TIGERS EXERCISE OPTION ON IVAN RODRIGUEZ FOR 2008

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has exercised its option for the 2008 season on catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
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“The Tigers are pleased to have Pudge back for the 2008 season,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “He has done a tremendous amount for our franchise in his four seasons in Detroit.”
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Rodriguez batted .281 (141x502) with 50 runs scored, 31 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 63 RBI in 129 games for the Tigers in 2007. He was selected to the American League’s all-star squad for the 14th time in his career this past season, his fourth selection as a member of the Tigers.
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“Pudge remains a quality major league catcher and we expect him to be a key player for our club in 2008,” Dombrowski added.
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He became just the fourth catcher in major league history to catch at least 2,000 games during his career in 2007, before finishing the season with 2,061 games caught to take sole possession of third place all-time in major league history among catchers.
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In 17 seasons at the major league level, Rodriguez is hitting .303 (2495x8247) with 504 doubles, 45 triples, 288 home runs and 1,182 RBI in 2,152 games.