Matthew Stafford third in the league in passing. The Bears then visit Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, and after a home game against Jacksonville, they get Aaron Rodgers and the Packers at Lambeau Field on Oct. 20 before facing Sam Bradford and the Vikings at home on Halloween.Detroit, meanwhile, is trying to a bounce back from a 34-27 loss to Green Bay that saw the Packers burn the secondary for some big plays while building a big lead. The Lions also wasted a career performance from receiver Marvin Jones, who had a personal-best 205 yards and two touchdowns. He could be in for another big game going against a shaky and short-handed defense.Here are some things to know about the Lions-Bears matchup:HURTING: While the Bears have nine players on injured reserve and two on the physically unable to perform list, the Lions could be without two key defensive players in lineman Ezekiel Ansah (left ankle) and linebacker DeAndre Levy (quadriceps). Ansah missed last weeks game, while Levy has sat out the past two.TTheres always a challenge when you dont have two really good players out there, Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said.dddddddddddd But, we go into everything trying to take away the best thing that the other team does. I dont know if its a big thing in terms of a challenge of the game plan, I think its a challenge in how weve been doing it. We have to do what were doing better, and we have to just try to execute better.BEHIND CENTER: With Cutler hurt, Brian Hoyer said this week he was practicing as if he was going to start again.Until someone tells me different Im just preparing like Im going to play, and thats if he was playing I would prepare the same way, said Hoyer, who threw for 317 yards last week .STREAK: Chicago is one of the few teams the Lions have had an extended period of success against. One thing about the streak: five of the six wins were by single digits.Every game is different, especially every year, year to year, Stafford said. In order to win on the road or even at home, you have to go out there and execute and play well. Weve done that the last few times weve played these guys.RUNNING STRUGGLES: The running game was a concern for Detroit coming into the season, and an injury to Ameer Abdullah (left foot) has limited the options for the Lions. Theo Riddick had a promising season opener but had only 9 yards on 10 carries last weekend against Green Bay. Rookie Dwayne Washington ran 10 times last week.HELLO AGAIN: Running back Joique Bell signed with Chicago on Tuesday, just in time to see his old team again.Bell was released by the Lions in February and worked out for them last week with Abdullah going on injured reserve. But general manager Bob Quinn passed. The Bears -- down a few running backs -- did not.Bell had nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 2013 and 2014. But his role diminished last season because of injuries as well as the emergence of Abdullah as a rookie, along with Riddicks as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield.Chicago was looking for help in the backfield because of injuries to Jeremy Langford (ankle) and KaDeem Carey (hamstring).---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '