The 2023 campaign is the final guaranteed season of the ten-year extension Miguel Cabrera inked with the Tigers during 2014 Spring Training. It also increasingly looks as if it’ll be the last year of Cabrera’s illustrious career.
Speaking with Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, the 12-time All-Star indicated he’s leaning towards retirement at the end of next year. “I think it’s going to be my last year,” Cabrera said. “It feels a little weird to say that. … I think it’s time to say goodbye to baseball.”
Cabrera shied away from the unwavering retirement declaration Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina made last year, but it’s the second consecutive year in which he’s suggested the conclusion of his contract could coincide with the end of his career. Last August, Cabrera told ESPN he was likely to step away after the 2023 campaign. He noted at the time he’d surpass 20 years of MLB service time by the end of the 2023 season and suggested that milestone — coupled with continued pain in his right knee — would likely lead him to retire at that point. He’ll make $32MM in salary next year and collect an $8MM buyout on a 2024 vesting option at the end of the season, leaving the Tigers still on the hook for $40MM.
A two-time MVP winner, Cabrera turns 40 in April. He’ll be playing his 16th season in Detroit and told De Nicola he hopes to remain involved with the organization working with younger players after the end of his playing career. As for the 2023 campaign, he indicated his primary personal goal was to remain healthy. He missed a couple weeks late this past season with a biceps strain but appeared in 112 games and tallied 433 plate appearances.
Cabrera is coming off the worst year of his career, having posted a .254/.305/.317 showing with only five home runs. He didn’t log any time on defense, and that kind of production from a designated hitter certainly isn’t ideal. How many at-bats the Tigers can afford Cabrera if he continues to struggle offensively is a question for president of baseball operations Scott Harris and skipper A.J. Hinch, but the four-time batting champion indicated he was on board with whatever decision Hinch makes in that regard.
Hinch suggested late in the season he expects Cabrera to be on the roster in 2023 (link via Chris McCosky of the Detroit News). He’s been an average or below-average hitter four years running, but there’s no question of his legacy in Tigers history. Cabrera had seven top ten MVP finishes in Detroit, including a five-year stretch of consecutive top five placements from 2009-13. Despite his recent struggles, he owns a .306/.383/.517 line since landing with the Tigers over the 2007-08 offseason.
Even with a likely reduced workload next season, the Venezuela native will get a chance to continue climbing the all-time leaderboards. He ranks 25th with 3088 hits, and he’s certain to pass Ichiro (3089), Dave Winfield (3110) and Alex Rodriguez (3115) if healthy. Matching this year’s 101 hits would push him past Tony Gwynn, Robin Yount, Paul Waner, George Brett, Adrián Beltré and Cal Ripken Jr. into 16th place. Cabrera ranks 27th with 507 career home runs, and even part-time work could get him past Gary Sheffield (509), Mel Ott (511), Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks (512 apiece) to 23rd.
Another reminder as to why long term contracts for aging sluggers are so tricky. Cabrera is a HOFer, no doubt. But he got paid for past performance, and that doesn’t win you rings.
The “tricky” part comes when we fans start pocket watching billionaire owners wallets. The way how players are underpaid during their best/youngest seasons and overpaid during their aging ones, is how the game evens itself out in the eyes of the players union, and that’s a fact people who viscerally hate and emote so much anger about player salaries for absolutely no reason refuse to believe.
It doesn’t “balance out” because of the tax threshold. It’s like the NFL’s dead money situation as it still can hamstring a team. No doubt it was worth it to Detroit given he had them relevant years ago and probably was their best merchandise mover. Loopholes like bonuses need to be closed (for those unfamiliar, look at the Betts deal; he got a huge bonus and because he lives in a state with no state income tax, that bonus was not taxed in CA). Fix the system and front load deals so the later years aren’t as costly.
What does Betts tax liability have to do with the Dodgers? Their luxury tax threshold for the bonus is spread out as if he was paid every year. Just because Betts is smart enough not to live in California and pay an extra 40 million in taxes over his contract doesn’t affect what the Dodgers paid him and their yearly luxury tax bill. High taxes in certain states are the problem and not the MLB system.
