The Detroit Tigers announced Tuesday that they have exercised their option for the 2008 season on catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
“The Tigers are pleased to have Pudge back for the 2008 season,” said team president, executive officer and general manager Dave Dombrowski. “He has done a tremendous amount for a franchise in his four seasons in Detroit.”
Rodriguez hit .281 with 11 home runs and 63 RBI in 129 games with the Tigers in 2007, earning his 14th career All-Star bid. He also reached a personal milestone when he became just the fourth catcher in major league history to log more than 2,000 career games behind the plate. With 2,061 games caught, Rodriguez ranks third on the all-time list.
“Pudge remains a quality major league catcher and we expect him to be a key player for our club in 2008,” said Dombrowski.
Rodriguez came to Detroit in 2004 after 12 seasons with the Texas Rangers and one year – in which he won a World Series ring – with the Florida Marlins. He is a career .303 hitter, and has totaled 504 doubles, 288 home runs and 1,182 RBI in 2,152 total games.
- Steve
