Tigers Trade Lombardozzi To Orioles For 37-Year-Old Shortstop Alex Gonzalez
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers continue to make moves to try to offset the loss of shortstop Jose Iglesias. Monday the team traded away utility man Steve Lombardozzi for veteran infielder Alex Gonzalez of the Baltimore Orioles.
Gonzalez, 37, has played 15 seasons in the major leagues, with 14 of those coming exclusively at shortstop. He has been used sparingly the past two years, playing in 41 games last season and 24 games in 2012. In earlier years, he played every day. In spring training with the Orioles in 2014, Gonzalez has played in 12 games and hit .429.
Detroit had just acquired Lombardozzi, 25, this offseason as part of the trading away of starting pitcher Doug Fister.
The move to acquire Gonzalez is the second trade for a shortstop the Tigers have made in four days. Friday the team sent Jose Alvarez, the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year, to the Los Angeles Angels for Andrew Romine.
Iglesias, who impressed quickly in Detroit last season after being traded to the Tigers by the Boston Red Sox, was expected to be the centerpiece of Detroit's new and improved infield but will miss four to six months due to stress fractures in both shins.
