SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila expects to see a slim, motivated Miguel Cabrera arrive at spring training in three months.
Ive talked to Miggy. Ive talked to his agent. Hes committed to make sure that these last four years go as well as possible, Avila said Tuesday at the MLB General Manager Meetings.
Four years is the magic number for Cabrera, 36, because it represents the number of seasons left on his monstrous contract, a span in which hell make $124 million no matter what happens.
Cabreras weight ballooned in 2019, which put pressure on his balky knee.
There is no surgical solution for Cabrera, but Avila is convinced hes making the appropriate lifestyle changes.
Cabrera has hired a full-time, in-house chef who serves up meals approved by his personal nutritionist.
Of course theres a workout routine, strength-and-conditioning, weight loss, the whole bit. Its full-scale, Avila said. If he follows that program, I have no doubt that hell come in in really good shape. Obviously he would have to continue that throughout the season to stay strong and healthy.
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Despite his knee problems, Cabrera never missed more than two consecutive games until the final week of the 2019 season. But in a year notable for an explosion of home runs, he hit only 12 in 549 plate appearances. He posted a .744 OPS, just under league average (96 OPS+ and 96 RC+).
The injuries that hes suffered are not going away. Theyre there to stay, Avila said. "'Theres no more surgeries for me.' Thats what he said. Theres no surgery thats going to fix what hes got."
The first challenge for Cabrera will be the off-season weight loss. Then hell have to commit anew to in-season work.
Its no different than a pitcher going through a shoulder program, Avila said. "If a pitcher does it throughout the season religiously, chances are hes going to stay healthy. If a guy gets lazy and then abandons that program. If he does it off-and-on and hes not committed to it? Then chances are hes not going to make it through the season.
Now, injuries will happen no matter how hard you work, but at the end of the day its about doing everything you can stay healthy.
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Tigers GM expects Miguel Cabrera to stick with nutrition plan to ease pressure on knee - MLive.com
