The Detroit Tigers made a splash this offseason by bringing back a franchise icon, Justin Verlander. Signing him to a one-year, $13 million deal, the Tigers are rekindling memories of Verlander's glory days with the team, where he racked up an impressive 53.9 fWAR over more than a decade.
Adding to the nostalgia, Miguel Cabrera, another legendary figure in Tigers history, joined the team at Spring Training. Cabrera's role?
To mentor rookies Eduardo Valencia and Josue Briceño on first base defense. But he wasn't just there to coach; he was soaking in the atmosphere and celebrating Verlander's return to Detroit.
“It’s unbelievable. You’ve got to appreciate him.
He works hard. To see him in Detroit again is awesome, especially with this team right now.
We’ve got a lot of talent. We’ve got (Tarik) Skubal.
My gosh, that’s special,” Cabrera shared, clearly excited about the team's potential.
Before heading off to serve as Team Venezuela's hitting coach in the World Baseball Classic, Cabrera will continue working with the Tigers' rookies.
Reflecting on the past, it's bittersweet that the Tigers never clinched a World Series during the Verlander-Cabrera era. Verlander earned MVP and Cy Young honors, while Cabrera secured a Triple Crown in 2012. Despite a roster brimming with talent, including the likes of Victor Martinez, JD Martinez, and Prince Fielder, the team fell short, hindered by fielding and bullpen issues.
Now, with Verlander back for what could be a final chapter, fans are hopeful for a different outcome, one that might finally bring a championship to Detroit.