Miguel Cabrera has bone spur, Brad Ausmus confirms no decision reached on surgery

DETROIT — It's no secret that Miguel Cabrera has been dealing with a right ankle issue this season, playing through significant pain that brought his unworldly batting numbers back to earth. Cabrera has maintained a 'no comment" stance in regards to his health, focusing entirely on the game.

So far, there had not been much said about treating the injury, beyond giving it rest when possible. That was until Sunday, when ESPN's Buster Olney reported prior to the game that Cabrera is dealing with bone spurs in his right ankle and will have offseason surgery.

The Tigers quickly disputed that, saying no decision has been made whatsoever in regards to an offseason surgery. They added that more information would be available after Sunday night's game against the Giants.

"He said he felt a little bit better today in talking to him, certainly nice when Miggy swings the bat," Ausmus said before the game. "I think it takes the pressure off other guys in the lineup and he's looked good in the last week, I hope he continues to do the same."

Cabrera was held out of the lineup on Aug. 31 in order to give his ankle some rest. After two days of rest, since the start of September, Cabrera has been back to crushing the ball to all fields, hitting .500/.500/1.038 with four home runs, two doubles and six RBI.

After the game Ausmus confirmed that Cabrera has a single bone spur in his right ankle, but the Tigers have not made a determination on the best course of treatment, stating that the decision would not be made until the conclusion of the season.

"We don't know if he requires surgery," Ausmus said. "Whether it's rest that will help the inflammation or the irritation go down in the area, or whether it's something that has to be done surgically, we don't know that."

Cabrera scored from first base on an RBI double off the bat of Victor Martinez in the seventh inning Sunday night, but he was taken out of the game almost immediately. In an effort to reach home, Cabrera had aggravated the ankle and Don Kelly took over for Cabrera at first base.

Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand had a lengthy discussion with Cabrera in the dugout after he had been pulled. Ausmus said that he would check to see how Cabrera felt Monday morning, but he said that it was a "good possibility" that Cabrera would be relegated to designated hitting duties for the day.