He's amassed 300 homers in less than 10 years -- and the long ball isn't his signature skill.
He's hit 30%-81% better than the rest of the league every year, except for his half-season at age 20.
His sparkling lifetime .318/.394/.558 has been accumulated in offense-reducing parks.
He's still getting better. Last year he hit .344/.448/.586 with 48 doubles. The drop-off this year feels like going from Michael Phelps to Ryan Lochte: he's at .327/.385/.585 and on pace for 40 home runs.
And his name isn't jumping to mind.
His weight and fielding acumen have moved in different (and seemingly permanent) directions, he runs the bases like molasses flowing uphill, and there's been some question about his commitment, but Miguel Cabrera is already most of the way to a bust in Cooperstown nine months shy of his 30th birthday. He's already provided his teams with 43 offensive wins against replacement, about what Bernie Williams and Jason Giambi did in roughly twice as much time in the Majors.
Cabrera could still eat or drink his way into oblivion, but not withstanding that, he's nearly a shoo-in to 500 homers and the Hall of Fame. He's got at least a couple more years of MVP-caliber thumping in him and then a slow fade of above-average play after that.
Pretty good for a player you hadn't thought of.
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