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Detroit Tigers Links: Fit Miggy, eye-catching, expensive Yoan Moncada

By Matt Pelc |

When you take a look at 20-year-old Miguel Cabrera from his rookie days with the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins, you see how much he’s grown.

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Of course “grown” also means he’s gotten bigger. It is true that throughout his career with the Detroit Tigers, Miggy’s weight has fluctuated but it never has seemed to affect him one way or another. The last few years, however, he has reported to Spring Training in great shape and 2015 is no different.

Some wondered just how he would look after having to be off his feet for a number of months post-surgery. Even the biggest gym-rat recovering from injuries tends to put on a few pounds, however Cabrera looked great when arriving at camp on Monday.

He also reported he feels great and the bad part of being away from the game is done. Miggy did not emphatically state his readiness for Opening Day, however. That will remain to be seen.

Elsewhere local curmudgeon Drew Sharp checks in for his first Spring Training article.

Finally, we look at how Yoan Moncada “got away” from the Tigers–actually it sounds like they never really pursued him because of his price tag for this and coming years and the penalty invoked on international free agents for years to come.

Fit Cabrera surprises Tigers with arrival, feels good – Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

Dave Dombrowski received an early spring surprise.Not even a few feet into his morning run around TigerTown — which lasts about a half-hour, usually at a slow pace, he said — he ran into someone on the sidewalk.That someone was Miguel Cabrera.Cabrera showed up to spring training today, surprising his general manager, his manager and his teammates, who didn’t expect to see the slugger for a couple of days.“Very happy,” Cabrera said. “I was excited to come here and try to do my stuff and see my teammates.”He seemed a bit slimmer — “I could tell he wasn’t sitting on the couch eating Cheetos,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said of the off-season — sported a new haircut and said that he felt good after hitting the past week.

5 eye-catching things at Tigers spring training – Drew Sharp, Freep

The most important injury recovery for the Tigers is shortstop Jose Iglesias.Manager Brad Ausmus insisted Monday morning that he wasn’t more concerned about one player’s post-surgery physical state than another’s. But whereas they’re confident that Miguel Cabrera (ankle) and Victor Martinez (knee) will bounce back offensively following their surgeries, they’re still not sure that Iglesias’ legs can hold up to the regular pounding of playing the most physically demanding infield position.Iglesias still can’t wear cleats.

Tigers thought highly of Yoan Moncada, knew for some time they were not willing to pay price – Chris Iott, MLive

“We scouted him,” Avila said. “We had him here for a private workout. Once we knew where the money was going, it was just a point that we had our money invested in other areas.”Reports early Monday morning said Moncada will receive a signing bonus of more than $30 million from the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have already exceeded their international bonus pool, so they will have to pay a 100 percent tax on the money they give to Moncada.The Tigers simply weren’t willing to invest $60 million or more in the 19-year-old switch hitter. They knew the price tag was headed in that direction even before Moncada worked out for them in Lakeland last month.“Due diligence,” Avila said. “We just wanted to make sure if there’s any chance that we did our homework. … We thought he was obviously a very good player.”

Next: In defense of Yoenis Cespedes' disposition

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