Miguel Cabrera is hurt again for Tigers, fantasy owners

Miguel Cabrera isn’t the dynamic hitter he was in his younger days, but his latest injury absence is still going to hurt the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers are doing their best to stay in the thick of the AL Central race but they don’t have a lot of room for error. Unfortunately, the recent injury to Miguel Cabrera might be too much for Detroit to overcome.

Cabrera doesn’t still possess the power that defined his younger career. He’s simply not the same guy he was back in 2012 and ’13 when he posted back-to-back 44 home run seasons. That doesn’t mean he isn’t still very important for Ron Gardenhire’s lineup.

The truth is that even in his diminished state, he’s still one of only two Tigers’ regulars with a batting average north of .300. His .301 mark ranks behind only Nick Castellanos who is hitting .321 to date. Cabrera may not be worth his mammoth salary, but he’s still getting something done for his team.

The real question, of course, is how long he might be out with his latest injury. The team is officially classifying Cabrera’s malady as a strain to his left bicep tendon. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI immediately. Tigers fans need to hope it’s just a sprain or strain.

If it turns out to be a tear of any sort, Cabrera’s season may well be over. That would also be a difficult injury for a 35-year-old to recover from quickly.

Of course, Cabrera’s absence from the Tigers lineup will also have significant implications for his fantasy owners. Players who haven’t already looked for an upgrade over Cabrera should certainly scour the waiver wire for other options at the moment. He doesn’t represent enough upside to stay on the to roster while he’s on the disabled list.

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Cabrera may bounce back after this injury, but it’s clear this is the beginning of the end for the once-proud slugger. The Tigers and fantasy owners should both be working to replace him in the near future.