DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera does not plan to retire before 2023, after all.
Despite being slowed by his right knee issue, the Tigers slugger told the Detroit News he will play next season.
The 39-year-old mused on the subject Thursday amid a slump through the dog days of summer. Cabrera joined the 3,000-hit/500-homer club earlier in the season, and was hitting .308 as recently as July 8.
Plagued by lower-body problems that have been a constant issue in recent seasons, he is hitting .132 with three extra-base hits in his last 20 games.
“You’ve got to understand your body, I understand mine and my place on this team,” he said before the Tigers hosted the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. “I’ve got to talk to my agent, the GM, I’ve got to talk to everybody to see the plan for next year.
“Right now, we don’t know. We’re focused on today.”
The Tigers came into the season as fringe contenders after a strong finish in 2021, but they have staggered to a 42-64 record with the worst offense in baseball.
“I’m going to go out there and do my best every day — that’s the bottom line,” he said. “But there’s an opportunity for young guys here to get more at-bats and see what we’ve got for next year.”
