Miguel Cabrera was eager to play 3B even before Fielder's signing

Detroit -- Never has there been a sense of pageantry at a player's unveiling to match Thursday's news conference at Comerica Park.

Prince Fielder and his $214 million pact with the Tigers created drama and questions that crackled during the session.

Here are the stories and subtexts that spilled from the movie-style set in the Tigers Club, with owner Mike Ilitch, agent Scott Boras, Tigers chief Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland in attendance:

Biggest surprise

Miguel Cabrera supposedly has a bigger appetite for third base than was known.

This came as a surprise for the reason Cabrera always had appeared to revel in his four-year home at first base and always confirmed as much in conversation. It was a matter of steadily gaining comfort and an ease with the skills first base demands.

But it turns out Cabrera was busy losing weight even before the Prince Fielder deal, all as a prelude to playing at least part-time at third in 2012.

Dave Dombrowski, the front-office boss, talked about a conversation he had last week with infield coach Rafael Belliard.

Belliard quoted Cabrera as saying Cabrera "wanted to play 40 games there in 2012."

Belliard's assessment of Cabrera at third matched the rosy forecasts offered by Dombrowski and Leyland.

"Rafael says he's got to narrow his base a little more," Dombrowski said. "But Rafael said, 'I think he can play third base.'"

Biggest question

Can the guy who has embraced third base capably perform there?

The Tigers say yes. And that's what everyone was required to say Thursday.

They privately understand what might happen at one of the most difficult positions in sports.

Cabrera played third at length with the Marlins. His short stint in 2008 with the Tigers didn't go well.

It comes down to what the Tigers can live with: Will his defense be adequate to permit the offensive plus the Tigers get from Cabrera-Fielder and Delmon Young?

It's a decision that's as much a mathematical calculation as an executive plan.

If not — this will not be an easy transition, no matter how cheery everyone was — the Tigers get a break if Fielder, as he indicated, agrees to share time with Cabrera at first and designated hitter.

Greatest mystery

Will the Tigers bid for Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, who this week obtained his residency in the Dominican Republic and was declared a free agent?

Dombrowski's response was profound when asked if the Fielder signing precluded any offers for Cespedes.

"Maybe most likely," he said, making clear Ilitch would have the final say there, and after this week's dealings, no way would the GM speak for Ilitch.

"You never can tell," he added with a tight smile.

What the Tigers gained

In the view of Dombrowski: 70 home runs and 230 RBIs.

"Maybe you get a couple more errors," he said, acknowledging Fielder at first and Cabrera at third might not be clinicians there. "But that's pretty good to get from your corners."

For the record, Fielder had 38 homers and 120 RBIs for the Brewers in 2011; Cabrera had 30 home runs and 105 RBIs alongside a league-leading .344 average. Cabrera also led the American League with 48 doubles.

Displaced players

Leyland was gracious to Brandon Inge, saying he was sorry the would-be third baseman learned through media and not from the Tigers he was — for the second time in four years — about to be replaced at third by Cabrera.

Leyland, though, said Inge wasn't a "happy camper," which was not overly appreciated by Dombrowski.

"I can understand he's not thrilled," Dombrowski said of Inge. "But he's not coming off a big year numbers-wise. … I think he does have a chance to have good numbers."

As is the case with Cabrera's move, the Tigers will wait and see if hopes and outcomes achieve a happy measure of harmony.

lynn.henning@detnews.com

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