Report: Tigers agree to four-year extension with 3B Inge

Dec 9, 2006 - 2:14 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Tigers apparently are determined not to let Brandon Inge get away.

According to a report on the Tigers' web site Friday, the team has agreed to a four-year, $24 million contract extension with Inge.

The deal is expected to be announced next week.

Coming off a season in which he set career highs of 27 home runs and 83 RBI while batting .253, Inge was eligible for arbitration and could have filed for free agency following the 2007 campaign. The new deal will pay the third baseman, who made $3 million in 2006, $4.9 million next season and more than $6 million each of the following three years.

A second-round pick in 1998, Inge made 22 errors this past season after committing 23 a year earlier but led all major league third basemen with 398 assists and 555 total chances. The 29-year-old helped offset the defensive miscues by recording the solid offensive numbers, which included a career-best 83 runs scored.

Inge was an integral piece of the Tigers' improbable success in 2006, when they led the American League Central Division for most of the season before settling for the wild card. However, he struggled in the postseason, hitting .273 with just one homer and four RBI in 13 games as Detroit fell to St. Louis in the World Series.

Originally a catcher, Inge also has played all three outfield positions during his six-year career. In 728 games, he owns a .241 average with 71 homers and 288 RBI.