Anthony Fenech

Detroit Free Press

The Tigers' biggest acquisition this off-season probably won't be a free agent, a high-priced starter or a high-priced slugger, nor come from the minor leagues or via trade.

Their biggest acquisition this off-season already is on the team — shortstop Jose Iglesias.

Iglesias is ramping up his baseball activity, president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said during the team's end-of-the-season news conference Tuesday.

"The doctors tell me he'll be fine," Dombrowski said. "He's going to be ready for spring training, he's going to be ready to go, and he's over all of his (injuries)."

Iglesias' 2014 season was over before it started when stress fractures in both of his shins kept him out the entire year.

Dombrowski said he watched video of Iglesias playing catch and participating in other physical activities about a month ago, when head trainer Kevin Rand said the bones in Iglesias' legs had healed enough to return to the rehabilitation process.

But, Dombrowski cautioned, it's October.

"From my own perspective, I need to wait and see," Dombrowski said. "Until I see him play day in and day out in the spring and him handle the pounding, then I'll feel real comfortable at that point."

Dombrowski stopped short of naming him next season's starting shortstop because manager Brad Ausmus and the coaching staff still haven't seen Iglesias play more than half an exhibition game, he said.

But, Dombrowski said: "I would think with what we know from Iglesias, if he returns to the form that he was in the past, which they tell me he will, but if he does, then he would be our regular shortstop because he's a very, very good shortstop."

And: "I'd be surprised if he's not ... because I think he's a premium young shortstop that is outstanding from a defensive perspective that's got speed and can add something offensively."

Iglesias, who will be 25 next season, hit .303 splitting time between the Red Sox and Tigers as a rookie in 2013. He is considered a Gold Glove shortstop defensively.

"This guy can really play shortstop," Dombrowski said. "People forget how good he is defensively."

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.