DETROIT -- First baseman Miguel Cabrera shouldn’t be too shocked to learn the Detroit Tigers had signed first baseman Prince Fielder.

It had apparently been discussed for nearly a week.

Cabrera confirmed that Tuesday's blockbuster acquisition will result in him shifting from first base to third in 2012 -- a position he last played in 2008.

“That’s my natural position,” Cabrera

.

The Tigers

Cabrera about Fielder prior to the deal to gauge his interest in shifting to third and the six-time All-Star expressed little to no concern.

"It was something we were talking about during the fan fest,” Cabrera told the Lider.

The club’s annual Winter Caravan Tour made its rounds Thursday and Friday.

The move isn’t expected to be a difficult adjustment for Cabrera, according to his personal strength and conditioning coach Radhi Muhammad.

Muhammad, founder and head performance coach at 440 Fitness in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said Cabrera has been participating in a workout program this offseason that has prepared him for both corner infield positions.

“He’ll be ready for third,” Muhammad said in a phone conversation late Tuesday.

Fun facts about Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder 11 Gallery: Fun facts about Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder

Cabrera, who works out five days a week, is currently listed at 264 pounds. Muhammad said the goal is to get him down to 255 pounds in the next four weeks.

“That’s where he feels comfortable at,” Muhammad said. “He’s lost more weight than that before, but he felt tired. During the course of the season, he’ll thin out a lot.”

Cabrera has played 383 of his 1,351 career games at third, including 157 games there in 2006, and 153 games in 2007, as a member of the Florida Marlins. His offseason workout program is expected to be slightly altered to prepare him for his return to third.

“It’s still going to be a plyometric routine, but it’s going to be more of an intensity workout,” Muhammad said. “There will be a lot spring work. Instead of the 10-15 repetitions, it’ll now be 20-25 reps to keep him fresh.”

Muhammad said Cabrera’s program was designed this offseason to reflect the possibility of playing third base “once in a while.”

“Now that it’s going to be a more confirmed move, it’ll be a little different,” Muhammad said. “He needs to keep the legs fresher in the season to cover ground, especially on bunts.

“First base is more of a cover position, where third base deals a lot more with linear and lateral movement.”

Cabrera took infield practice at third base in late September after the Tigers clinched the AL Central last season in preparation for a potential World Series berth.

Asked whether Cabrera would be a defensive liability at third base, outfielder Brennan Boesch suggested Cabrera’s athleticism was wildly undervalued.

“People don’t realize what kind of athleticism Miguel Cabrera still has if he puts his mind to it,” Boesch

. “If they say go play third base, the guy still has a ton of arm to do it. He’ll just have to dedicate himself and get back into shape where he can play third on a consistent basis.”

Of Cabrera's 107 career errors, 48 came as a third baseman.

The addition of Fielder could result in less playing time for third baseman Brandon Inge, who was expected to platoon at third base with utilityman Don Kelly. The 11-year veteran might now come off the bench and be used specifically against left-handed pitchers.

It’s possible the Tigers operate a rotation at first and third base, which would likely include Inge, Kelly and Cabrera all playing third base with Cabrera making occasional starts at third base, first and DH. Kelly could also platoon at second with Ramon Santiago and make a handful of starts at first base.

“I’ll tell you right now that (Cabrera) can do it -- especially if that’s the move that we need to make as an organization,” Boesch said. “He’ll be up to the challenge and would welcome it in my opinion.”