Brandon Inge Struggling To Find A Home

I have to admit. I miss talking about Brandon Inge. Never has a Tigers player in recent memory elicited as much discussion as Brandon. Well, maybe Delmon Young and Rick Porcello, but there are reasons for that. Young, simply because he is an enigma. Porcello, he is an enigma too. Inge was never an enigma really, he just wasn’t a very good player, but somehow lasted a long time on the Tigers roster. Survival of the fittest I guess?

Oct 9, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics infielder Brandon Inge (7) before game three of the 2012 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Inge of course was traded from the Tigers to the Oakland A’s last season, and despite doing some positive things for Oakland, he has so far found the free agency market for his services lukewarm to say the least. The interest in him is slightly ahead of ex-Tigers closer Jose Valverde at this point.

It seemed likely that the Oakland A’s would want to bring Inge back. He did after all flash a little bit of power for Oakland and play a really good third base for the A’s. But even they are biting at this point, despite reportedly being well liked in the clubhouse. Unfortunately for Inge, his season was cut short by injury, a dislocated shoulder that he popped in and played with for a hot second.

Kudos for some toughness there. Gotta respect that.

Anyway, I do believe that Inge is likely to find a home. Probably will find a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Would it be beyond the Tigers to be interested in bringing Brandon Inge back? I don’t know if I could go through that again. The Tigers don’t need a 3rd baseman or a 2nd baseman. But let me stir the pot a bit here. Inge has played LF before, and actually looked like he could play it rather well. Inge also does show some ability as a right handed bat against left handed pitching as well. He has an .801 OPS against lefties in his career. That is none too shabby.

Dreadfully, I must admit that Inge as a platoon LF wouldn’t be the worst option in the world.

Ugh…discuss.