All the factors were there: a young player new to a big-market team (or at least a team that spends like they're in a big market), and a player that just so happens to be one of the most promising young players in the game. All the factors add up: Miguel Cabrera is getting his paper paper.The deal is for eight years and 153.3 million, the fourth largest baseball contract ever doled out. That deal seems bad for the Tigers -- $19 million per is a lot to pay for one player, no matter who it is -- but given that Cabrera is merely 24, this covers the Tigers through his soon-to-come peak years. And then just as Miguel will exit his peak -- right around 31 or 32 -- the contract will run out. If you have to pay a slugger with weight concerns this kind of money, best to do so in his 20's, and not his 30's.
Addendum: This deal, if anything, highlights how crazy Alex Rodriguez's contract is. Cabrera is arguably the more valuable player, or he will be in three or four years. That Rodriguez's deal nearly doubles Cabrera's, which is the fourth-largest ever ... that's just inexplicable. And kind of awesome.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Cabrera is more valuable? What are you smoking? A-Rod is a better fielder and a better hitter. You also forgot to mention that Miggy will be about 500 pounds during his peak years.
Posted at 12:20PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by tobrien28
2. People seem to write articles before they think. Not only is A-Rod a better hitter and fielder, he'll also steal over 20 bases and score nearly 100 runs. A-Rod will be the AL MVP again this season. Cabrera is a great player. I'll never forget the 2003 WS.He was like 19 or 20 years old facing Roger Clemens. Clemens threw a ball high and tight, Cabrera hit the deck. He then got up without dusting himself off and crushed a fastball for an opposite field homer. At that point I said to myself, this kid is going to be somebody. $153 million later....
Posted at 1:46PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by JobaClay
3. I'd take ARod,Mike Lowell and even Scotty Rolen over this fat horse.What a waste of money.Brennan you're an idiot.Eddie Mathews would be a more valuable player than this guy
Posted at 1:47PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by nyranger26
4. Thre should be a salary cap on players, no player should make more than 5 mils a year, that way fans could afford the tickets prices. I don't think any player, in any sport worth 20 mils per year.
Posted at 2:16PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Luis
5. Cabrera is twenty-freaking-five. A-Rod is 32. Let's bet who hits more home runs over the next eight years. You guys take A-Rod, I'll take Cabrera and your money.
Posted at 2:17PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Pat Lackey
6. If you think Cabrera will hit more homeruns than A-Rod over the next 8 years, you are smoking the same stuff that the guy who wrote the article is.
Posted at 2:49PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by JobaClay
7. He is not worth that much! The best player in baseball , which is Albert Pujols ,barely makes 10 million a year . but when you have one of the most succesful franchises in all of baseball you dont have to spend a lot of money to get alot of talent.
Posted at 3:05PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by bry6tr
8. sour grapes?
Posted at 7:49PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by Zappatista