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MLB power rankings: Best player on each team

By Brad Berreman

Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers: 1B Miguel Cabrera

Starting with his first full major league season in 2004 with the then-Florida Marlins, Cabrera has posted a least 100 RBI in 12 of the last 13 seasons. That lengthy stretch includes 11 All-Star selections, and four American League batting titles in five seasons from 2011-2015.

Cabrera is in the top-five among active players in batting average (.320; first), hits (2,528; fifth), on-base percentage (.398; third), slugging percentage (.561; second), Wins Above Replacement  (69.6; fourth, via Baseball Reference) doubles (524; fourth) and total bases (4,430; fourth), and he will go down as one of the best hitters of his generation.

Cabrera is little more than merely adequate defensively, but with Victor Martinez strictly a DH he at least has not been a particular detriment by advanced measurements as a first baseman. The Tigers are tied to him contractually for many more years, through at least 2023 with vesting options for the following two seasons. That will be a bad contact by six years from now, even if Cabrera stays relatively healthy and eventually makes a full-time transition to being a full-time designated hitter.

But right now in 2017, Cabrera is the best player on the Tigers’ roster and it’s not especially close in my view.

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