Cabrera went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

The home run was the first of the spring for the veteran, who likely will see his Grapefruit League playing time managed carefully the rest of the way as he ramps up for his 19th MLB season. Cabrera said during the offseason that 2023 will be his last season before he retires. The 39-year-old has managed to hit .250 or better each of the last five seasons, though his power has mostly evaporated, which has drastically cut into his fantasy appeal.

Cabrera said Monday in an interview with MLB.com that he plans to retire after the 2023 season. "I think it's going to be my last year," he said. "It feels a little weird to say that. I thought I wasn't going to say that ever. But I think it's time to say goodbye to baseball."

EDGE Analysis

Considering that Cabrera will be due $32 million for 2023 -- the final year of the $248 million contract extension he inked in March 2014 -- his decision to play one final season comes as little surprise. The 39-year-old had already moved into more of a part-time role at designated hitter by the second half of the 2022 campaign, and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch previously said earlier this month that he doesn't envision Cabrera playing on an everyday basis during the final season of his Hall of Fame-worthy career, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Cabrera still hit a respectable .254 in 433 plate appearances in 2022, but his walk rate (6.6 percent) and ISO (.063) both plummeted to career-worst levels.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Even though Cabrera was rested in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, he'll remain on the bench as the Tigers wrap up their season and their series in Seattle on Wednesday. Unless the Tigers turn to him for a pinch-hitting appearance, Cabrera will finish the campaign with a career-worst .622 OPS over his 433 plate appearances. The 39-year-old is due $32 million in 2023, the final season of the eight-year, $248 million megadeal he signed in March 2014.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Cabrera started Game 1 and went 1-for-3 with a walk. The veteran has confirmed he will return for the 2023 season, though his fantasy appeal has mostly vanished. The former MVP has a .622 OPS this year with just five home runs and 43 RBI.

Cabrera will return for the 2023 season, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cabrera will turn 40 in April and has been a below-average hitter in four of the last six seasons, but he has 32 million reasons to return next year. The 2023 season will be the final guaranteed year of the eight-year, $248 million extension Cabrera signed prior to the 2014 season. His contract contains vesting options for 2024 and 2025, but it would take a top-10 MVP finish for those years to vest. Cabrera has been about as far from MVP level as possible this season, hitting just .251/.299/.315 while exclusively serving as the designated hitter.

Cabrera isn't starting Saturday against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Cabrera went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Friday's series opener against Minnesota, and he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Javier Baez is serving as the designated hitter while Ryan Kreidler starts at shortstop.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

The 39-year-old will be getting some maintenance while Detroit concludes its series with a day game after a night game. Javier Baez will serve as the Tigers' designated hitter while Cabrera rests after going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 2-1 victory.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Cabrera took Kansas City starter Daniel Lynch deep in the first inning with a runner on, and it was all the offense Detroit needed in the narrow win. The veteran now has five long balls this season, which would be his fewest since hitting three home runs across just 38 games during an injury-plagued 2018 campaign.

Cabrera will serve as the Tigers' designated hitter and No. 4 batter in Wednesday's game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Since returning Sept. 19 from a stint on the injured list, Cabrera looks to have moved into a near-everyday role after he had previously been playing on a more part-time basis prior to being shelved. He's hit a modest 3-for-19 since being activated, but Cabrera will pick up his fifth start in six games nonetheless.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Cabrera will get a breather after he returned from a stint on the 15-day injured list Monday and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run in the Tigers' 11-0 win in the series opener. Though he's ostensibly healthy again and had a solid game in his return to action, the 39-year-old Cabrera is expected to handle a part-time role for the rebuilding Tigers over the final two weeks of the season.