Report: Miguel Cabrera closing in on big extension with Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers were unable to come to terms on a contract extension with reigning American League Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer last weekend, but according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman the Tigers and Miguel Cabrera are closing in on a big extension.
New deal for Tigers and Cabrera, if completed, will go through at least 2021 and possibly longer than that.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 27, 2014
Cabrera, 30, has two more years remaining on an eight-year deal and pending a physical which should be a mere formality is in line to command $30 million per season.
Update: Jerry Crasnick tweets the deal will be a record-breaking deal that will pay him nearly $300 million.
Miguel Cabrera's new deal with #tigers will be for 10 years and just under $300M, says a baseball source.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) March 27, 2014
However, according to Heyman, “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.”
Perhaps a hometown discount could be in store which would free up some cash to give Scherzer the extension he wants at season’s end.
The two-time defending AL MVP has led the league in batting average the last three seasons and averaged 44 home runs and 138 runs batted in over the last two seasons.