Tigers, Cabrera finalize $152.3 million deal
8-year contract for third baseman is fourth largest among current players
 | Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, acquired in December from the Florida Marlins, must pass a physical before the $152.3 million deal can be complete according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday. |
Orlin Wagner / AP |
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So, ESPN had it right than an agreement was in place, but their details never made much sense. Danny Knobler says the deal will be worth $152 million through 2015, including the $11.3 million Cabrera was already due this year. That means Cabrera would make just slightly more than $20 million per season over the remainder of the deal. |
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DETROIT - Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers finalized their $152.3 million, eight-year contract on Tuesday, the fourth-largest package among current major leaguers.
Cabrera agreed Jan. 18 to an $11.3 million, one-year contract. The new deal adds $141 million over the following seven seasons.
The third baseman gets $15 million in 2009, $20 million in each of the next two seasons, $21 million each in 2012 and 2013, and $22 million apiece in 2014 and 2015, according to contract terms obtained by The Associated Press. He also receives a limited no-trade clause, similar to that of Tigers teammate Magglio Ordonez.
A four-time All-Star, Cabrera will be 32 when the contract expires. After Tigers president Dave Dombrowski mentioned that, Cabrera looked, laughed and said: “Let’s talk about the extension now.”
Detroit acquired Cabrera from the Florida Marlins during December’s winter meetings along with pitcher Dontrelle Willis for up six prospects. Cabrera averaged 32 homers and 115 RBIs while hitting .318 the past four seasons for the Marlins.
Cabrera’s average salary of $19,037,500 is the fourth-highest in the major leagues, trailing those of New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana ($22,916,667) and Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez ($20 million).
His deal also is the fourth-highest current package. Rodriguez is starting a $275 million, 10-year contract, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is entering the eighth season of a $189 million, 10-year deal and Ramirez is in the final guaranteed season of a $160 million, eight-year contract.
Cabrera, who said he plans on building a home in Detroit, said a factor in his decision were the Tigers strong Latin American connection. He is joined by Ordonez and Carlos Guillen, a pair of fellow Venezuelans, in one of baseball’s most powerful lineups.
“He is part of our foundation now, a young player who can only continue to get better,” Dombrowski said.
For the first time, Cabrera will be asked not to play in the Venezuelan Winter League. Cabrera has always played winter league ball, but Dombrowski stressed that the Tigers were against it and Cabrera said he would oblige the organization.
Dombrowski said the deal sends an important message,
“The dollars are big,” Dombrowski said. “But if we are not willing to look in the mirror when it is time to spend the dollars, we don’t make this trade.”
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