Cabrera set to sign with Tigers?

[Marklar MM]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3307289

Cabrera set to ink Tigers' biggest pact: $153.3 million

By Enrique Rojas
ESPNdeportes.com
(Archive)

Updated: March 23, 2008, 9:10 AM ET

KISSIMMEE, Florida -- Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers reached a preliminary agreement Saturday on an eight-year, $153.3 million contract extension, a source close to Cabrera told ESPNdeportes.com on condition of anonymity.

Ramirez On Deck?

After Miguel Cabrera's monstrous $153.3 million deal, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says Florida's Hanley Ramirez could be baseball's next $200 million player. Blog Insider

The All-Star third baseman will undergo a physical on Monday to complete the deal, the source said.

"Miguel just signed a big contract," said the source. "The contract will be completed when Miguel takes a physical on Monday."

Overall, it would become the fourth-richest contract in baseball history. Cabrera would trail Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez ($275 million), Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter ($189 million) and Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez ($160 million) in the total salary package listing.

Cabrera's contract is also the richest in Tigers' history. Magglio Ordonez had the previous record when he signed with Detroit for $75 million and five years in 2004.

Cabrera, 24, was eligible for arbitration in 2009 and could become a free agent after the season ended. He will earn $11.3 million in 2008, and then an average of $19 million per year through 2016.


Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis joined Detroit as part of a trade with Florida in December. The Marlins received a package of six players, including two highly rated prospects: left-hander Andrew Miller and outfielder Cameron Maybin.

Cabrera, one of the game's top sluggers, joins an imposing lineup that includes Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen, Ivan Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco. The Tigers also acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria, a five-time All-Star, in a trade with Atlanta this offseason.

[JamStone]

That's a lot of coin.

His numbers say it's worth it. Just hope he stays healthy and focused for the duration of the contract.

[JMarkJohns]

Mo Vaughn?

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Umm, what does Mo Vaughn have to do with Miggy?

[JamStone]

Mo Vaughn?


Albert Pujols?

[ChuckD]

Nice. It's been rumored that they've been working on a deal almost since the start of spring training.

[JMarkJohns]

Umm, what does Mo Vaughn have to do with Miggy?

Great offensive talent that ate himself into decreasing production once his fat pay day roled around. The writing on the wall has been there for Cabrera for a while now. He's ballooned like 35-50 pounds since his rookie season of 2003.

I'd love to see just how fast Vaughn's weight went up after signing his big money deal.

[Horry For 3!]

Great offensive talent that ate himself into decreasing production once his fat pay day roled around. The writing on the wall has been there for Cabrera for a while now. He's ballooned like 35-50 pounds since his rookie season of 2003.

I'd love to see just how fast Vaughn's weight went up after signing his big money deal.
He has his weight down. Plus Cabrera was still a stud when bigger last year.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Great offensive talent that ate himself into decreasing production once his fat pay day roled around. The writing on the wall has been there for Cabrera for a while now. He's ballooned like 35-50 pounds since his rookie season of 2003.

I'd love to see just how fast Vaughn's weight went up after signing his big money deal.


Vaughn was 31 when he finally received the payday he wanted. He still averaged 35 HRs and 110 RBIs in Anaheim. Ruptured tendon in his arm followed by arthritic knees pretty much ended his career.

[JMarkJohns]

Cabrera has it down now, and now this contract... I agree. I love what Miggy brings to the Tigers. I wished the Angeles could have landed him. But if you can't see he has some serious eating problems, then your blind. Maybe it won't hurt his production. That's why I asked, "Mo Vaughn?" rather than stating, "Mo Vaughn!"

It's just something to keep an eye on. He's locked up to close to 165 million over the next eight years. He put on close to 50 pounds of unnecessary weight while making peanuts, a potentially devestating decision that seems to have worked itself out. If he was willing to risk future contract lengths/amounts to be fat when he was making well below market value, then why is it unreasonable to think he lets himself go now that he's set for life?