We all suffer due to tax loopholes. In sports with caps, there should be a cost of living kicker to balance things out. Similarly, our federal tax code should have the same thing. Making X and living in in Boston, Chicago or New York City costs substantially more than living in other locations. Why have an unfair cap?
Why should lower cost of living areas pay for the decisions of higher cost of living areas? You want your cost of living to go down then make better voting decisions.
Nope. Boston, Chicago or New York City needs to get their crap together. Those of us that choose to live in sane areas ain’t paying for their mistakes.
“sane areas” my brother, you live in the United States….lol
Yes because people in Northern Ireland live the exact same exact lifestyles as people in London.
I’m an Irish-American living in the UK, stop picking around for worthless “points” to score on me, after you have lost. Look at yourself “Ohh what kind of insult based off his user name can I do here?” grow up.
You live in the most psychotic country in the world and ALL of it is bad, if you think “bad” means “can get murdered by a gun for the simple “crime” of being outside”, which I, and many actually-sane people do.
That’s why your on an American website talking to Americans. You didn’t win anything but good thing my daughter is stationed in your country to protect you. You like every other country in Europe talk bad about the US until you need money or protection and that is often.
Bro, I am an American, I vote. I will come back in like a year when my contract is up, many British people are actually dumber than the dumbest Americans.
But anyway, once again you have changed the topic by not talking MLB and WEIRDLY making it about me, an otherwise anonymous poster, on a topic I am schooling you on 24-7. You won’t get to see my posts again, because you are too much of a psycho.
“Boston, Chicago or New York City needs to get their crap together. Those of us that choose to live in sane areas ain’t paying for their mistakes”
Valid point, but this is no different than the anti-cap argument. Small-market teams should put out a better brand or move their teams. It’s not NY’s fault or LAD’s fault they have several-times the number of fans as other teams.
Therefore, why should the bigger markets be restricted to compensate for smaller markets when they are simply more successful and have the resources to acquire better players?
Nailed it, A’sfan.
Trade Cabrera to the Braves for Ozuna, Rosario and Pina. As overpaid as those guys are it would still save the Tigers $10 million next year and actually make them a better team. From the Braves perspective they get to walk away from Ozuna’s 2024 season which frees up $19 million in cap space. Cutting Ozuna’s bad 2-year remaining contract into a bad 1-year remaining contract has to look pretty good to them. It probably hurts the Braves for 2023 but the team looks good enough that it can overcome the loss of Ozuna, Rosario and Pina next season since they won the division in spite of them last season. Miggy has a full no trade but why wouldn’t he accept a deal to spend his final season with a true contender? Even if the Braves just end up releasing Cabrera it seems worth it to avoid paying Ozuna $19 million in 2024.
Really interesting take – thanks!
You said it in your post it’s it’s bad for the Braves in 2023. Your proposed trade doesn’t make sense for the Braves on the field.
You funny steve nebraska. Miggy wants to retire in Detroit and work with the young Detroit hitters. Where you been at man? Ain’t sewn you around burger world recently?
except that Cabrera would probably veto the trade since he’s been vocal about retiring as a Tiger
At this point the Tigers would be better off just releasing Cabrera and letting him retire as a Tiger right now. He’s not worth a roster spot. They could work out a deal like the Braves did with Adrian Gonzalez when they traded for him and released him. Then Miggy could still retire right after the Braves trade for him if the Braves just release him right away. I don’t think the trade would hurt Atlanta much except for raising their payroll by $10 million this year. At the same time it lowers their payroll by $19 million the next year so it’s worth it. It’s arguable losing Ozuna, Rosario and Pina won’t hurt the Braves at all. It frees up 3 roster spots that would have gone to their 3 worst players. They can use those roster spots to add a good outfielder, a good shortstop and another good player without having to cut anyone else from the team. I don’t think it really hurts the Braves to free up those roster spots by losing those 3 players. They did nothing last year and whoever they replace them with will probably be better. Plus, saving that $19 million in 2024 is huge. Not to mention it would be good for the players. They won’t get much opportunity with the Braves next year. Ozuna and Rosario will be blocked at DH by Contreras and Pina is totally blocked at catcher by Contreras and d’Arnaud. The Braves have already said they are adding another outfielder so whoever that is along with Harris and Acuna will block Ozuna and Rosario in the outfield too. I really don’t think it hurts the Braves to lose those blocked players and free up 3 roster spots at the same time. The Tigers would give them more playing time and a chance to rebound. Especially for Rosario and Pina who will be playing hard since it’s their contract years and they want to get the best contracts possible after the season. Plus Cabrera could still retire with his last game being in a Tiger uniform and still pick up his $40 million while taking the season off.
