Alex Gonzalez released; Detroit Tigers call up Danny Worth

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Alex Gonzalez experiment is over as the Detroit Tigers announced they are cutting ties with the aging shortstop, traded for late in Spring Training for Steve Lombardozzi. To replace Gonzalez on the roster, the Tigers are bringing up Danny Worth from Triple A Toledo.

Gonzalez played in just nine games this year and had been absent from the last two games against the Angels. The highlight of his three weeks here came at the very beginning when he knocked in the tying and winning run on Opening Day against the Royals. He struggled in the field, posting three errors with very limited range.

More troubling was his bat. The Tigers liked Gonzalez over Andrew Romine for his bat, figuring they’d turn to Gonzalez when they needed a little more punch in the lineup and Romine for a little more range at short.

This might be the last stop on 37-year old Gonzalez’s 16-year career which began with the 1998 Florida Marlins.

Worth had a decent spring and continued it to Toledo, patiently waiting his turn. He hit .308 with five doubles and two steals in 14 games with the Mud Hens.

While the Tigers only gave up Lombardozzi, who figured to be a bench player for the team this season, the trade was a failure. Lombardozzi has done well for the Orioles as their primary second baseman, hitting .286 with no errors.