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Victor Martinez reported with pitchers and catchers for a reason: Brad Ausmus asked him to.

(James Schmehl | MLive.com)

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Victor Martinez brought a catcher's mitt and reported alongside pitchers and catchers for a reason. Miguel Cabrera brought two gloves to spring training for a reason.

Because manager Brad Ausmus asked them to.

The first road trip of the season will take the Tigers the West Coast for five games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. The Tigers will use spring training to prepare both Martinez and Cabrera to possibly play different positions.

"We can't not have Victor play for five straight games," Ausmus said. "This gives us another option."

Ausmus called Martinez in early January to ask him if he was willing to report with pitchers and catchers and to put in some time behind the plate. Ausmus said that Martinez was more than open to the idea, he was excited about it.

Ausmus said he can't say for certain whether he will use Martinez behind the plate during interleague road games, but that he might start against a tough left-hander or if Alex Avila needs a day off. Martinez also could see time at first base against the Dodgers or Padres with Cabrera shifting to third.

"It's been talked about," Ausmus said. "Again, there will be some things, we have to see how they play out, but it's been discussed. I actually even mentioned it to Miggy. You know, Miggy is a team guy. He told me, 'Listen, I still have two gloves. Whatever you need.' "

Ausmus took a moment to stop a potential rumor from starting late in Grapefruit League play.

"At the end of March, if you see Miggy play third for a game, you don't have to immediately say that (Nick) Castellanos is in trouble or (Steve) Lombardozzi's in trouble," Ausmus said. "It might be that we're setting up to have options for these National League games where we want to keep our big bats in the lineup."

The Tigers have five other interleague games in National League parks -- three against Arizona in July and two against Pittsburgh in August.

"We just want options against those National League teams to keep those bats in the lineup," Ausmus said.

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