The future of Brandon Inge in Detroit
Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge hinted (through manager Jim Leyland) that he wasn’t a happy camper. Inge’s assumed unhappiness comes after the acquisition of Prince Fielder which in turn has moved Miguel Cabrera from first to third leaving Inge without a starting spot.
Now with Inge losing his spot to Cabrera, there’s always the chance he beats out Don Kelly to become the backup at third. Lynn Henning of the Detroit News says it could come down to Inge’s disposition. Mike Ilitch and the Tigers organization has always been big on loyalty and Inge has certainly been loyal and very good in the community. The way he handled himself when he was sent down to Triple-A last season may have earned him a spot on the roster going forward.
However one name that needs some attention in the battle for the third base backup position is Danny Worth.
Like Don Kelly, Worth is very versatile and plays the third base position almost as well as he plays the middle infield positions. Because of Worth and Kelly’s versatility, Inge may be the odd man out.
And the fifth rotation spot goes to… Drew Smyly?
Like many other teams in the MLB, the Tigers are more than likely heading into spring training still looking for a fifth starter.
A dark-horse in this discussion may be 22-year-old left-hander Drew Smyly.
Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports GM Dave Drombowski mentioned Smyly as a potential candidate to fill that fifth spot along with top prospect Jacob Turner and lefties Andy Oliver, Duane Below and Adam Wilk.
Smyly posted a 2.07 ERA between Class A Lakeland and Double-A Erie in his first professional season.
The Tigers certainly aren’t afraid of moving quick on their prospects and Smyly’s strong numbers coupled with him being a left hander definitely makes it more plausible for him to be in that fifth spot discussion.
Ref: Detroit Free Press, ESPN.com, Detroit News,
