DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers just reacquired the best shortstop in team history -- he won't be playing, but you might see him in uniform at some point.
On Monday, the Tigers named Alan Trammell a special assistant to president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.
Trammell is currently with manager Brad Ausmus in Arizona watching some Fall League games.
Trammell said they planned to take Double-A Erie manager and Glendale Desert Dogs manager Lance Parrish to dinner Monday night.
"It's all happened so fast, I'm shaking my head," Trammell said in a phone interview. "I've done most things in my life on a feel and I know that this is the right thing to do."
Although Trammell's role is not well-defined yet, he will be assisting on-field at both the major and minor-league levels, participating in personnel meetings, visiting the Tigers' minor-league affiliates and participating in community relations events.
"I couldn't be happier," Trammell said. "I wasn't expecting this. When Gibby (Kirk Gibson) and I were let go (from the Arizona Diamondbacks), I was looking to stay on the field. Some years there are more opportunities than others. There weren't a lot of openings. I was just waiting to possibly hear back.
"I got a call from Brad -- we've been friends for a while, we often go to lunch in the offseason -- but at the end of the conversation he mentioned that he and Dave had talked and wanted to see if I would be interested in coming back in some capacity. I talked to my wife and this does make sense."
As Dombrowski said in his statement, "Tram will forever be revered as one of the greatest Tigers to ever wear the olde English 'D' and we view this as an opportunity to add an outstanding baseball person who offers a wealth of experience and perspective from his 20-plus seasons, all with the Tigers, and his most recent years of managing and coaching. It's great to have him back."
Trammell said he'd heard from more than a few people that him returning to the Tigers organization seemed to just make sense on so many levels.
"I know my name is synonymous with the Tigers," Trammell said. "Dave said I should be a Tiger and I don't disagree."
Trammell said he doesn't want this to be a job in name only.
"I want to work," Trammell said. "I don't want to be just sitting around. I'm looking forward to being a team player and being a part of a pretty good ball club."
Trammell managed the Tigers from 2003-05 and then spent time as the Chicago Cubs bench coach from 2007-10 and the last four seasons as Gibson's bench coach with the Diamondbacks.
"When I left, it was important for me what I wanted to continue," Trammell said of being on the field. "I've been a part of the National League. Although baseball is baseball, it's just different. I worked for Lou Piniella, then I went to the Diamondbacks where I worked with my good buddy Gibby.
"I have more experience, more knowledge. I think this is a great time in my life for this."
Trammell will be with the Tigers' front office staff for the winter meetings next month, which are conveniently located near home in San Diego.
"I plan on being in spring training pretty much the whole time," Trammell said. "As we get going in spring training, things will develop. They really made it clear that they're not going to pin it all down, just let it evolve, which is awesome.
"My plan is however many more years I'm healthy, I'm going to be in my new role and I'm looking forward to it."
