DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers knew this scenario was likely, that shortstop Jose Iglesias wouldn't return for the 2014 season.
Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski confirmed Wednesday that it's probable Iglesias will sit out the season because of stress fractures in his shins.
"We do not plan on having Iglesias back with us this year," Dombrowski told The Detroit News. "He is progressing as projected. But we do not think he will be ready at any point this season to play."
The Tigers have used Alex Gonzalez, Andrew Romine and Danny Worth at shortstop this season.
Gonzalez was quickly released, so it's been Romine and Worth splitting time.
Romine is batting .200 with one home run and four RBI in 39 games. Worth is right there with him, hitting .167 with five RBI in 20 games.
If the rest of the lineup is hitting, the Tigers don't need their shortstop to do anything but make the plays on defense.
But when Romine failed to make a play on Jose Bautista's grounder in a 5-3 loss Tuesday, he was disappointed in himself, saying, "It shouldn't have got through, and it got through."
Romine has six errors and a .956 fielding percentage.
After Iglesias' diagnosis during spring training, the Tigers could have picked up free agent Stephen Drew, but that option came off the table two weeks ago when the Boston Red Sox re-signed him.
Prospect Eugenio Suarez, 22, might be the answer now. He's hitting .302 with two home runs and seven RBI in the 12 games since his promotion to Triple-A Toledo.
At Double-A Erie, he batted .284 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 42 games.
Both Dombrowski and former manager Jim Leyland were in Toledo recently, so they got a chance to see Suarez in person.
The young infielder hasn't been in Toledo long, so the Tigers might prefer that he gets more experience.
If that's the case, then their only other option is a trade.
Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins -- who's hitting .252 with six home runs and 22 RBI -- is one name that has been mentioned.