Steve…love your points man but….this is unreadable, please edit it down a bit and break it into paragraphs, thanks.
Even if they don’t add another COF via free agency – which they most likely will – Justyn Henry-Malloy could be added to the 40-man with a roster spot. He’s the fastest-moving prospect in the franchise and after a great finish at AAA in ’22 and impressive AFL showing, he looks to be on the fast track, similar to Harris II last season. Piña is a depth piece that they can add at a lesser cost or have at AAA, if injury occurs to d’Arnaud/Contreras. AA would def be interested in freeing up more in ’24, even if that makes them first-time offenders of the tax.
I’m sure they wouldn’t mind keeping Pina if they could send him to Triple-A but they can’t. He’s already under contract for next season on a major league deal so he has to be on the active roster as a 3rd catcher or he has to be traded or released. The same thing with Ozuna and Rosario. They can’t send any of those 3 guys to the minors. That’s where the biggest benefit would come for the Braves in 2023 by freeing up those 3 active roster spots.
I agree with you Run. The Braves are less than $4 million below the first level of the luxury tax. With the hitters they still have to add it seems a lock that they will at least slightly pass the 2nd tier of the luxury tax. If that happens they might as well get a little deeper in the 2nd tier if it means avoiding having to pay Ozuna’s $19 million in 2024.
Also, the Braves could literally immediately release Cabrera, then Cabrera could pick up his $40 million check and retire one season early. Once he does that he could immediately rejoin the Tigers organization as an assistant hitting coach or something if he wants.
So:
1. The Tigers save $10 million this season and become a better team.
2. Ozuna, Rosario and Pina would all benefit from more playing time.
3. Cabrera would get all his money and actually be able to focus on helping the Tigers hitters as a coach instead of trying to be a major league caliber player which he is no longer.
4. The Braves free up 3 active 26-man roster spots that were essentially wasted on those players and they get to save $19 million in 2024 (which I agree with Run, AA would consider that huge and love to do it). I don’t think losing those 3 guys really hurts the Braves much if at all for 2023. Without those 3 guys I think they would run out a team that is at least as good as last seasons division champion team. On top of that the Braves team would actually become noticeably better in 2024 since they will be able to spend that $19 million on a much better player than Ozuna next offseason.
That’s not even a win-win. It’s more like a win-win-win-win. I doubt it happens but I think it really could end up being a good thing for all parties involved if it actually went down.
All solid points. I just don’t think you’re going to have the Illitch son sign off on something that his dad did that could cast a negative shadow on his legacy, even if it means saving some/any of that $40M that could help dig the Tigers out of a hole a little sooner. The other thing is by getting rid of Ozuna, AA would be admitting a misstep, which he really already has, but it’s a pride thing that I doubt 2 sides would crater, especially when you’re sending a 1st ballot HoF to an early demise. He’s not going to waive that NTC unless ATL guarantees him a spot. They could keep him on, if giving up 3 roster spots (Pina, Ozuna, Rosario) and treat Cabrera similar to Pujols of 2022. Considering Acuña idolizes Miggy – it would be great to see the impression he makes on Acuña and Co. We could use that veteran leadership with no Dansby.
Mainly I think it’s just a low risk swap of overpaid and underperforming players where a shake up and change of scenery could end up being a good thing for both teams. Considering the players involved it seems next to impossible that the trade could seriously hurt either team but leaves open the possibility it could benefit both teams over the next season or two.
