Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera has dealt with back issues all season and it is looking as if the 34-year-old will be limited or non-existent in the teams final six games.
Diagnosed over the weekend with two herniated discs, Cabrera will not play in Tuesday’s game against the Royals. The Tigers will use Efren Navarro at first while using John Hicks at the DH spot.
Carbrera has been limited to 130 games this season posting just a .249/.329/.399 line with 16 homers and 60 RBI. All of those numbers are career lows for Cabrera.
The Tigers obviously like the experience and leadership that Cabrera brings to the team but one has to wonder if they will attempt to trade him this winter. The biggest obstacle for them would be the six guaranteed years and $184 million left on his contract. There are also two years of vesting options of $30 million each.
Earlier this year the Tigers traded impending free agent J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks while sending Justin Upton, who has an opt-out, to the Angels. Pitcher Justin Verlander was sent to the Astros while closer Justin Wilson was sent to the Cubs.
“If they are going to trade me, trade me,” Cabrera told reporters near the trade deadline. “If they are going to trade these guys [my teammates], trade these guys. But I don’t like to come here every day and hear about how they are going to trade this guy and trade that guy. Do something, and then that’s it.”
