Tigers release opening day shortstop Alex Gonzalez

DETROIT (AP) — Veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez is gone. Danny Worth is back with the team — again.

Detroit Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski made the announcement this morning before the game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Age and a lack of range finally caught up with Gonzalez, 37, who was given his outright release as the Tigers purchased the contract of Worth from Toledo.

"We didn't see the situation improving," said Dombrowski. "When we made the move with Alex we were looking for a combination at shortstop with (Andrew) Romine, who we've liked. It's a situation where we've been able to watch him play and we think that he (Gonzalez) has had a great career, had a fine spring training, but we need to have a little more range defensively at shortstop. We didn't see it there. We didn't see it getting better. We figured it was time to make the move."

Worth has been back and forth from Toledo so many times that he has had to keep his head on a swivel and bags packed.

The final cut in spring training, Worth was hitting .308 with five doubles at Toledo before the call up. He can play shortstop, third base or second if needed.

"He can do a lot of things," said Dombrowski. "We know him. He hits left-hand pitching well and with Romine over there playing well defensively, he's better against right-handed pitching. That gives us a nice combination. He (Worth) runs decently. He's a solid defensive player at shortstop. He can play second or third, which gives us some utility value. He did very well in spring training. We just thought we'd give Gonzalez, with a little more veteran status, the opportunity. It's a situation too where we have two young shortstops who are playing very well in Hernan Perez (Toledo) and Eugenio Suarez (Erie), at AAA and AA, respectively. This gives them the opportunity to play on a consistent basis."

First-year manager Brad Ausmus wouldn't commit to Romine playing against just right-handers and Worth solely versus lefties.

"Gonzo has worked hard and he had a tremendous career," said Ausmus. "In his prime he was probably one of the better shortstops in baseball. Time takes its toll on everyone. At this point we decided to make a change and bring Danny Worth up. Gonzo was great. He's a professional. Just like he was a professional in the clubhouse and on the field he was very professional about it and handled it was well as could be expected. You certainly don't enjoy it."

Ausmus said Worth's offensive stats at Toledo wouldn't play into his role with the parent club.

"He can play short, which is obviously the most important part," said Ausmus. "He runs well. There are a lot of spots and options we can use him even if he's not in the lineup.

"I'm not going to lock myself into it be a strictly a righty-lefty platoon. I would imagine generally you'd see Danny more against lefties and Romine more against righties, but it doesn't mean it won't change. Today Romine's playing and there's a lefty pitching."

Ferrell writes for the Detroit Free Press