The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Inge will still stay a Detroit Tiger
Jim Hawkins
PUBLISHED: January 31, 2008
Admittedly, it isn't his first choice, or his second, or even his third, but Brandon Inge told The Oakland Press on Monday that he has decided to swallow his wounded pride and report to spring training in Lakeland, Fla., on Feb. 14 along with Pudge Rodriguez and the rest of the Tigers catchers.
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"Of course, I'm not happy with the whole situation," admitted Inge, who until now had dodged the media and declined all comment since losing his job as the everyday third baseman in early December when the Tigers traded for young slugger Miguel Cabrera.
"I didn't ask to have my job taken away — it just happened," continued Inge, who, in recent years, has repeatedly declared that he had no desire to ever catch again.
Nevertheless, Inge has reluctantly agreed to don his chest protector and shin guards again in an effort to, as he put it Monday, "make the best of a hand I have been dealt."
Inge's change of heart came about after a lengthy telephone conversation Monday with Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski regarding Inge's new role — and future — with the team.
At a salary of $6.2 million this season, Inge will be one of baseball's most expensive utility players. In addition to catching again, the versatile 30-year-old Inge, who broke in with the Tigers as their opening day catcher in 2001, will also now fill in around the infield and outfield whenever someone gets injured or needs a day off.
More importantly, at least in the minds of some within the Tigers' organization, Inge now becomes the leading candidate to replace the 36-year-old Rodriguez behind the plate in 2009.
A year ago, Inge signed a four-year, $24 million contract that calls for him to receive $19.1 million over the next three seasons.
"I don't care about the money," Inge insisted. "I despise those guys who get big contracts and then say, 'I'll just sit and collect my money.' I just want to play baseball.
"We'll see what happens," said Inge, who indicated he would prefer to play any position, including catcher, with the Tigers, rather than play third base for another team.
"I'm not asking to be out of Detroit," said Inge, who has become one of the Tigers' most popular players. "I love it here.
"After the trade happened, I had four options," Inge explained.
"One, I could still be the Tigers' starting third baseman. That would have been my first choice. But that isn't going to happen.
"Two, I could have a starting role in Detroit at some other position. But there's nowhere else to put me in the starting lineup. And I don't think they're going to trade somebody else away.
"Three, somebody would give me the opportunity to play third base somewhere else. But it's getting late in the offseason and I'm still with the Tigers.
"So, number four, it looks like I'll be reporting as a utility man."
Inge said Monday, when he is not catching, he hopes to fill in at third base, shortstop, second base and all three outfield positions, beginning in the exhibition games this spring.
"I want to play every position, I don't care what that position is," Inge said.
"I'll even play first base if they want me to. I could jump up in the air and catch the ball then jump back down on the bag.
"I just want to play somewhere every day," Inge added. "If I have to sit on the bench, I'll be miserable.
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