"Three-time All-Star Magglio Ordoñez became a part-time player when the Tigers acquired Delmon Young in a trade with Minnesota on Monday.

When it came time to tell Ordoñez about the change in his status, manager Jim Leyland said it was not a difficult talk.

"It's an honest conversation," he said, "and there's never any difficulty with honesty."

Ordoñez, 37, has dealt with a right ankle injury this season and has never found the form that made him an RBI machine most of his career. He is hitting .228 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.

"I'm not down on Magglio at all," Leyland said. "He had an injury. He's never really got rolling yet. We think he can still contribute. We'll have to see how he can handle the situation. So I wanted to have a face-to-face conversation with him."

The trade happened quickly and shortly before the teams arrived at Comerica Park. Leyland said he spoke with Ordoñez, who started in rightfield and batted seventh, and explained the situation candidly."