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Jose Iglesias said Monday he has stress fractures in both legs -- apparently explaining why his recovery from the shin splint injury appeared to be moving so slow. According to MLB.com's Jason Beck, Iglesias believes he will be able to play this season, but a timetable will not be known until he sees another specialist on Tuesday.
Iglesias solutions?
Iglesias solutions?
According to Lynn Henning of the News, Iglesias experienced this pain while playing with the Red Sox, and Boston's training staff was aware of it, but he tried to play through it with the Tigers.
Iglesias has been limited to a lone Grapefruit League game on Feb. 27, and news of the recurrence of his injury came to light on Feb. 28. The Tigers attempted to treat it with rest as well as orthotics. He resumed baseball activity, doing hitting and fielding work, but went to see a second specialist at the end of the week.
Although the official timetable is unknown, speculation arose -- via a former teammate speaking anonymously with some national media members -- that Iglesias would miss half and maybe "most" of 2014.
In the meantime the Tigers have to figure out a plan. They are looking at internal solutions first, according to president/general manager Dave Dombrowski. Those include utilityman Steve Lombardozzi, shortstop Eugenio Suarez, infielder Hernan Perez and infielder Danny Worth.
As for solutions outside the organization, speculation about a deal with Stephen Drew arose by some in the media, though Dombrowski tried to put it to rest. An unreliable (insomuch as we have never heard of him) source said the Tigers are targeting Nick Franklin as well. There could, of course, be other names out there we haven't heard of, and given the Tigers' history that's more likely the case.
This is the second major injury of the season for Detroit: Left field platoon member Andy Dirks, who was expected to see a majority of at bats, had back surgery and will miss three months.
Fellow left fielder Rajai Davis was a scratch in Monday's game with a sore hamstring. As you know, that's an injury that can linger, too.