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Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers are in agreement on an extension for the superstar slugger that will keep him with Detroit the rest of his career and could be worth as much as a record $352 million, sources told CBSSports.com.
The new Cabrera deal is said to be for $248 million guaranteed over eight years, according to people familiar with the talks, making it a record $292 million, 10-year commitment including the two years he had to go on his previous deal. There are also $30 million vesting options for years 11 and 12, and if those are reached, Cabrera would make the full $352 million. The options are base on achievements/awards during the term.
The deal is pending a physical, but that should be no problem for Cabrera who has a remarkable record for durability.
The two-time defending AL MVP and the Tigers have been working on the contract in the last few days.
Cabrera, 30, has been playing on a $152 million, eight-year contract that was to expire after the '15 season. There was $44 million to go on that deal.
People close to him say he loves being a Tiger, and suggested he's willing to take less than top free-agent dollar to stay in Detroit -- although this will turn out to be the biggest commitment in baseball history. Cabrera's record deal was negotiated by Fern Cuza and Diego Bentz of Relativity Sports.
CBSSports.com first reported the sides were in agreement on a deal, saying it was at least seven years in length. Jon Morosi of Foxsports.com first reported the $248 million figure.
The Tigers traded Prince Fielder in the winter partly to free up money to sign Cabrera and Cy Young-winner Max Scherzer to long-term deals. The Tigers recently announced they were unable to extend Scherzer. They offered the right-hander $144 million over six years, as Foxsports.com originally reported.
Cabrera is the best offensive player in baseball, but he also has a major allegiance to the Tigers and their people, including president and GM Dave Dombrowski and his assistants, Al Avila and John Westhoff, plus several others on the staff that was in Miami when Cabrera was signed by Dombrowski/Avila as a 16-year-old prodigy.
