Could Tigers give Miguel Cabrera $200 million?

JON PAUL MOROSI: Could Tigers give Miguel Cabrera $200 million?
Why Brandon Inge could stay

January 18, 2008

Free Press sports writer Jon Paul Morosi recently spoke with MLBTradeRumors.com. Some highlights:

MLBTR: We've heard chatter that Miguel Cabrera could be baseball's next $200 million player. Is there any chance this could happen with the Tigers? Seems that it would require an 8-10 year commitment.

Morosi: This much is clear: The Tigers love Cabrera and will do what they can to sign him long-term. (He's two seasons away from free agency now.) I'm confident that they would make him a six-year offer for a little more than $100 million. But there's a big gap between those figures and a 10-year deal in the $200 million range. There is little doubt that his free agency years will be valued at more than $20 million each; he has better career offensive numbers than Torii Hunter, whose contract with the Angels averages $18 million per year.

MLBTR: The Tigers have become major spenders in recent years. Do you expect them to make a play for any of the big name free agent starters next winter, such as C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Ben Sheets, or Oliver Perez?

Morosi: I don't anticipate them being major players in the market for big-money starters next off-season. Then again, I didn't think they were going to trade for Dontrelle Willis when I arrived at the winter meetings last month. Right now, they have four starters -- Willis, Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson -- who are under club control through 2010. That's pretty good depth. And Kenny Rogers could borrow a page from Jamie Moyer -- who is two years his senior -- and pitch longer than anyone expects.

On the other hand, the Tigers might need to look for a starter next winter if Rogers leaves/retires and one of the other four is injured or traded.

MLBTR: Will we see Brandon Inge in the Detroit organization on Opening Day?

Morosi: A quiet development here has been Vance Wilson's uncertain health after missing all of last season with an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery. Jim Leyland said during the Tigers' caravan over the weekend that he's concerned about whether Wilson will be ready for the start of the season. Inge, who preceded Pudge Rodriguez as the starting catcher, could provide some insurance there. (Last year's backup, Mike Rabelo, went to Florida in the Cabrera/Willis deal.)

The Tigers are still trying to trade Inge -- Leyland said as much over the weekend -- but it doesn't seem that there's a big market for him as a starting third baseman. And the Rolen-Glaus trade meant two more teams solved their third base questions, reducing the number of potential suitors for Inge. So, he may have no choice but to accept a bench role.

I have to say...Sign Him. I know it is alot of money but with his numbers to lock him up for the next decade makes sense...Go Tigers!

Sign him, Granderson, and Verlander!

I completely agree...

We'll be a team of seasoned long-timers!

Friday, January 18, 2008
Tigers, Cabrera agree: 1 year, $11.3M
Detroit News Staff And wire services

DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers agreed Friday to a one-year contract worth $11.3 million, avoiding salary arbitration before the All-Star third baseman's first season with the team.

The team also agreed to a one-year contract with lefthanded reliever Bobby Seay. Terms of that deal were not announced. Cabrera and Seay were the last remaining Tigers eligible for arbitration.

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, 24, can become a free agent after the 2009 season, but the Tigers hope to keep him long term.

Cabrera, one of the game's top sluggers, joins an imposing lineup that includes Magglio 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.

Seay, 29, was 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in 58 appearances for the Tigers last season.

I wouldn't: 10 years is a long time! Imagine if Juan Gonzalez had signed long term?

Not Saying Cabrera is gonna be like that; But you never know! I rather sign Granderson or Verlander to long term deals first;

Keep Inge as insurance too, We might need him down the road

I agree. We seem to want to woo the new guys and are overlooking the talent already in place....

My point exactly! Don't get me wrong; I like Cabrera; but among him, Granderson and Verlander: If I only could sign two of the three, I would sign Curtis and Justin before Miguel

We will see! Glad he is here for 08

BRING THE WS HOME!

PLEASE!

They will! GO TIGERS

he's the agent for most of the Tigs, right? I know he's Maggs' agent.

Tigers need to win it all in 08; While the window is open; The future is not guaranteed

GO TIGERS!

Granderson and Verlander are two of my favorite players but when you look at what Miguel has done at his age he is incredible. Lock all three of them up...just don't think we are wooing the new guys and not being loyal to our own. I just want to make Miguel our own for a long time to come and you will see why in about 3 months.

We'll be scoping him at our ST games!

Putting his stick in our line up could be unbelievable...damn I can't wait...

GO TIGERS GO

WS in 08!

This is gonna be a great year...I just wish it would start already !!!

It does take awhile, doesn't it?

I can remember years when I didn't want it to start cause then by May it would be over...at least our playoff hopes. NOT ANYMORE!!!!

these guys have staying power! now they just gotta USE it!

I hope we can look forward to many more seasons as much as I am looking forward to this one.

geez--look at you go with your posts! good job!