Miguel Cabrera

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the consensus among major league executives is that Miguel Cabrera will not be able to play third base regularly.

“There’s no way they go with that,” said one highly ranked National League executive. “It can’t work.” The Tigers appear confident that Cabrera will be able to make the transition back to third base, but he hasn’t played the position since the start of the 2008 season. With just 383 career starts, the 28-year-old figures to share playing time with Prince Fielder at first base and log at-bats at designated hitter.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland confirmed Thursday that Miguel Cabrera will make the move over to third base to accomodate Prince Fielder at first base.

Miguel Cabrera told Venezuelan newspaper Lider en Deportes that he will move to third base to accomodate Prince Fielder at first base.

“I will come back to the third base, which is my natural position,” Cabrera said, via a translated version of the story. “The arrival of Fielder will benefit us.” The Tigers could have a pretty terrible defensive alignment, but Cabrera gaining eligibility at the hot corner would be huge in fantasy leagues. He should vault to No. 1 overall status in most formats.

Jason Beck of MLB.com writes that it “sounds like” the Tigers will use a rotation at the corner infield spots following the signing of Prince Fielder, including using Miguel Cabrera at third base on some days.

Music to the ears of fantasy owners. With the prospect of third-base eligibility, it’s going to be very difficult to resist drafting Cabrera No. 1 overall in mixed leagues. The 28-year-old has 383 career starts at the hot corner, but hasn’t played there since his first season with Detroit in 2008. Interestingly, Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Tigers had Cabrera get into shape to play third base this offseason, just in case. He’ll also log likely log plenty of at-bats at designated hitter.

Miguel Cabrera was given a $500 fine and one year of probation Wednesday on his February DUI charge.

Cabrera also had his license suspended for six months. The 28-year-old first baseman was arrested last February in Florida when police found him standing next to his vehicle, drinking from a bottle of scotch. He got into an argument with the officers and was clubbed in the knee several times after threatening violence. Cabrera has since changed his lifestyle, and managed to post a remarkable 1.033 OPS in 161 games last season for the American League Central champions.