ARLINGTON, Texas -- Fans witnessed a rare sight Thursday night in Texas -- Juan Gonzalez signing autographs during batting practice.

	Juan Gonzalez signed plenty of autographs and mended some fences in his first game back at Texas.

In his first game back in Texas since being traded by the Rangers to the Detroit Tigers during the offseason, Gonzalez was all smiles.

Fans took advantage of the occasion, forming a line that extended from the field to the top of the lower section to get the signature of their former hero, who accommodated them for about 15 minutes.

Gonzalez later rewarded his fans with a three-run homer in the fourth inning to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. He made a slow trot around the bases, and was cheered as he approached the plate.

That changed to boos in the eighth inning when Gonzalez came up with two on and the Rangers by four runs. He flied out to end the inning and finished 1-for-3 with an intentional walk as Detroit lost 7-3.

Gonzalez refused interview requests before and after the game, but spoke fondly of his time in Texas in a statement handed out by his adviser Luis Mayoral, a former Rangers employee.

"Coming back to Texas, where I have so many friends and family is something very important to me," the statement said. "I spent 14 great years with the Texas Rangers organization and my time at the major league level was full of great moments, and I know that I always gave the Rangers my best."

Gonzalez played nine full seasons and parts of two others in the majors for the Rangers. He left as a two-time MVP and the Rangers all-time leader in seven categories, including home runs, RBI and runs scored.

Gonzalez was in the starting lineup in his first game back, hitting fourth as the Tigers designated hitter. He was greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos during pregame announcements, then doffed his cap to cheers as he strode to the plate for the first time to lead off the second inning.

The Rangers unloaded Gonzalez in November in a nine-player deal so they wouldn't lose him without compensation. Gonzalez is a free agent at the end of this season and the Rangers were worried his asking price would be too high.

Gonzalez turned down an eight-year, $148 million deal from the Tigers in the spring and also nixed a trade with the Yankees in June because New York would only offer him a one-year deal -- worth $12.5 million.

Those were the lofty numbers the Rangers feared, but now it looks Gonzalez will have a hard time fetching that kind of money.

Gonzalez entered Thursday's game hitting .275 with 13 home runs and 33 RBI, and has missed 32 games due to injuries. He is also a year removed from refusing to play in the All-Star Game and skipping the Hall of Fame exhibition game because his pants didn't fit.

The lower production and the baggage that accompanies the star player may have dropped Gonzalez's stock, but it could also put him back in the Rangers' price range.

It could be a good fit if Gonzalez is receptive, but Tigers general manager Randy Smith says that's highly unlikely. Smith told the Booth Newspapers chain in Michigan that he talked to Rangers general manager Doug Melvin about it Thursday, "and he said they had no interest in bringing him back on a multiyear contract."

Smith added: "And he said he didn't mind if I said that publicly."

Contacted by the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Melvin would not discuss his conversation with Smith. "I don't want to get into what we talked about," he said.

However, Melvin did not deny making the statement, according to the Star-Telegram.

On Wednesday, Rangers first baseman Rafael Palmeiro said he would consider restructuring his contract if it meant Gonzalez returning to Texas, and owner Tom Hicks said he would be interested in signing him for the right price.

"I'm not making any offers, but if they want to talk about options, I'm willing to talk about options," said Palmeiro, who ruined his friend's homecoming with a three-run homer in the seventh inning that led to a 7-3 Texas victory. "I want people to know that I am interested in having Juan return."

Gonzalez said Tuesday he would only return to Detroit if the fences at Comerica Park are moved in, but indicated Thursday that he would like to stay with the Tigers.

"I now have a new family," Gonzalez's statement said. "I like the Detroit area and I enjoy our fans. The Tigers family ... have treated me with great respect along with my teammates and they have to be behind me since day one."