DETROIT -- Gregg Jefferies, bothered by injuries much of the last two seasons, has been sent home by the Detroit Tigers and may consider retiring.

	Jefferies

Jefferies, who turned 33 on Aug. 1, was limited to 70 games last season because of injuries. On May 30, after playing in 41 games this season, he went on the 60-day disabled list with a pulled left hamstring and hasn't played since.

Tigers trainer Russ Miller told Jefferies before Thursday night's 6-4 loss to the Anaheim Angels that he wasn't getting any better.

"Russ told me it's going to take at least three to four months to heal," Jefferies said. "He said, `In fairness to you, you've been sitting three months, so go on home.'"

Still, Jefferies was reluctant to leave the Tigers, who have rebounded from a 5-17 start to push their way into the AL wild-card picture.

"I told them, `Look, if you want me to stay here, I will do whatever you want me to do,'" Jefferies said.

But manager Phil Garner told Jefferies he would be better off back home in Pleasanton, Calif.

"I think there is a part of him that wanted me to stay, but he knew," Jefferies said.

Jefferies has bounced back from injuries in the past. He missed 52 games in 1996 with a torn ligament in his left thumb. Yet he managed to play 104 games that season, and hit .292.

Despite his limited playing time, Jefferies went out of his way to say how much he enjoyed playing for Garner, who became the Detroit manager during the offseason.

"He was pretty unbelievable," Jefferies said. "I get pretty emotional when I talk about him. He's the best I've ever played under.

"Phil treated me like the years I had. Last year, to me, doesn't seem like it happened. He erased all that. He gave me my respect back, which is so key to a player. It's pretty emotional."

Will he retire?

"I don't know if my legs will handle it anymore," Jefferies said. "I tore two hamstrings just running. So, we'll see."