DETROIT -- Former Detroit Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker will join his old team at spring training next year as an instructor.
Whitaker will be with manager Alan Trammell, his longtime double-play partner, and the Tigers for all of the major league camp. He also will be available to assist with the minor leaguers.
"We're excited to have Lou as part of the Tigers family," Trammell said Wednesday.
"He is one of the Tigers' all-time greats and to have him in camp is invaluable."
Whitaker spent his entire 19-year major league career with the Tigers, retiring in 1995. A five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, he played in 2,390 games, the third-most in franchise history.
Whitaker hit .276 with 244 home runs and 1,084 RBI.
Rangers send Hart to minors, lose Ramos to A's
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers outrighted infielder Jason Hart to Triple-A Oklahoma on Wednesday.
Hart spent the entire 2003 season with Oklahoma. He appeared in 10 games for Texas in 2002.
Also, the Oakland Athletics claimed left-hander Mario Ramos off waivers from Texas. Ramos made his major league debut for the Rangers this season, going 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in three starts.
He spent most of the year in the minors, going 8-7 for Double-A Frisco and 0-3 at Oklahoma.
Astros send Fernandez to Triple-A
HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros outrighted pitcher Jared Fernandez to Triple-A New Orleans on Wednesday and released right-handers Brandon Puffer and Rodrigo Rosario.
Fernandez was 3-3 with a 3.99 ERA for the Astros last season. The right-hander pitched in 12 games, making six starts.
Puffer was 0-0 with a 5.14 ERA in 13 relief appearances. Rosario went 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two starts.
Angels minor league coach dies
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Howie Gershberg, a minor league pitching coach with the Angels since 1985, died of cancer Wednesday. He was 67.
Gershberg helped develop current Anaheim pitchers Troy Percival, Jarrod Washburn, John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez, and former Angels star Chuck Finley.
Before joining the Angels, Gershberg was pitching coach at St. John's, where he tutored future major leaguers John Franco and Frank Viola.
"He taught me how to pitch, to think out there and not just go out and throw," Franco said.
He is survived by his wife, Terri, and a daughter, Deborah.
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