It is still a few days before pitchers and catchers report for the Detroit Tigers for spring training in Lakeland, Fla., but there is already big news brewing.

Jason Beck of mlb.com reported today via Twitter that Brandon Inge has requested an opportunity to compete for the second-base job for the Tigers and that Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Inge will be given a shot.

Leyland said last month that Inge was "not the happiest of campers" when he learned that the Tigers were moving Miguel Cabrera to third base after signing first baseman Prince Fielder as a free agent.

Inge had been penciled in to share time at third base with Don Kelly but said earlier last month that he planned to earn the full-time job at third during spring training.



The Tigers have been planning on having Ramon Santiago and Ryan Raburn split time at second base.

Inge hit .197 with three home runs and 23 RBIs in 102 games for the Tigers last season. He has played all three outfield positions in addition to catcher and third base in his career, but he has never played second base in the majors.