The Detroit Tigers and Brandon Inge have agreed to a two-year contract with a team option for the 2013 season.  The Tigers called a news conference for Thursday afternoon to announce the signing.

Inge had an American League-best 97.7 fielding percentage among third baseman this year. He hit .247 with 13 homers and 70 RBIs in 144 games last season, a year after he was an All-Star.

He made his debut with the Tigers in 2001 and has a career .237 batting average with 136 home runs and 564 RBI in 1,297 games. Inge broke Lou Whitaker's franchise record of 1,099 strikeouts this year despite playing in about 1,000 fewer games.

Tigers president Dave Dombrowski says Inge is one of baseball's top defensive third basemen and is a quality person.
  
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