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

There are no guarantees with any contract. He's young and one of the best hitters in the game. It's a risk, but the reward far outweighs that risk. Plus, the weight gain didn't affect his swing at all in the last three seasons where he posted an OPS+ over 150.

If he hit the open market, he probably would have received in excess of $180 million.

[JMarkJohns]

Vaughn was 31 when he finally received the payday he wanted. He still averaged 35 HRs and 110 RBIs in Anaheim. Ruptured tendon in his arm followed by arthritic knees pretty much ended his career.

God help me... I didn't say it was exact. Vaughn got paid, got bloated, then watched as his average tumble from .337 to .281, his on-base from .402 to .358, his slugging from .591 to .508. Sure, he still averaged a fair amount of homeruns and RBI, but everything fell across the board. And, perhaps if he wasn't so overweight, his arthritic knees wouldn't have hampered him as soon, or as much?

Again? Did I state? No... I asked. I was wondering if anyone else thought of Mo Vaughn's contract/weight situation upon hearing of Miggy's new contract, considering he weighed roughly 50 pounds heavier than his listed 185 rookie weight.

[ChuckD]

Not a good analogy. They're at different points in their careers. 24 <<<<<<<<< 31. Ball clubs do their due diligence, too. They'd know if he were an eat-a-holic, or just maybe young and party happy.

You figured he was going to put on some weight from 195, didn't you? Not too many power hitters running around at 195.

[Marklar MM]

I am sure the Tigers put some sort of weight clause in the contract.

[JMarkJohns]

Not a good analogy. They're at different points in their careers. 24 <<<<<<<<< 31. Ball clubs do their due diligence, too. They'd know if he were an eat-a-holic, or just maybe young and party happy.

You figured he was going to put on some weight from 195, didn't you? Not too many power hitters running around at 195.

Problem is he put on fat, not muscle. That's the concern. It had nothing to do with performance. He just got dumpy. AND, since Detroit is now paying him 165 million over the next nine years, if say, in four or five years he's completely let himself go, is a sub .290 hitter with decreasing numbers across the board, with four or five years and 80 to 100 million remaining to be paid, will it be that poor a comparison when Cabrera is 260 pounds and 29 or 30?

Big picture, people... BIG PICTURE...

[AFBlue]

Problem is he put on fat, not muscle. That's the concern. It had nothing to do with performance. He just got dumpy. AND, since Detroit is now paying him 165 million over the next nine years, if say, in four or five years he's completely let himself go, is a sub .290 hitter with decreasing numbers across the board, with four or five years and 80 to 100 million remaining to be paid, will it be that poor a comparison when Cabrera is 260 pounds and 29 or 30?

Big picture, people... BIG PICTURE...

You can be fat and still rake.

If there's anyone who already doesn't think Cabrera is headed for 1B/DH in the latter half of this contract, they're deluding themseleves.

[JamStone]

Problem with the Mo Vaughn analogy is that his production was related more to his injuries, not his weight. Weight is only a serious issue for a guy that heavily relies on quickness and agility on the field or is an elite runner around the bases. You look at a guy like David Ortiz, and weight's not an issue as long as he stays healthy. It might affect Cabrera's fielding some, but the Tigers didn't acquire him for his defense. As has been mentioned, he came into spring training in better shape. Hopefully, he stays lighter than the last couple seasons, but even if he doesn't, it's not as serious a problem as you imply with the Mo Vaughn references. Now if Cabrera severaly damages one of his ankles and plays with a ruptured tendon in one of his arms, then make the comparison. But, until things like that are found to have happened, the comparison is not a legit one.

[JamStone]

Problem is he put on fat, not muscle. That's the concern. It had nothing to do with performance. He just got dumpy. AND, since Detroit is now paying him 165 million over the next nine years, if say, in four or five years he's completely let himself go, is a sub .290 hitter with decreasing numbers across the board, with four or five years and 80 to 100 million remaining to be paid, will it be that poor a comparison when Cabrera is 260 pounds and 29 or 30?

