Infielder Wilson elects to become free agent

DETROIT -- Josh Wilson is a free agent once again. As expected, the veteran infielder exercised his right to hit the open market after the Tigers removed him from their 40-man roster last week.

The 34-year-old Wilson signed a Minor League deal last winter with a non-roster invite to Spring Training. The Tigers purchased his contract from Triple-A Toledo on June 2 for what ended up being a five-week stint in Detroit as a utility infielder, then brought him back with expanded rosters in early September.

His shining moment in Detroit was a four-hit game in his second game as a Tiger on June 6 against the White Sox, part of a six-hit, three-RBI series in Chicago. He batted .316 (12-for-38) for the season in Detroit with three doubles and five RBIs, to go with a .252 (66-for-262) average, three homers and 30 RBIs with the Mud Hens. He also pitched an inning for the Tigers in a 14-3 loss to the Yankees June 20 in the Bronx.

Wilson, who came up through the Marlins' system with Miguel Cabrera more than a decade ago, has played in 431 Major League games across nine different franchises. His exit from the Tigers' 40-man roster was long expected, especially since he would have been eligible for arbitration this winter had he stayed on. Detroit could try to bring him back on another Minor League contract, though JaCoby Jones' late-season surge at Double-A Erie upon arrival from the Joakim Soria trade provides some young depth in the system.