Tigers stalwart Miguel Cabrera, fresh off hitting his 500th home run, has confirmed that he plans to retire once his current contract expires after the 2023 season.
"My right knee is really bad," Cabrera told ESPN (via freep.com). "I need to take care of this in the offseason and prepare myself for next season. I say two more years. I think that's enough. I will be happy with 20 years in the big leagues if I can make it. Thank God for giving me this opportunity. Two more years and I'm done."
Cabrera is set to make $32 million in both 2022 and 2023, so gutting it out for two more years isn't a coincidence. He has vesting options in his contract worth $30 million for both 2024 and 2025, but they are triggered by him finishing in the top 10 of AL MVP voting and he hasn't done that since 2016, when he finished ninth.
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
Cabrera is hitting .251/.316/.396 with 14 homers and 57 RBI this season.
Sunday, Cabrera became the 28th player in MLB history to hit 500 home runs and he's just 42 hits away from 3,000. He was already headed for the Hall of Fame, but those milestones are going to put him in elite company. Only Hank Aaron, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro and Eddie Murray have reached both 500 homers and 3,000 hits.
Cabrera, now in his 19th MLB season, started his career with the Marlins and spent five seasons with them, winning the World Series in 2003. He went to Detroit in a blockbuster trade prior to the 2008 season and has carved out his place in Tigers history. In his 14 years with the Tigers, he's hit .310/.388/.532 (146 OPS+) with 363 home runs, 1,263 RBI, 2,116 hits, 409 doubles, two MVPs, seven All-Star games, five Silver Sluggers, four batting titles and the 2012 AL pennant.
The baseball world will certainly miss Cabrera when he's gone, but the good news is we (hopefully) have two full seasons left to enjoy him.
