As baseball talk starts to heat up, I find myself torn by the great moves made by the Detroit Tigers in the off-season. The Tigers have added Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria and Dontrelle Willis to the roster during the break – it’s hard to complain about those pick-ups but I’ll try, just the same.
With big named superstars such as Ordonez, Polanco, Pudge Rodriguez, Verlander, Bonderman, Sheffield and Granderson, the most versatile player on the Detroit roster is often overlooked. Brandon Inge can, and does, play eight positions; and plays them well. Heck, for all I know the guy could cover middle relief and make it nine positions. He was the Tigers’ catcher before they picked up Pudge, he is one heck of a third baseman (great arm), he fills in at first on occasion, and he has all the skills necessary to be a starting outfielder in the MLB. More importantly, this guy gives 100% at all times, and appears to be a guy who is universally respected and liked by his teammates.
So, with the addition of Cabrera and Renteria, where will Inge play? I have a very bad feeling the answer is that he will play in a different city. I know it’s a little greedy to complain about losing a .236 hitter at third base, when you’re adding a player of the caliber of Cabrera, who hit .360 with 34 home runs last year (more like what a third baseman should be doing at the plate than what Inge has been doing), but I just can’t get past the feeling that team chemistry is important – and that Inge is a very big part of the current team chemistry.
As I look over the roster, I see that I could also be posting “A Good Problem to Have: The Carlos Guillen Dilemma".
Subscribe to this blog
I know Inge is a fan favorite - he's adapted to at least one different position, and has done everything the Tigers have asked of him. I suspect you're correct, DetBlue, that he'll be playing in another city shortly. The question is, will he play a backup catcher, third baseman, or some other infielder?? I don't think he can DH ... so who do you think is needing a third baseman? Teams like Tampa Bay, Kansas City, or Pittsburgh, it seems, are always in need.
Maybe he could play first for the Pirates? They need one. I know they signed Doug Mientkiewicz to a one-year deal (minor league), and Inge definitely has a better bat. If it were me, I'd have his agent get in contact with them.