19 Years, $353M Later, Miguel Cabrera On Brink of 3K Hits

Miguel Cabrera has already cemented his place as one of the greatest hitters ever — but there’s still an achievement or two left to unlock. 

The Tigers’ first baseman/DH is a hit away from becoming the 33rd member of the prestigious 3,000 Club as Detroit opens a three-game series against the Rockies on Friday in Motown.

The 39-year-old plans to call it quits when the eight-year, $248 million extension he signed with Detroit in 2014 expires following the ’23 season — and five years later, he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

• Cabrera is set to earn $32M (T7 in MLB) this season and next.
• He has earned $353M over a 19-season career.
• The two-time AL MVP will become the seventh in history with 3,000 hits and 500 HR.
• He’s an 11-time All-Star, four-time batting champion, and won the Triple Crown in 2012.

Cabrera has a flair for the dramatic when it comes to significant milestones, banging home runs for each of his first, 1,000th, and 2,000th career hits.

The one blemish of Cabrera’s time with the Tigers: the lack of a World Series title, though he won in 2003 with the Marlins. 

Detroit (5-7), which hasn’t reached the postseason since 2014, is currently +390 to play October baseball.