Tigers agree to $152.3M package over eight years

Miguel Cabrera's new deal will be eclipsed on yearly average by only three players (A-Rod, Johan Santana, Manny Ramirez). Chuck Solomon/SI

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

The Tigers have agreed to terms with superstar third baseman Miguel Cabrera to a seven-year extension for $20 million a year, SI.com has confirmed.

The new agreement to keep Cabrera a Tiger through 2015 will bring their total commitment to Cabrera to $152.3 million, which includes the $11.3 million he was already set to make in 2008.

The deal is believed to be contingent only on a physical, which is expected to be a formality.

Cabrera's new contract, whether it's counted as a $141 million extension or $152.3 million in total dollars, would rank as the fifth highest in baseball history, behind Alex Rodriguez's deal ($252 million and $275 million), Derek Jeter ($189 million) deal and Manny Ramirez ($160 million).

Cabrera will earn $15 million in 2009, when he would have been eligible for salary arbitration. He will average $21 million annually over the next six seasons, when he would have been eligible for free agency.

Only three will average more than Cabrera: Rodriguez ($27.5 million a year), New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana ($22,916,667) and Ramirez ($20 million).

ESPNdeportes.com first reported that there was an agreement. Michigan's Booth Newspapers first reported that the deal is for a seven-year extension.

Cabrera was acquired this winter from Florida by the Tigers, along with pitcher Dontrelle Willis, for six young players.

Cabrera averaged 32 homers and 115 RBIs while hitting .318 the past four seasons for the Marlins. The only players to at least match him in their averages in all three categories over that four-year span were Albert Pujols and Vladimir Guerrero, according STATS LLC.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.