What’s interesting is that Miggy is having such terrible years as he gets to his aged-40 season, when Ortiz seemed to figure it out just fine, bad knees and all…….
Miggy is obviously the better, more accomplished hitter, but Ortiz hit like he was 25-years-old….for some reason.
It’s so hard to see Miggy w/a negative WAR year w/such an incredible career. I’m sure he’d be the 1st to say that it’s not the way he wanted to see his career end. I don’t think any red blooded human, let alone an elite player like Miggy, wants to go out this way.
But w/40 million reasons to play a final season, no one can blame him.
@stanthefan this might shock you but WAR doesnt matter to players unless they are leading the league in it
Exactly @A’sfaninUK
Hard to feel sorry for Detroit since they signed him to that stupid contract. Good on miggy for limping through another season to collect $32 million. Why cut the tigers a break?
You have some crystal ball that allows teams to pay for future performance?
He logged 7 all star seasons and 7 sub par seasons? Hindsight is always 20/20
He has earned every penny the Tigers have paid him with his performance in Detroit. Would you have preferred they paid him 60M in 2011?
The Guardians are “in” on Cabrera to be their Rh 1B
In ‘23. It would be good if a trade is completed since Cabrera owned Cleveland any way and it would be nice to see him go to the Hall of Fame wearing the classy Guardian uniform.
Funny that Miggy himself has veto power over trades and has said he is retiring a Tiger. Why did you purposely ignore this fact?
Another reminder that fans are short-sighted. The lengthy contracts are to attempt to spread out payment. The back end is bad, but the front end should be good.
“Bad” and “Good” mean different things to everyone, and is the main issue here. It should not be framed in terms of negative and positive. Either way, no player contracts get in the way of a team winning. There’s 27 players on the team.
Truly incredible career. It’s a shame he never got a second ring with Detroit, given how good they were during some of his years in the Tigers org. Congrats on making more money than anyone could ever fathom and hitting 3000 hits and 500 home runs. Hell of a ride.
He’s definitely a first ballot hall of famer.
You never know with the crazy way the writers vote.
Especially the younger ones who may not have seen his prime years. While saberstats should insulate Miggy, what about others with less dominant stats but still worthy?
Please keep saying “think and maybe”.
Cabrera has earned that extra 8 million…..Being an NL guy, didn’t see him much after his Florida days out side of espn…..but he always seemed to be having fun…..
1st ballot HOF….enjoy it sir…
Earned his 8m? He hasn’t earned his contract in 5 years. He chose not to take care of himself. The Tigers have been overly generous with him.
It’s incredible to me that people can’t see him for who he is:
A man that has 2 families
A player that decided to go out drinking and get in a fight before an important play in game.
A player who has never taken care of himself even after getting a huge contract.
A player that wants to play even though he knows he’s hurting his team.
Miggy acts like a good guy because he wants people to like him. He’s a narcissist who puts himself above everything. You can either bury your head in the sand or accept the truth.
Domestic abuser and drunk driver too.
Look, this can’t be easy for the front office or the manager because he’s a legend, yet he can’t really help the ball club (at least not with his bat). He does have a few easy milestones within his reach and let’s face it, he’s got many millions of reasons to stick around.
Did you not see what Pujols just did after he did this same route? What if Miggy decides to swing for the fences and adjusts and unlocks some secret power and hits like 30 bombs this year? All the while helping Torkleson and Greene along – that’s plenty of value to the team in general. Plus fans coming out to see him one last time.
I can maybe see DET trading him to a contender in June, but it’s also a good move to keep him around this year for the whole year.
Sure, but we have to admit that it was a rare event indeed. That’s what made it all the more impressive.
….”secret power”….yup….
Is that what they call steroids these days?
@A’sfaninUK
Jeez man I’ve seen some delusional fans in my day but THIS is insane.
That might be the most clueless post I’ve ever seen.
I wonder if Detroit will release him prior to finishing the season. Either way he’s had a hell of a career. HOFer for sure
Wouldn’t seem likely……Happened to Pujols, because he wanted playing time, milestones and could still hit lefties for a playoff squad….
