Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera clarifies stance on future, says he’ll be back next season as originally planned
Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera set a record regarding his future Friday, telling Detroit News that he will actually return for the 21st major league season in 2023.
Earlier in the day, 39-year-old Cabrera told reporters that this season could be his last as he continues to deal with knee problems. It marks the first time Cabrera has opened up to the possibility he may not play next year after previously saying he planned to fulfill his contract, which is fully guaranteed through the end of the season. tournament 2023.
But on Friday, Cabrera said his game plans for next year have not changed.
“I’m not going to retire,” he told News. “It wasn’t until next year, when my contract was finished. They didn’t understand what I was saying. There’s no way I’d quit.”
Cabrera joined the 3,000-hit/500-homer club at the start of the season and hit the .308 mark as recently as July 8. But he has struggled since then, hitting .131 with three basic hits. in his last 21 games entering Friday.
Knee pain, which he says has increased in recent weeks, is partly to blame, but Cabrera believes next year will be different. He turns 40 in April.
“Next year is going to be better,” he told News. “I’ll be right back next year.”