Entering his 21st season in professional baseball and his 11th season with the organization after being named to his current position on April 15, 2002.

• Is responsible for assisting David Dombrowski with the day-to-day baseball operations of the organization and the major league club.
• Prior to joining the Tigers, he served as special assistant to Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Dave Littlefield...appointed to the position on January 23, 2002 after spending nine seasons with the Florida Marlins.
• Served as the interim general manager for the Marlins during the 2001 off-season following David Dombrowski's departure to Detroit.
• Named Florida's vice president and assistant general manager in July 2001.
• Under Avila's guidance, the Marlins drafted 2003 World Series Most Valuable Player Josh Beckett in the first round of the June 1999 draft, while in the first round of the June 2000 draft, the Marlins drafted the Midwest League's top hitting prospect in 2001 and one of the youngest players to play in the Futures Game in Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
• On the international front, Avila led the way to the 1999 signing of Tigers first baseman/third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who made it to the major leagues in 2003 at the age of 20 and clubbed four home runs during the post-season for the World Champion Florida Marlins...also was instrumental in the signing and development of second baseman Luis Castillo and shortstop Alex Gonzalez, as well as shortstop Edgar Renteria.
• Named director of scouting for the Marlins in July 1998...was responsible for all of the Marlins scouting efforts on both the national and international levels and he oversaw the development of those players in the baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
• Under Avila's guidance, the Marlins signed 1997 NLCS and World Series Most Valuable Player Livan Hernandez.
• Before being named the director of Latin American operations in 1994, Avila was originally hired by the Marlins as the assistant director of Latin American operations in June 1992.
• Prior to joining the Marlins, Avila served as the director of athletics and head baseball coach at St. Thomas (FL) University from 1988-92...he led the team to a number three ranking in the 1992 NAIA poll and won the Florida Sun Conference Championship in 1991 and 1992...Avila was named the 1991 Florida Sun Conference Coach of the Year.
• Served as general manager of the Daytona Beach Admirals of the Florida State League in 1987 and worked for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 1986.
• A graduate of Hialeah High School, Avila earned a master's degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University in 1986.
• A former catcher, Avila was signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
• Named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Hispanics in Michigan in 2003.
• Avila has interviewed for the general manager position with the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks...was a finalist for the position with both Seattle and Arizona.
• Serves on the board of directors of Think Detroit PAL, a non-profit corporation in partnership with community volunteers and the Detroit Police Department to help build character in young people through athletic, academic and leadership programs.
• He and his wife, Yamile, have three children: sons Alexander (1/29/87) and Alan (7/21/89) and daughter Annelisa Marie (10/27/98).
• His son, Alex, is the Tigers starting catcher.
• His son, Alan, is a law student at Florida International University.
• Is the son of Ralph Avila, retired vice president of the Dodgers.