Tigers’ Cabrera to get $152.3 million, 8-year deal
Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers have reached a preliminary agreement on a $152.3 million, eight-year contract, according a personal familiar with the deal.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the contract was not yet final.
The third baseman must pass a physical before the agreement can be finalized.
Cabrera agreed on Jan. 18 to an $11.3 million salary for this season. The new deal adds $141 million over the following seven seasons.
Cabrera will earn $15 million in 2009, when he would have been eligible for salary arbitration.
He will average $21 million annually over the next six seasons, when he would have been eligible for free agency.
Cabrera’s average salary of $19,037,500 will be the fourth-highest in the major leagues behind 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 will be the fourth-highest 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.
Ace Justin Verlander said just having Cabrera around has been a positive for the team.
“What stands out to me is his personality around the clubhouse,” Verlander said.
“Everybody knows how good of a ballplayer he is, but he’s also great around the clubhouse and is a good teammate.”
Slugger Gary Sheffield said signing Cabrera to a long term deal shows the team is committed to winning now and in the years to come.
“He’s a future-type player,” Sheffield said. “Anytime you can get a player with that amount of years on this team, you’re looking at multiple championships.”
Detroit acquired Cabrera from the Florida Marlins during December’s winter meetings along with pitcher Dontrelle Willis.
Cabrera averaged 32 homers and 115 RBIs while hitting .318 the past four seasons for the Marlins. The only players to at least match him in their averages in all three categories over that four-year span were Albert Pujols and Vladimir Guerrero, according STATS LLC.
Willis has often said matter-of-factly that Cabrera will be in the Hall of Fame.
Crede likely to win 3B job
Joe Crede might just take back his job as the White Sox’s third baseman from promising replacement Josh Fields.
Fields, though, is not ready to concede anything yet.
He singled and scored a run in Chicago’s 6-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Tucson.
“I’m trying not to think about (being demoted) right now, actually,” Fields said. “I’m preparing to play in Chicago. Until they come to me and say, ‘Hey, you are going back to Charlotte,’ I’m not going to think about what if.”
Fields hit .244 with 23 homers and 67 RBIs filling in for Crede, who had back surgery June 12.
But Crede agreed to a one-year, $5.1 million deal in January and he has shown no ill-effects from the surgery even though he his hitting just .159 this spring.
Chicago is expected to trim its final roster by Wednesday.
WBC sites announced
Mexico City, San Juan, Tokyo and Toronto were selected Monday to host first-round games during the second World Baseball Classic in 2009.
The 16-nation tournament will switch from a round-robin to a double-elimination format during the first two rounds. Japan won the initial WBC in 2006, beating Cuba in the final at San Diego.
Sites for the later rounds have not yet been announced.
Clearing the bases
Scott Rolen broke his finger during a fielding drill, and the Toronto Blue Jays’ new third baseman might not be available for opening day. It’s unclear how long he will be out. … Shannon Stewart appears to have won the job as the Blue Jays’ starting left fielder after Toronto released Reed Johnson. … Andy Pettitte underwent treatment but did not play catch, one day after being scratched from a scheduled start due to back spasms. He is to make his first scheduled regular season start, April 2 against Toronto. … Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson was placed on the 15-day disabled list after a finger on his right hand was broken when he was hit by a pitch Saturday. He will miss opening day.