DETROIT — Mike Ilitch didn't like the list of options his baseball team's brain trust was considering on how to fill the giant hole created by the knee injury that will sideline Victor Martinez for the season.
The Tigers' proactive owner heard discussions that involved players on the roster that manager Jim Leyland could shuffle to make up the production void left by the loss of Martinez as designated hitter.
It would be asking a lot to patch together a platoon system that would equal the .330 batting average, 103 runs batted in and protective cover Martinez gave Miguel Cabrera by batting behind him last year.
"I got a little dizzy," Ilitch said Thursday afternoon. "I got talking. They were going to feel pressure filling that slot.
"I'd feel a lot better if we could totally solve it."
So Ilitch did what he has done regularly in his reign as owner of the Tigers and the NHL's Red Wings. He gave the go-ahead to pursue Ex-Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder, the biggest free-agent star on the market. With a bold plan initiated by Ilitch and a bundle of the owner's cash, the Tigers signed Fielder to a nine-year, $214-million contract, the fourth-largest deal in baseball history.
Prince certainly is no pauper.
It cost Ilitch a chunk of dough, and it might create another set of problems by forcing Cabrera to move from first base to third. But there is no denying that the Tigers' batting order is loaded for a run at a second straight American League Central title this year and a spot in the World Series.
The Tigers beat the Yankees in the divisional series and were knocked out by Texas in six games in A.L. Championship Series.
The Tigers' pursuit of Fielder is about power — the power of Mike Ilitch to get things done, and power in the every-day lineup.
Cabrera won the American League batting title in 2011 with a .344 average and is considered by many to be the best all-around hitter in the majors. He will move from first base to third base.
Cabrera hit 30 home runs and drove in 105 runs last year. Fielder hit .299 with 39 homers and 120 RBI in his seventh — and last — season with the Brewers.
Cabrera played third base with the Florida Marlins and had a brief, unsuccessful fling at third when he came to the Tigers in 2008. He has played first exclusively since then.
Leyland said he has talked to Cabrera about playing third on a full-time basis and said Cabrera is excited about the switch. That will leave Fielder at first, his position in Milwaukee.
The Tigers are still lacking in team speed, and signing Prince certainly does not make them swifter afoot — a fact which doesn't concern Leyland.
The Tigers aren't looking to change their identity. Signing Fielder simply strengthens it.
The Tigers were 95-67 last year and won the Central by 15 games over second-place Cleveland by getting strong pitching at the top of the rotation, excellent short relief and hitting for power.
"If they hit them where they're supposed to hit them, they can trot," Leyland said.
"If you look at last year, we hit them in gaps and we hit them over the fences."
When the extent of Martinez' injury became known fully early last week, the Tigers shifted gears quickly from exploring options to going after the ultimate option — Fielder.
Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers' president, CEO and general manager, said his talks with Ilitch escalated to the point where last Friday he got the word from Ilitch: "Let's see if we can get something done."
The Tigers and Ilitch have had a strong relationship with Scott Boras, the agent who represents Fielder. Pudge Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez and Kenny Rogers are clients of Boras who signed with the Tigers as free agents.
John Westhoff, a Tigers vice-president and legal counsel, had spoken to Boras earlier while negotiating for another player. Westhoff had inquired casually if Fielder might sign a one-year contract.
Boras joked about that on Thursday, saying Fielder would have been interested in "nine one-year contracts."
Fielder eventually got just that – a 9-year deal.
Manager Jim Leyland, who has learned not to be surprised by anything Ilitch does, was more than surprised when the deal went down.
"Totally shocked," is how Leyland put it Thursday.
"Next thing I know, we've signed him for 9 years. That's the type of owner we have."
No one ever should be surprised by Ilitch pursuing stars and spending big money to get them. He has done it routinely with the Wings and Tigers.
There's another catch with Prince Fielder. His father, Cecil, spent seven seasons with the Tigers and was signed by Ilitch to a 5-year, $36-million deal in 1993 that made him baseball's highest paid player.
Ilitch recalled the days when young Prince accompanied his dad to old Tiger Stadium. Father and son have since had a falling out, but Ilitch spoke fondly about their relationship.
"He was molded to be a major-league baseball player," Ilitch said.
Ilitch didn't express any concern about how much it cost to sign Prince.
"I go by instincts like everybody does in business," Ilitch said. "My instincts told me this is going to work out fine. I'm not going to worry about it. I know what Prince can do.
"I don't have any concerns. I'm not nervous about it. There's probably something wrong with me there.
"It's a green light."
