Izturis relieved to make the cut

Veteran infielder Cesar Izturis could have elected free agency Friday and taken his chances elsewhere had he not been added to the Brewers’ 40-man roster.

He says he never pondered that potentially tough decision.

“Not at all,” Izturis said. “I was thinking positive. I want to be a part of this team.”

He will be. Brewers officials informed Izturis on Thursday afternoon that he had made the cut. The 11-year Major League veteran will be the backup to regular shortstop Alex Gonzalez and a switch-hitter off the bench.

“It’s a relief to me. It’s good to know early enough that I can get my mind set for the season,” Izturis said.

Now he has to get his mind set for a new role. Izturis started at shortstop against the Dodgers on Friday and entered the day tied for fourth on the team with 49 Cactus League at-bats. But he will come off the bench in the regular season, backing-up Gonzalez and also available at second base and third.

Izturis has started 983 — and completed 889 — of his 1,185 games in the Major Leagues.

“It’s different,” he said. “But I’ll work on it.”

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