Quantifying Miguel Cabrera’s Inherent Value to the Tigers
The Detroit Tigers received some positive news surrounding first baseman Miguel Cabrera‘s health on Wednesday. After two offseason surgeries on his right foot and ankle, the club confirmed following CT scans that he has been cleared for workouts.
The #Tigers say they're optimistic that Miguel Cabrera will be ready close to opening day after a review of his CT scan.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 18, 2015
The news means he can begin non-baseball related activities and potentially could be ready for Opening Day. Given the recent setback the team has experienced with Victor Martinez, this is a huge morale booster for the organization.
It’s no secret the 31-year old Cabrera is one of the most talented players in the league. With any measure of talent at the professional baseball level comes a players ability to endure the rigors of a six-month long, 162 game regular season schedule. It’s for both these reasons that Miggy’s inherent value to the Tigers — and previously the Florida Marlins — cannot be understated.
Detroit Tigers
Cabrera debuted a dozen years ago for the now Miami Marlins. He was 20-years old and immediately a factor in league awards voting. Every year since he has appeared as either an All-Star or MVP candidate. He finally took home MVP honors in back-to-back years from 2012-13. In the process, he became the first offensive Triple Crown winner in more than four decades after Carl Yastrzemski last attained the feat in ’67.
In order for a player to attain the greatness Cabrera is on pace for, durability is just as important as talent. Like Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken‘s talent levels before him, Cabrera’s durability is also on par with both Hall of Famers. Aside from his rookie 2003 season, Miggy has appeared in no less than 148 games in any MLB campaign since. That means he has played in 95 percent of his teams regular season games since entering the league. He is yet to make a trip to the disabled list since entering the league.
Of note, Miguel Cabrera debuted in MLB almost 12 years ago and has spent exactly 0 days on the disabled list since.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 18, 2015
Anyone who questioned the intent of the Tigers’ front office when they handed him an eight-year extension worth $248 in March of 2014 should lay to rest any doubts concerning the clubs investment. Cabrera’s production and ability to show-up on the lineup card are unrivalled in MLB’s 21st century. Only Ichiro Suzuki has appeared in more games than Cabrera since 2003.
Cabrera’s production and ability to show-up on the lineup card are unrivalled in MLB’s 21st century. Only Ichiro has appeared in more games than Cabrera since 2003.
In fact, if you take the Iron Horse’s 12 most productive seasons in terms of games played, over that span he made 8395 plate appearances. Miggy’s 12 year average equates to a 152 GP average, with 7811 plate appearances. Granted, during Gehrig’s time in the league, regular seasons only consisted of 154 games, which was also his 12-year average from 1927-38.
Since arriving in Detroit in 2008, Miggy has produced a total WAR of 40.5. No player in that timeframe has accumulated a higher individual WAR number to their ball club. Even during his tenure with the Marlins, Cabrera’s WAR ranked 24th league-wide from the 2003 season through 2007. From his debut season to present, only Albert Pujols has a higher total WAR. Both will be clear-cut first ballot Hall of Famers upon retirement and eligibility.
In order for the Tigers to further utilize the abilities of players like Martinez, Yoenis Cespedes and J.D. Martinez, Cabrera’s health is paramount. He makes every player around him better. He allows them to see pitches they normally may not see, thus presenting scenarios to swing the bat and make an impact.
The news of Cabrera potentially being ready for Opening Day is excellent for baseball fans in Motown. His inherent value is surpassed by no one else in the league.
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Perhaps what’s just as intriguing as his value to the Tigers is Miguel Cabrera’s path to playing baseball in Detroit. Some people may be inclined to think he signed there as a free agent. The opposite is true. The Marlins sent him to the Tigers with pitcher Dontrelle Willis before the 2008 season for pitchers Dallas Trahern, Burke Badenhop, Frankie De La Cruz, Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin and catcher Mike Rabelo.
Trahern never reached the big leagues. Rabelo’s last year of baseball came in 2008, immediately following the trade. Badenhop, Maybin and Miller are the only players still active, none of which are on Miami’s roster. The three’s combined WAR since the 2008 season is 10.3.
There might not be a trade that did more inherent damage to a ball club than this one did to the Marlins, who actively approached the Tigers to make the deal. Collectively, Miami has not made the playoffs since Cabrera’s rookie year and has posted only two winning seasons since the trade.