Guess is he s l o w l y hits the milestones…..finishes the year, Tigers “release” and pay him, then he retires….
No one should fault him…..
It happened to Pujols because he was playing for a team he wasn’t going to be wearing their hat in the Hall, unlike Miggy. DET isn’t going to release him.
Are you kidding? He isn’t even THAT bad, he likely will have a .680 OPS at DH but also who knows, he might do a Pujols!
This is feel good “farewell” year, it will be great to see Miggy’s big smile and once-terrifying swing one last time. I mean, they might move him to a contender to try and get a ring, but he also might want to play his last game in the Detroit uniform.
A .680 OPS isnt worth the roster spot if theyre trying to win. Scott Harris has no ties to Miggy
Ilitch is not going to allow that.
@A’sfaninUK
Lol I’m so sorry. I wish he was going to go out on a high note too. Maybe the last pitcher he faces will be nice enough to toss him a cookie.
@A’sfan – Miggy’s OPS was .622 this year – league average for DH’s was .732. I’ve loved Miggy’s career, but you’re legitimately blind if you think he “isn’t even that bad”.
Angels – I think if Detroit is a contender all season, he may get released at some point. If they don’t contend, he will stay until the end.
There is an almost zero percent chance the Tigers, who won 66 games last year and will be terrible again next year, will release a franchise icon in the middle of the season next year. His farewell tour will be one of the few things Tigers fans have to look forward to. He’ll play a diminished role, but unless he’s downright awful or bows out himself (which seems unlikely), he will finish the year.
Not a chance.
Had some absolutely incredible years with the Tigers before injuries/age lead to the decline of his performance. One of the best to ever do it!
Yeah, he was okay.
Let’s call it what it is: alcoholism played a big part in his decline.
Maybe time to put that knowledge into coaching sir! Congratulations on an awesome career!
Hes still better than most of the other hitters on that team.
No he’s not.
Team OPS for 2022 0.632
Miggy OPS for 2022 0.622
And he can’t play defense
He is not a huge liability as the 23rd player. He can get a couple hundred at-bats as a DH and pinch hitter and pass Mel Ott for 13th most RBIs all-time. But he is NOT better than most of the hitters on that team. Even Javy Baez had an OPS of 0.671.
DH doesn’t need to play defense… Who would you rather have at dh? Clemens? Baddoo? Castro? I mean, until the Tigers get some major league talent, miggy will play.
He was hitting .300 until his knee went out again.
Really stating what we already knew. Loved him for all he did for the Tigers. Was there for 3000 this past year. But it has been clear for quite some time he does not have it any longer. Injuries have taken their toll. I really wish the Tigers would have worked to have him retire after this past season and still paid him what he would be owed in 2023. Tigers could have kept him around in some capacity and by the sounds of it, that is what he wants to do when he is done playing.
Yea the contract is big, but it never really hampered the Tigers. The rebuild wasn’t going to happen more quickly if he wasn’t here. It really never kept them from signing anyone because they weren’t going to sign any expensive free agents.
Anytime I see people say they paid a player for their past success. Of course they did. In the minors, they made squat. In the first 3 years of their MLB career, they often got paid as close to league minimum as possible. Even their arb years, they only have so much control over what they’ll make. Their free agent years are really the only time they have control over their salary. They’ve paid their dues at that point. They don’t owe any team any drastic discount. It’s the one time they’ve got a choice on where they’ll play and how much they’ll make. Congrats to Miggy on a great career though, no matter how this last season goes.
brewsingblue82;
Most players peak around age 28. And most don’t hit free agency till age 29 or so.
This is why the Rays and other small market teams can compete – if they have above average coaching staffs, use analytics intelligently, and dump the guys for prospects they can work with as the players they have are within a year or two of free agency.
Younger players get injured less and heal faster when they do as opposed to older players. Just another benefit of going that route.
