Detroit Tigers: Resurgence of Miguel Cabrera would be welcome

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera had the worst season of his career in 2017. All eyes will be on him as he looks to revert to his superstar form next season.

After making his debut with the then-Florida Marlins in 2003, Miguel Cabrera went on a massive tear for over a decade. Cabrera, who was traded from the Marlins to the Detroit Tigers in December of 2007, hit .323/.402/.566 with 434 home runs from 2004 through 2016.

Over this 13-year stretch, Cabrera made 11 All-Star teams and won seven Silver Slugger awards. In 2012, he won his first MVP award and notched the first Triple Crown in 45 years. He won another MVP award in 2013 as well. Other accolades during this time period include, but are far from limited to, winning a total of four batting titles and driving in 100-plus runs on 12 occasions.

In 2017, however, Cabrera had what was by far the worst season of his career. Through 130 games, he batted only .249/.329/.399 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI. According to metrics such as wRC+ and OPS+, Cabrera was a below average hitter, posting marks of 91 and 92, respectively (league average is 100). While normally at least a five-ish win player, Cabrera was worth -0.2 fWAR and -0.8 bWAR last season.

Getting back is shape

Cabrera battled multiple injuries last season for the Detroit Tigers. Way back in March, it was reported that he had injured his back while playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Although he was healthy enough to be in the Tigers’ Opening Day lineup, he eventually landed on the DL in late April due to a groin strain. Cabrera also missed the last week of games in September, at which time it was reported that he had been diagnosed with a pair of herniated discs in his back.

According to Evan Woodbery of MLive, Cabrera lost weight last season in order to alleviate the stress on his back. Tigers GM Al Avila believes that Cabrera’s weight loss came at the expense of some of his power. Per Woodbery, this offseason, Cabrera is working on getting his strength back:

“Cabrera’s goal this offseason is to build up his core muscles, adding strength while protecting his back.”

Over his 15-year career, Cabrera has compiled a .317/.395/.553 batting line. He has hit a total of 462 home runs and collected 2,636 hits. He is regarded by most as a no-doubt-about-it Hall-of-Famer already. However, he still has a lot of baseball left to play.

Playing on a big contract

Cabrera, who will turn 35 in April, is owed $184 million through the 2023 season. He also has vesting options for both 2024 and 2025 at $30 million apiece, per Baseball-Reference.

Although the Tigers have already moved a lot of their veteran players, Cabrera will obviously be tough to trade. His contract and subpar 2017 campaign would clearly present huge obstacles to any potential deal.

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A certain amount of decline can be expected for a player in his mid-30s, even one of Cabrera’s caliber. That said, going forward, he will need to provide more value than he did last season. It is also important to note, too, that 2017 was only one bad year.

In 2016, Cabrera hit over .300, belted 38 home runs, drove in more than 100 and finished ninth in the AL MVP voting for the Detroit Tigers.

Some have speculated that more time at designated hitter could be in Cabrera’s future. Perhaps less time in the field might help him stay healthier. Current DH Victor Martinez has only one year left on his contract.

Martinez’s health also remains in question after he underwent a heart procedure towards the end of last season. The Tigers are, however, reportedly expecting Martinez to be ready for Spring Training, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates Mount Rushmore

The Detroit Tigers, of course, are now in rebuilding mode. It is expected that they could be years away from contention. While Cabrera returning to his old form may not be enough to turn the Detroit Tigers into a contender next season, it would surely be a very welcome sight in the Motor City.