"This was, for me, the best fit to play every day and win," said Everett, adding that he was looking forward to playing with third baseman Brandon Inge, second baseman Placido Polanco, first baseman Miguel Cabrera and "a defense that starts with Curtis Granderson in center field."

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said Everett "will get the majority of our starts at shortstop," adding that utility infielder Ramon Santiago also will see time there.

Everett, 31, is considered a strong fielder with limited power but valued hitting skills. Together with Inge, moved from catcher to third base in the final month of the season, he buttons down what had been a mediocre side of the infield with Edgar Renteria at shortstop and Carlos Guillen at third.

"We've really been focused on improving our defense, and that starts with putting Brandon back at third, where he is one of the best in the league," Dombrowski said. "When you add Adam, that gives us one of the best left-side infields in the game. Adam is one of the premier shortstops in the game."

Everett had a range factor of 5.09 last year with Minnesota despite playing with a bad shoulder and getting into only 48 games. The only major league shortstop who played more than 40 games and had a higher range factor rating was Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki at 5.22. Range factor adds assists and putouts and divides them by games played.

For added comparison, Cesar Izturis of the St. Louis Cardinals, who recently signed with the Baltimore Orioles, led all major league shortstops who played two-thirds of all games with a 4.85 range factor and Renteria was at 4.31.

Everett went on the disabled list twice in 2008 with a strained throwing shoulder and tendinitis in his right shoulder. Dombrowski was pleased with a Dec. 4 workout Everett had in Lakeland for Tigers bench coach Gene Lamont and head athletic trainer Kevin Rand. He passed the team physical last week.

Everett said he has felt 100 percent since September, and has worked to maintain his shoulder strength and throwing motion this offseason. He was at his best in 2006, making only seven errors in 149 games with a .990 fielding percentage for Houston.

Everett hit .213 in 127 at-bats in 2008 for Minnesota after spending seven seasons with the Houston Astros. He made $2.8 million last year, and is a career .246 hitter with single-season highs of 11 home runs (2005) and 59 RBIs (2006).

"I feel like I've always been able to handle the bat and help my team win," Everett said.

"I've been hurt the last couple years -- there's no secret there -- and I haven't been able to show everything I can do there offensively."