Tiger roster questionable at Spring Training opening

by Jason Baird

Spring Training is under way for Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland Fla.

Position players begin to work out next week and the first full-squad workout won't take place until next Wednesday.

With Brandon Inge’s future still undetermined, the roster is far from definite. Detroit manager Jim Leyland and president/general manager Dave Dombrowski spoke with Inge weeks ago, telling him they had no trade deals on the table. A starting lineup, however, has not yet been set.

Leyland has only given a generic statement about Inge’s future.

After Leyland and Inge have a chance to talk, [Leyland told detroit.tigers.mlb.com,] they will set up a meeting with the media.

"We'll discuss it and tell you everything,” the Tigers web site quotes Leyland as saying. “That way, he won't be aggravated every day with somebody at his locker asking if he thinks [a trade] is going to happen,”

With the Tigers’ offseason recruitment of Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers have a new third baseman prospect. Inge’s talents at numerous positions on the field give him versatility.

While his talents make him an appealing trade option, continuing his $19.1 million contract over the next three years is a lot for other teams to inherit.

At that price, it’s a good bet Inge won’t be warming the bench, even though he doesn’t have a secure position.

“I love playing the game of baseball,” Inge told the Major League’s Tigers Web site. “There's nothing more in my life other than my kids and my family that I love more.”

He said it wasn’t about money.

“I don't care how much money you pay me. I want to play,” he said.

With only 25 spots on the team roster, Marcus Thames, Ramon Santiago and Ryan Raburn could be let go if Inge stays, according to a statement from Dombrowski.

Slightly more stability in the roster comes in the rehabilitation of Gary Sheffield’s arm.

After shoulder surgery last October, Sheffield is swinging the bat. The Tiger Web
site reports he’s feeling pain-free and expects to be ready for Opening Day.

After similar surgery in 2004, he resumed regular play after sitting for the first week of Spring Training games.