


Miguel Cabrera is sticking by his plan to retire for good after this season.
The 39-year-old Detroit Tigers infielder, and one of the best hitters in MLB history, said late last year his 21st season will be his last.
He stood by that following Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic workout on Friday.
He added, too, that he doesn’t plan on pulling “a Tom Brady” — retiring, then unretiring, just like the legendary quarterback did with the Buccaneers this past season.
“My body is certainly telling me that this might be the right time to call it a career,” Cabrera told ESPN. “I am really grateful for all that I have been able to live and accomplish on the baseball field. But it is time to go.”
The 12-time All-Star said his main goal is to stay healthy as he enters the final year of a contract extension he signed with the Tigers before his 2014 campaign.
The Venezuelan started his career with the Marlins, winning a World Series in his rookie year during the 2003 season.
Cabrera joined the Tigers in 2008 and has stayed in Detroit ever since.
During his time on the Tigers, Cabrera won consecutive MVPs in 2012 and 2013 and achieved a Triple Crown in 2012 — an achievement that hadn’t been reached since Carl Yastrezmeski did it with the Red Sox in 1967.
He showed off his hitting prowess even further by joining the 3,000-hit club last season.
Cabrera is currently playing with Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic, where he’s helped his team finish 4-0 in pool play.
Cabrera said there are “no words to describe” what it means to represent Venezuela, and he told ESPN that winning a WBC title would be just as meaningful as winning another World Series.
“Hopefully we can continue staying healthy and playing good baseball,” Cabrera said. “But really, all we hope to do is win for our country. It would be a dream come true and an incredible thing to do as I finish out my career.”