Apr 23rd 2008 3:15AM by Matt Watson
Miguel Cabrera may have a shiny, new contract, but that doesn’t mean he’s the Tigers’ third basemen of the future. In fact, if you believe Jim Leyland, Cabrera doesn’t have future at third base: the skipper announced after Tuesday’s win that Cabrera was switching positions with Carlos Guillen, who was just getting comfortable at first base after playing shortstop his entire career.

The decision is a bit of a shock, but it makes perfect sense: Cabrera’s fielding (specifically his range) has always been suspect, especially as his waistband has grown tighter the last few years. It’s possible the Tigers always contemplated a change but wanted to give Cabrera an honest chance to prove himself. After five committing five errors at the position, he failed to do so. Guillen should be better, even if he sometimes struggles with his throws to first.

Cabrera has previously stated that he’d prefer to stay at third base, but that may have just been because that’s where he’d be able to command the most dollars as a free agent. Perhaps because his future (and his children’s future, and his children’s children’s future …) is secure with an eight-year $153 million contract, he seems to be fine with the move.