Report: Tigers, Miguel Cabrera agree to 8-year, $153.3 million deal
FREE PRESS STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES • March 23, 2008

The Tigers and Miguel Cabrera reached a preliminary agreement Saturday on an eight-year, $153.3-million contract extension, espndesportes.com reported, citing an anonymous source.

The deal locks up the talented third baseman as the Tigers intended to do when they acquired Cabrera in the off-season from the Florida Marlins.

Cabrera will undergo a physical Monday to complete the deal, the source told the Web site.

Cabrera was set to become a free agent after the 2009 season. He will make $11.3 million this season, then an average of $19 million per year through 2016, ESPN reported.

But it's well within the realm of market value. The Los Angeles Angels gave centerfielder Torii Hunter a deal that averages $18 million per year this off-season.

Cabrera's contract is the richest in club history, beating Magglio Ordonez's five-year, $75-million deal in 2004. The Tigers' payroll is expected to top $130 million this season.

Only the Red Sox and Yankees had higher payrolls than the Tigers in 2007.

During the winter meetings, the Tigers dealt six prospects -- including left-hander Andrew Miller and outfielder Cameron Maybin -- to the Marlins for Cabrera and left-hander Dontrelle Willis.

Cabrera, who turns 25 on April 18, is a four-time All-Star with 138 career home runs. He has averaged 32 homers and 115 RBIs the past four seasons with a .318 batting average. He has played at least 157 games in four full seasons.

Cabrera arrived in camp in better shape than he was in last year.