Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera revealed that he aims to play at least two more seasons before he officially calls it a career.
Cabrera is at the point of his career where it seems as if in every month, he manages to set a historic milestone. Just earlier this week, Cabrera became the 28th player in MLB history to record 500 career home runs.
As many have been reminiscing on the Hall of Fame career of Cabrera, he instead is already looking ahead to when he might retire from the game.
In speaking to ESPN's Sage Steele (via Freep), the Tigers star noted that he plans to play up until the 2023 season.
“My right knee is really bad,” Cabrera said. “I need to take care of this in the offseason and prepare myself for next season. I say two more years. I think that's enough. I will be happy with 20 years in the big leagues if I can make it. Thank God for giving me this opportunity. Two more years and I'm done.”
Cabrera currently has two more guaranteed seasons remaining on the eight-year extension deal that he signed in 2014. He is slated to earn $32 million in each of the upcoming two seasons. The former American League Triple Crown winner does have vesting options of $30 million for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but each one would only be triggered if he finishes in the top 10 of the final AL MVP voting in the previous season.
Many greats before him managed to finish their careers with World Series wins, and Cabrera is aspiring to do the same over his final years with the Tigers.
“I'm going to feel more proud if in my last two years here in Detroit we can win a championship,” Cabrera said. “I think the city of Detroit, the Tigers' organization, they deserve this. They deserve to win a championship. Hopefully, we can do that.”
At the least, Cabrera's last seasons in Detroit may be filled with milestone after milestone, especially as he is currently 42 hits away from 3,000 and 214 RBI away from 2,000. The former potential milestone is much more achievable for the longtime veteran first baseman, and he could notch it over the early portions of the next season.
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