Ridiculous. Younger players don’t get injured less frequently than older players. Just look at the2022 wsox. All of their injuries were to guys in their twenties with the exception of grandal. All of those “youngsters” missed a significant amount of time and Robert and Anderson reinjured themselves and missed even more time. Old men like Pujols and Abreu didn’t get hurt at all.
Not only 1 of the greatest hitters of all-time, but a great guy with the fans. He will be missed.
No Cab, be a man and retire NOW. We all know that you have nothing in the tank already. Don’t do it just for the money.
He’s not doing it for the money. He wants the farewell tour like Pujols got. He’s being selfish for sure, just not about the money. He wants everyone to talk about him and sing his praises next year without having to share the spotlight with another legend.
I don’t know if it’s for the accolades and the farewell gifts from teams around bb. He’s been playing bb since he was a little boy. He grew up playing it. He loves the game, the many summers spent plying his trade in the fresh air along with the comraderie of his teammates through the years. It’s a life many of us would love to have. That’s why he wants to help the younger players when he retires. He wants to stay close to the game.
Then just retire whenever you’re ready without announcing it to the world a year beforehand. Lots of players do that. But it’s always the future HoFers that announce it ahead of time and turn their last year into this big farewell tour singing their praises. Sorry, it won’t ever come across as anything but self-centered to me.
And both can be true. You can love the game and want to stay in it as long as possible while also being self-centered and wanting the spotlight on you.
I know who isn’t getting an invite to my retirement party in 2057
In his prime (thru 2015) every one if his at bats was must see! I was at a game where he hit 2 HRs against the Yankees to dead CF which is 420 ft at Comerica Park. There are so many more memorable moments he created. While it’s been hard to watch his decline he’ll go down as one of the greatest right handed hitters ever and certainly a 1st Ballot HOF! Congrats to Miggy, he will be missed
None of us would walk away from $40M, and there’s no reason for Cabrera to. The only change I’d make to the present system is to find a mechanism where the aging player has the option to retire while not forfeiting their salary but instead letting the team spread the payments out over 4-5 years. You create a roster spot, maybe you get CBT reduction equivalent to the AAV differential to use towards the replacement. Union might go for it–could create new jobs, and it would be a graceful way out.
4 yrs 136 mil with MVP escalators
As a fan, seeing Cabrera on his HOF tour is a point of interest, have to Schoop up tickets for the entire series when the Tigers are in town.
He was almost traded to Angels when he was with the Marlins. Reportedly part of the package going to the Marlins was to include Nick Adenheart and Howie Kendrick.
But the Marlins couldn’t make up their mind who they wanted from the Angels.
So the Angels called off the deal.
Just think if a deal would have went down..
Nick Adenheart would still be alive. And if the Angels had Cabrera they would never signed Pujols.
Miggy needs 14 RBIs to pass Mel Ott for 13th place as to most career RBIs.
“AFTER they stop paying me $32 million a year, I think I might retire” sounds like a plan.
Keep in mind, seeing it on this site makes it only a rumor! Maybe he’ll have a great year and the Tigers will pick up the option!
I’ll be sad to see him go. That WS AB against Clemens is absolutely one of my favorite battles ever.
a roid rage indeed…
In other news water is wet.
Liquid water is not itself wet, but can make other solid materials wet.
Look man I can google stuff too and post it here verbatim. I can also choose to be a pedantic person on the internet and call out obvious known sarcastic statements as false but I usually have better things to do.
Not today however. In the same article:
If we define “wet” as a sensation that we get when a liquid comes in contact with us, then yes, water is wet to us.
Water is wet.
Didlz,
If you wet yourself, who am I to disagree?
That is not correct. That means we get the sensation of being wet when in contact with water. Water itself is not wet. It’s not pedantic, its science.
Imagine how good he could’ve been if he stayed in shape
It’s No surprise that he’s retiring after 2023. He stands to make $32M lol.
Miguel is a Hall of Fame guy, and he’s playing out his contract. Third on the team last year in hits with a 101, the guy in second with 114 has already been cut from the roster. The fact he’s still one of this teams annual hit leaders is just a indication how much they need some hitters to step up. His injuries have slowed him, and stole away his power, but he’s continued to play his all.
