DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers hope Dave Dombrowski can help them do what he did for the Florida Marlins in five years and the Arizona Diamondbacks just did in four: win a World Series.

Dombrowski, widely regarded as one of baseball’s top executives, was hired Monday as president and chief executive officer of the Tigers, a team that hasn’t had a winning season since 1993. He signed a five-year contract.

“Sure, I think you can turn things around quickly in baseball today,” owner Mike Ilitch said. “Look at the Marlins. Look at the Diamondbacks. I wanted to go out and find the best baseball person I could find to help us turn this thing around, and I think I’ve found him.”

Dombrowski, 45, became the Marlins’ first executive vice president and general manager in 1991 – 18 months before the expansion team’s first game – and added the title of president in 2000. He helped build the Marlins, who won the 1997 World Series.

Dombrowski was a candidate for similar positions in Toronto and Texas, where the Rangers hired former Cleveland executive John Hart as general manager.

“Sure, I had other opportunities, but this is a dream job for me,” Dombrowski said. “I’m coming into a franchise that is one of the best in baseball.”

Dombrowski replaces Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, who appointed himself team president when John McHale left the Tigers for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during last season.

“He’s got full authority,” Ilitch said. “I came to the conclusion that he’s a better president than I was.”

Tigers general manager Randy Smith and manager Phil Garner have kept their jobs. Both have two years remaining on their contracts.

“I look forward to working with him and for him,” Smith said. “I’ve never worried about my job security.”

Garner, who has been on vacation, said was encouraged by the hiring of Dombrowski.

“I think it can be very positive,” Garner said in a phone interview. “He obviously did a good job with the Marlins, and he’s very well respected around the league.”

Ilitch said the committee he created – which included himself, Smith, Garner and former Tiger greats Al Kaline and Willie Horton – will be disbanded. However, he wants to find a role for Kaline and Horton within the organization.

Dombrowski had two years left on a $5 million, five-year contract, but Marlins owner John Henry gave him permission to talk to other teams.

“All of us wish Dave Dombrowski well and thank him for his years of service to the Florida Marlins,” Henry said. “I know he will be highly successful in his new endeavor.”

Dombrowski went to Florida after serving as general manager of the Montreal Expos for two years.

He leaves behind a franchise in limbo because of alienated fans and Henry’s stalled campaign for a new ballpark. The Marlins have no manager, no general manager, no president and perhaps no future.

Assistant general manager Al Avila, special assistant to the general manager Scott Reid and legal counsel John Westhoff will take over baseball operations for now, Henry said. He shed no light on the fate of the franchise.

Florida will play at least one more season with Henry as owner – but without Dombrowski, and without some of the Marlins’ best players. Dombrowski’s departure suggests another round of payroll slashing looms for Florida, painfully reminiscent of the dismantling following the World Series season.

The Tigers (66-96) finished last season with a losing record for an unprecedented eighth consecutive season. They lost 13 more games than they did in 2000.

Detroit’s payroll of about $50 million ranks among the bottom third in baseball. Ilitch would not say what he’s willing to spend next season, and Dombrowski said he didn’t ask what the payroll may be during his one-week interview process.