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Miggy to serve as full-time DH due to chronic knee issues

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Miguel Cabrera isn't finished with baseball yet, but his days of playing defense are all but over.

The Detroit Tigers slugger will no longer play first base due to what the team is calling "chronic changes to his knee," and instead be used exclusively as the designated hitter.

"It doesn't change a lot for me, other than now I'm not even going to think about playing him at first base," manager Ron Gardenhire said, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.

Cabrera has been hampered by knee issues throughout the early stages of this season - he missed two games over the weekend - and while surgery was considered, the ailment is believed to be the result of a long career and should be treated "symptomatically," Stavenhagen adds.

The former MVP had seen an almost even split of games at first base (25 games) and DH (28) this campaign. Cabrera has never been a full-time DH, with those 28 games already representing his new career high.

"It's sad," the 36-year-old told Stavenhagen about the transition.

"The only advice I can say to young kids is take care of their body when they have to," Cabrera said, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. "When they have something, stop playing for a week and come back. Don't play through pain, because you're going to pay the price later."

Entering Tuesday's action, the former Triple Crown winner is slashing .284/.356/.356 (92 OPS+) with just two home runs, 10 extra-base hits, and 22 RBIs in 54 games this season. While his once fearsome power has taken a dramatic hit, Cabrera still leads his team in multiple offensive categories and could reach the 3,000-hit and 500-homer milestones before the end of his contract in 2023.

Cabrera is owed approximately $162 million in guaranteed money over the remainder of his deal with the Tigers.

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