IS BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
Most of the questions were about Miguel Cabrera's infamous weekend.
"We know he made a mistake. He knows he made a mistake," Dombrowski said. "I feel confident that he going to address the issues he needs to address to take care of the problems that he has. Those issues will remain personal and private."
Cabrera, the slugging first baseman with a $152 million contract, got drunk enough between Friday night's game and Saturday morning to have what police said was 0.26 blood-alcohol reading and a bruised and cut left cheek.
Authorities said he got in a fight with his wife, who called 911. He was taken to a police station, where Dombrowski picked him up.
Cabrera likely still had some alcohol in his system when he played the White Sox on Saturday night - going 0-4 with runners on base for each at-bat - but Dombrowski said the team stands by putting him in the lineup.
The Dombrowski-led Tigers, who lost the American League Central title in a one-game playoff to Minnesota Tuesday, have key decisions for the offseason.
Closer Fernando Rodney, second baseman Placido Polanco and shortstop Adam Everett are all eligible for free agency.
"We are not going to be able to keep all of our players," Dombrowski said. "But I'm not ready to declare who we are and who we are not going to pursue."
The clutch-hitting, strong-fielding Polanco hopes to return to play for the Tigers, but he might have to go elsewhere for more than a 1-year contract.
"I would love to come back, but I do not control the situation," Polanco told the Associated Press.
Dombrowski said that if Polanco isn't back, prospect Scott Sizemore likely will be Detroit's second baseman.
The Tigers aren't sure whether they have a player in their organization who could be a closer next year, but they might not be able to afford to keep Rodney after he had 37 saves in 38 chances.
"It only takes one club to give a tremendous deal," Dombrowski said.
The Tigers had a seven-game lead with less than a month left in the season and became the first team to miss out on the playoffs after having a three-game lead with four games left.
* Righthander Brian Moehler and the Houston Astros exercised a mutual $3 million contract option for next season.
* Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (elbow) and reliever Chris Perez (ankle) have had surgical procedures since the season ended. *
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