Career Salary Game: Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is close to two huge career milestones, but how well has he cashed in during his long career?

Miguel Cabrera is on the verge of becoming the sixth man in baseball history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in his career (134 and 13 away respectively). If he doesn’t get there during the 2021 season, the years left on his contract say he’ll probably get there early in the 2022 campaign.

Cabrera signed an eight-year, $248 million contract extension with the Tigers in March of 2014. He has three years, and $94 million, left on the deal. There are also $30 million options for 2024 and 2025, which vest with a top-10 MVP finish the prior year and have $8 million buyouts.

Long one of the most feared and complete hitters in baseball, Cabrera is not that anymore as he gets set to turn 38 on April 18. But the idea he’s on the verge of two huge milestones spurred a thought. How much has Cabrera made in his career?

Baseball Reference didn’t prorate Cabrera’s salary for 2020. Spotrac did, so that’s the number I’m going with. According to Spotrac, Cabrera has $291,023,111 in career earnings as we speak. If we presumptively add 2021’s $30 million, that pushes him clear of $321 million. Before his current contract, he played out an eight-year, $152.3 million deal with Detroit.

Assuming he doesn’t retire, the $64 million total due him in 2022 and 2023 will put Cabrera to $385 million in career earnings. The $8 million buyouts for 2024 and 2025 are really moot right now, since it’s more likely he retires before the Tigers have to make a decision. And no, he’s not going to finish top-10 in MVP voting in 2023 to make the full 2024 option vest (bold prediction). The $8 million buyout for that year, should it come that, would push him to $393 million in career earnings.

Any way you slice it going forward, and how bad his contract looks right now, Cabrera has been paid handsomely. Yes, that’s an understatement.

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