Miguel Cabrera doesn’t like talking about his right knee.
On Thursday, though, the 39-year-old did not hesitate to discuss the subject. A few reporters approached Cabrera’s locker in the clubhouse after the Detroit Tigers DH sat out Wednesday’s series finale in Minneapolis. Understanding what was happening, the 20-year MLB veteran — a lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame — met them in the middle to talk about his health.
There’s a chance Cabrera is playing his final season.
He is undecided about his status for 2023.
“I got to talk to my agent, I got to talk to the GM (general manager Al Avila), I got to talk to everybody to see what’s going to be the plan for next year,” Cabrera said. “Right now, we’re focused on today. We’re going to go day-by-day and see what happens. I don’t think about next year right now. I think about trying to finish heathy this year, and we ‘ll see.”
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Cabrera is owed $32 million from the Tigers for next season. He has spoken multiple times over the past two seasons about his goal of winning a World Series with the Tigers and his plan to retire after the conclusion of his contract, but this time, he wouldn’t commit to 2023.
“I don’t feel well right now,” Cabrera said. “I’m trying to do whatever I can to go out there and play, but I don’t feel really good right now.”
It’s always been a matter of “when,” not “if,” for the two-time MVP and his ailing right knee. He was diagnosed with a chronic right knee injury in 2019, but following the recommendation of four specialists, including sports physician Dr. James Andrews, he did not opt for surgery.
Cabrera’s knee pain would only get worse with time.
Everyone knew that.
“It’s a chronic thing where he’s going to have to live with it, and through treatment, you’re going to have to put him on the field,” Avila said in June 2019. “The bad news, obviously, is it’s going to get worse as you go along. It’s incumbent on him to stay in good shape, and it’s incumbent on us to make sure we should give him proper treatment and rest. It’s a combination. If you keep that going, we should be able to keep him productive on the field for the remainder of his contract, so that is our expectation and hope.”
Now, time is catching up to Cabrera, the third player in MLB history to reach 3,000 hits, 500 home runs and 600 doubles, along with Albert Pujols (playing his final season in 2022) and the late Hank Aaron.
The tread is wearing thin on the tires.
“The last three weeks, it’s hurt more,” Cabrera said. “I’ve had that problem for the last three or four years. Right now, I’m trying to get more training. I got to deal with it.”