He’s been a great Tiger, and his era had come close to winning it all, but he’s done great for the team. I hope he stays with the franchise in some form, whether as a coach or perhaps on radio or t.v.
Maybe he can increase his HR total by 20 percent to six !
Which would be good for a 78 year old player
I went to a handful of Tigers games this year, and everytime Miggy came to bat, the mostly full house went nuts, despite being in the middle of an awful, disappointing season.
Old man Illitch gave Miggy the contract fully aware of how it would turn out, fully aware that it was an overpay. It was a thank you to an all-time great, a guarantee Miggy would enter Cooperstown in a Tigers uni, and a promise to have his statue one day stand beside the other Tigers greats like Ty Cobb & Al Kaline.
And despite the poor performance the past few years, Tigers fans come to see Miggy, they cheer when he comes to the plate, and they scream when he gets a hit.
He can still DH vs lefty starters.
Perfect situation for him
Somehow it’s a given, Tigers stink this year?
Chris Illich shouldn’t get a pass just for hiring a new office boy…..
Sht…he didn’t even hire the Superfife……
The Tigers have every chance in the world to be very competitive……
NO FREE PASSES IN DETROIT!
I expect/demand Cabrera have a great year this year……
Waddya mean likely…?
Output is a result of talent and preparation. Looks like Cabrera has stopped doing the work required for the latter. Is what it is. At the end of the day the most affected are the younger guys who have hopes of a big, long deal. Owners aren’t stupid. The more guys on long contracts being seen to not do the work, the smaller the number of lucrative long contracts there will be.
Miguel hasn’t been the same since he tore his bicep tendon in 2018. That is one of the most devastating injuries an athlete can suffer.
I can’t imagine how many reports have came out in the last three years of “Miggy says he’s considering retiring” and “Miggy says he’s not hanging up the cleats just yet”. Just quit asking the guy lol. If he shows up for his $30m, he shows up.
I just hope this team is done with the ridiculously long contracts.
I decided to look up the splits for Cabrera from last year.
Vs, Right hand pitching
322 PA, .243 BA, .286 OBP, .313 SLG
Vs. Left Hand Pitching
111 PA, .289 BA, .360 OBP, .330 SLG
The most surprising STAT I saw was his Home Vs. Away STAT’s
Home=54-Games Started
211 PA, .306 BA, .351 OBP, .399 SLG
Away=55-Games Started
222 PA, .206 BA, .261 OBP, .240 SLG
Cabrera Loves Playing in front of Tigers Fans And, Tigers Fans Love Him Too.
You don’t say?
Miggy is/was one of the all time greats in the game. Always a joy to watch how he interacts with the fans and jokes around with them as well as the opposing players. Especially with Adrian Beltre and Jose Altuve. My hope is for his final season the Tigers put a winning team together and at least make the playoffs where anything can happen. It would be awesome if Justin Verlander comes back for Miggy’s final season. I know JV loves Detroit but not sure if he would considering he didn’t want to be traded but felt like he was being pushed out. Not sure if that’s how he really felt but as a fan it appeared that way.
They should.trade Hinch for a prospect or two and.let Miggie.manage……
It might be fun to see if.he can set.a.record for…..
Most Ejections by a Manager in a season.
Wait until Judge hears this is his last chance to play on a team with Miguel Cabrera……
I’ve enjoyed Miggy over the years and as a Tigers fan since ’59, I’ve enjoyed several players. The problem here is the Tigers signed him long-term with the understanding he’d remain in good shape and do what was required to stay that way. I’m not concerned about his weight. He looks pretty much like he always did around his gut. He’s a huge man. My concern is the verdict on his right knee…..is there anything left in there to operate on? Athletes can’t be afraid of surgery and have to deal with rehab….it’s understood. Miggy has refused to have the knee operated on. Is that a contract violation? I’d say yes if the knee could be repaired. But the Tigers are determined to put a statue of him up and have him go into the HOF wearing a Tigers cap. That’s what Mike wanted and that’s the way it will be.