By Jason Beck

The much-chronicled (my bad, guys) opt-out clause in Don Kelly’s minor-league contract will not be exercised. It could’ve come into play today and forced the Tigers into a decision, but Kelly said after Tuesday’s 4-for-4 performance that he will not use it.

Instead, he said he has an informal agreement with the Tigers front office. If Kelly doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski will try to find Kelly another team with a big-league job for him. If not, Kelly will accept an assignment to Triple-A Toledo.

Why not test the open market? One reason Kelly cited was the familiarity with the organization. Another was the situation in Toledo, both the facilities and the proximity to his home just outside Pittsburgh.

By this point, the contract issue was a little much for Kelly.

“This is all contractual stuff,” he said. “I’m just trying to go out and get hits.”