Cabrera to have fun in his final season
Two years ago, Miguel Cabrera hit his 500th home run, and last season he reached 3,000 hits.
Now there's one more reason for an extended celebration of the Detroit slugger's career.
This is his final year. “I'm going to go out there and be me. Try to have fun, try to go out there and, when they give me a chance to play, play. I don't know what is going to be my role this year,” Cabrera said. “If I can hit, I want to be in the lineup.”
Cabrera sounded at ease with his decision to call it a career when he spoke at spring training Monday, joking with reporters in his usual playful way and insisting he doesn't need opponents to lavish him with attention. That will likely come whether he wants it or not.
“I brought him up in the first meeting, so that tells you that I didn't listen to his desire to not be talked about,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We're going to cherish our time with Miggy. We're also going to let him be a player, a contributor, and just be himself.”
Two decades after his big league debut as a 20-year-old Florida Marlin, Cabrera says he doesn't remember much about his first spring training — “I have a better car right now” — but he's hoping for a healthy season and more wins for Detroit.
The Tigers haven't made the playoffs since 2014, and Cabrera hasn't had a really excellent season since 2016.
Still, baseball was captivated a year ago when Albert Pujols managed to hit 24 home runs in his last season, surpassing 700 for his career.
Don't expect a similar chase from Cabrera, if only because he passed so many milestones so recently. He enters this season with 507 homers, 3,088 hits and 607 doubles — not to mention a .308 career average.
“It's been a thrill to be able to follow him. I feel privileged to have a chance to watch him play days in, day out for so many years, and the joy that he brought us,” said Dave Dombrowski, who is currently the president of the Philadelphia Phillies.
JUDGE NOT SURE OF ANOTHER 62-HR YEAR >> Aaron Judge flashed a big smile when asked if he could repeat his accomplishments of last year, when he hit an American League record 62 home runs for the Yankees.
“You never know,” he said after the Yankees' first full-squad workout. “I don't really like putting a number on it. I just kind of like going out there and trying to control what I can control, but you never know what could happen. So, we'll see about 62.”
Judge was voted the American League MVP after breaking Roger Maris' AL record of 61 homers, set in 1961. Judge's 131 RBIs tied the New York Mets' Pete Alonso for most in the majors and Judge's .311 batting average was second in the AL.
After becoming a free agent, Judge agreed to a $360 million, nine-year contract with the Yankees.
“Last year was fun chasing history and having those moments,” Judge said. “Every time we play in New York I feel like you're chasing history. It's never a cakewalk in the Bronx, that's for sure. You have to enmbrace those challenges.”
Judge slumped offensively as New York was swept in the AL Championship Series by eventual World Series champion Houston. He went 1 for 16 (.063) with no homers or RBIs.
New York hasn't won the World Series since 2009.
CUBS ADD FULMER TO BULLPEN >> The Cubs added Michael Fulmer to their bullpen, finalizing a $4 million, one-year contract with the right-hander.
Fulmer played for Detroit and Minnesota last season, going 5-6 with 3.39 ERA in a career-high 67 appearances. He began the season with the Tigers and was traded to the Twins in August.
GUARDIANS LOSE YOUNG PLAYER >> Guardians top pitching prospect Daniel Espino will be sidelined at least two months with a right shoulder strain.