Miguel Cabrera Leaves Game vs. Orioles with Biceps Injury
Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera left Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles with a left biceps spasm, the team announced.
Cabrera exited in the fifth inning, and Niko Goodrum replaced him at first base for the remainder of the game.
Cabrera's 10-year, $292 million extension was puzzling when the Tigers first announced it in 2014, and it's looking even more regrettable after the two-time MVP struggled through the worst year of his MLB career in 2017.
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Cabrera batted .249 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI. Even worse, he was 128th among 144 qualified hitters in slugging percentage (.399), per FanGraphs.
Injuries dogged Cabrera throughout 2017, so it's fair to assume his lack of production had something to do with his health. At the same time, even a great player such as Cabrera isn't immune to the aging curve, and it would appear that is starting to catch up with the 35-year-old.
Cabrera's absence would be a much bigger problem for the Tigers if they hadn't already started their full-scale rebuild in 2017. Detroit traded Justin Verlander and Justin Upton en route to a last-place finish in the American League Central.
The 2018 season is set to be more of the same, regardless of whether Cabrera is in the lineup or not.