Big picture, people... BIG PICTURE...


With the age of most of the rest of the core players, I think the Tigers aren't looking at 5 years down the line. They're hoping to win a World Series or two in the next 3-4 seasons while Magglio, Sheff, Guillen, and perhaps Kenny Rogers are still producing.

Big Picture is something teams like the early 2000s Oakland A's do and then 5 years later, all of those core pieces are on different teams. Most championship level teams in pro sports don't look big picture if that big picture is about five years down the line.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Problem with the Mo Vaughn analogy is that his production was related more to his injuries, not his weight. Weight is only a serious issue for a guy that heavily relies on quickness and agility on the field or is an elite runner around the bases. You look at a guy like David Ortiz, and weight's not an issue as long as he stays healthy. It might affect Cabrera's fielding some, but the Tigers didn't acquire him for his defense. As has been mentioned, he came into spring training in better shape. Hopefully, he stays lighter than the last couple seasons, but even if he doesn't, it's not as serious a problem as you imply with the Mo Vaughn references. Now if Cabrera severaly damages one of his ankles and plays with a ruptured tendon in one of his arms, then make the comparison. But, until things like that are found to have happened, the comparison is not a legit one.

Add to that his age. Most of the bigger guys start to break down after the age of 30.

And if you're going to compare the two, why wouldn't you compare them at similar ages? Why are we skipping to over 30 Mo Vaughn?

[TheTruth]

Cabrera is young and will rake for a long time, but the Weight has to be a concern. Especially now that he has that huge contract. Maybe moving from South Beach and those South American restaurants will help.

[JMarkJohns]

Add to that his age. Most of the bigger guys start to break down after the age of 30.

And if you're going to compare the two, why wouldn't you compare them at similar ages? Why are we skipping to over 30 Mo Vaughn?

Again. I just don't see why people get hung up on ages and names. I was never comparing the players. Not in talent, not in production...

I draw a line from Mo Vaughn, who, upon getting his first bgi contract, promtly let himself go. Becoming overweight then contributed, whether directly or indirectly to both injuries (being fat on arthritic knees is never good) and his decreased production. I asked if, since Cabrera has a history of gettig fat for no good reason, if such could be a concern considering the expense and length of contract.

I never said he'd become the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man overnight, nor did I even imply he wouldn't be productive at the start. But nine years and 165 million for a player, albeit young and talented, seems excessive and risky considering player's willingness to get fat.

Obviously, most got hung up on the player I mentioned, failing to see the reasons I even dragged his name into the discussion in the first place.

A willingness to get fat before ever striking it rich is cause for concern in my book.

[tlongII]

Inge can't be happy about this...

[Marklar MM]

Cabrera had 2 triples tonight. Wow.

[ChuckD]

Again. I just don't see why people get hung up on ages and names. I was never comparing the players. Not in talent, not in production...

I draw a line from Mo Vaughn, who, upon getting his first bgi contract, promtly let himself go. Becoming overweight then contributed, whether directly or indirectly to both injuries (being fat on arthritic knees is never good) and his decreased production. I asked if, since Cabrera has a history of gettig fat for no good reason, if such could be a concern considering the expense and length of contract.

I never said he'd become the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man overnight, nor did I even imply he wouldn't be productive at the start. But nine years and 165 million for a player, albeit young and talented, seems excessive and risky considering player's willingness to get fat.

Obviously, most got hung up on the player I mentioned, failing to see the reasons I even dragged his name into the discussion in the first place.

A willingness to get fat before ever striking it rich is cause for concern in my book.
Go ahead and be concerned by non parallel scenarios, then. Someone from the Marlins organization saw Cabrera at spring training and said that he had dropped at least 20-25 lbs.