Tigers open contract extension talks with Miguel Cabrera

The Detroit Tigers were unable to come to terms with Max Scherzer on a contract, both sides declaring talks would not resume until the end of the 2014 season. Scherzer turned down what is reported to be a six-year, $144 million deal. With Scherzer's negotiations ending and it becoming more likely the 2013 AL Cy Young will not return to Detroit next season, the team has moved on to extension talks with Miguel Cabrera.

FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi is reporting the Tigers and the two-time reigning AL Most Valuable Player have begun preliminary talks on a contract extension. Morosi adds there is less urgency to nail down a deal, with Cabrera having two seasons and $44 million remaining on his current eight-year, $152 million contract. There is no hard deadline for Cabrera's talks, unlike Scherzer's of Opening Day of 2014.

Morosi states Albert Pujols' 10-year, $244 million contract will be used as a benchmark in negotiations. Cabrera will be 32 when his next contract kicks in, the same age as Pujols when he signed his current deal with the Angels. The Tigers' 30-year-old slugger is not due to become a free-agent until the end of the 2015 season.

Cabrera has the same representation as Justin Verlander, Relativity Sports' SFX Baseball division. The Tigers' ace agreed to his contract extension at the end of 2013 spring training, also with two-years remaining on his previous agreement.

Cabrera is already on record saying he wants to finish his career in Detroit.  During an interview this past November, Cabrera told ESPN Deptortes, "This is the city where I want to end my career."

The Tigers appear to be more than willing to make that wish come true.