Tigers rumors: Detroit approached first base coach Omar Vizquel about making a comeback

The Detroit Tigers approached first base coach Omar Vizquel about making an on-field comeback this offseason when they lost shortstop Jose Iglesias to stress fractures in his shins, according to Cleveland.com's Paul Hoynes.

"They asked me if I wanted to come and take some grounders. I said, 'No, I've been retired for two years.'"

Instead, the team traded recently acquired utility man Steve Lombardozzi to the Orioles for 37-year-old shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

Gonzalez had a walk off hit on Opening Day, but has only managed four more since.

Vizquel, 46, has not played in an MLB game since October 2012, and while he might be one of the best defensive shortstops of all time, neither he or Gonzalez could provide the Tigers with the kind of production Stephen Drew presumably could.

Of course, cost is the operative factor in their decision not to sign Drew -- who is famously still unemployed.

However, Gonzalez hasn't posted a truly valuable season since 2010, and Vizquel might not have been much better. Even if the former Gold Glover was able to put together a solid year in the field, he could struggle significantly at the plate -- as Gonzalez has done so far.

Perhaps the Tigers will reevaluate their situation after the June draft. Maybe they're just trying to bridge the gap until then, but if they don't address the issue at short with someone who was born before He-Man, they could be limited themselves during a season in which they could seriously contend for a solitary draft pick -- an few tens of millions of dollars.

Maybe it really isn't worth it after all.