Tigers find backup catcher in Wilson
DETROIT -- Brandon Inge's catching slate is now cleared for him to become an ev
eryday third baseman. The Tigers filled their backup catching needs Thursday by
trading minor league shortstop Anderson Hernandez to the Mets in exchange for
veteran backstop Vance Wilson.
The deal fulfills a need the Tigers recognized from the start of the offseason,
as soon as they determined Inge would go into camp as a starter somewhere in t
he field. Inge went into last season as a utilityman, backing up everywhere fro
m catcher to third to the outfield. By August, however, he was earning most of
the playing time at third base while still serving as the No. 2 catcher behind
Ivan Rodriguez, who needed short rests down the stretch.
Manager Alan Trammell said at season's end that he hoped to give Rodriguez more
days off in 2005. Wilson makes that possible without displacing Inge, though T
rammell said Tuesday that Inge will still work out as a catcher in Spring Train
ing.
"Hopefully [the Tigers] realize how good I am, and Pudge will get a few more da
ys off," Wilson told MLB.com Thursday. "And with their staff in Alan Trammell a
nd Kirk Gibson, in that division, I'm really looking forward to it."
Dombrowski called Wilson a "professional backup catcher" and "one of the best o
f the business." The 31-year-old served the past three seasons as a backup to M
ike Piazza and later Jason Phillips. He batted .274 with 10 doubles, four home
runs and 21 RBIs in 79 games, 69 of them behind the plate, before missing most
of September with season-ending surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left ha
nd.
More important to the Tigers are Wilson's defensive skills. He threw out 11 of
32 would-be basestealers last year, his first full season below 44 percent thro
wing out baserunners.
Wilson signed a one-year, $760,000 contract last month.
"He's a legitimate quality ML backup catcher that's done it for a while," Dombr
owski said. "He's a good defensive catcher. He's got quality makeup. He knows t
he role, he works well with pitchers, and he's put up solid enough offensive nu
mbers."
Wilson started a career-best 71 games at catcher in 2003, when he hit .243 with
eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 296 at-bats.
Hernandez was rated a top-10 prospect in the Tigers organization as recently as
2003 and was considering the top defensive shortstop in Detroit's farm system
the last three years. With Carlos Guillen in his prime, Omar Infante enjoying a
breakout season last year and Tony Giarratano emerging as a top prospect just
behind Hernandez on the developmental ladder, however, Hernandez's chances for
advancement were long. He batted .274 with 19 doubles, five home runs, 29 RBIs
and 17 stolen bases for Double-A Erie in 2004 after hitting .309 at the start o
f the year for Class A Lakeland.
To make room for Wilson on the 40-man roster, the Tigers designated outfielder
Alexis Gomez's contract for assignment. Gomez was claimed from the Royals at se
ason's end, one of three outfielders the Tigers plucked from the waiver wire.
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