Miguel Cabrera Will Stay In The Detroit Tigers Organization Post Retirement As A Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations
I think most Tigers fans will agree with me on this, but in many ways, Miguel Cabrera was this generation's "Mr. Tiger." For the longest time, Al Kaline rightfully held that spot. Kaline was a part of the Tigers organization up until his death in 2020. I feel like Miggy is destined to go that same route, and I think that's awesome.
I think that this role is mainly symbolic. I can't imagine Miguel Cabrera will have a say in key decisions that the organization will make over the next several years. Still, I think Scott Harris' decision to keep Miguel Cabrera as a part of the Detroit Tigers organization reflects how much he's grown over his last several years.
It's no secret that Miguel Cabrera has been well past his prime over the last seven years. One of the criticisms people had of him when he was at his peak was that the guy was such a goofball that he was maybe lacking in the leadership department. That has definitely changed over the last five or six years. He's embraced the role of mentor. Even though he won't be in the dugout next season, having him around the organization is a great idea.
This is a perfect decision by the organization. I’ve seen people bring up the idea that he’ll be the hitting coach in the future. I hate that idea. I love Miggy, but the intangibles that make a great hitter differ from those that make a great hitting coach. He was the face of this franchise for over a decade and a half. Few players loved playing the game of baseball quite as much as Miguel Cabrera has. I think that giving him a role within the organization is a perfect way of moving beyond his playing days and entering a new era while still maintaining a positive relationship with one of the best players you’ve ever had. It’s a win-win for everybody.