DETROIT, March 28 (UPI) -- Detroit Tigers Manager Alan Trammell released veteran second baseman Damion Easley Friday, severing ties with a player who has been a staple of the team's lineup for more than six years.
On Saturday, Trammell decided to go with the talented but inexperienced double-play combination of second baseman Ramon Santiago and shortstop Omar Infante. Easley promptly questioned the first-year manager's decision and now will not be around to see how it plays out.
The 33-year-old Easley is a career .254 hitter with 119 homers and 506 RBI in 1,191 games. He broke in with the Angels in 1992 but was traded to the Tigers on July 31, 1996 for Greg Gohr. With Detroit, Easley hit .260 with 104 homers and 400 RBI in 841 games.
But in two of the last three years, Easley has battled injuries and with a team certain to struggle, Trammell has an eye on the future.
The Tigers still owe Easley nearly $15 million on a four-year, $26.5 million contract extension signed in 1999.
