Florida / Miami Marlins All-Time Top 10 Players

7. Miguel Cabrera (18.3)

Miguel Cabrera is a 6-foot-4, 250 lb. left fielder from Maracay, VZ. Born on April 18th, 1983, the Marlins signed him through free agency a few months after his 16th birthday.

Miggy worked his way up through the Marlins system over the next few years, making his major league debut with Florida in 2003. Despite playing only 87 games, Cabrera finished fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year Award vote. He hit .268/.325/.468 with a dozen homers and 62 RBI. He then went 18-for-68 through the postseason, with four homers and 12 RBI as the Marlins won their second World Series Championship in six years.

In 2004, Cabrera played in 160 contests for Florida, and improved all of his hitting metrics to a slash line of .294/.366/.512 with 33 homers and an NL-fifth 112 RBI to lead the 83-79 Marlins. He played in his first all-star game, and his 309 total bases ranked 10th in the Senior Circuit. His 13 outfield assists ranked third in the NL, but unfortunately, he led the league with nine errors.

2005 would see Cabrera earn his first Silver Slugger Award, for NL left fielder. He also again played in the All Star game, and played well enough to finish fifth in the NL MVP Award voting. He hit .323/.385/.561 with 33 more home runs and an NL-fourth 116 RBI. His batting average was third in the league, and his SLG was seventh. He ranked second with 198 hits and with 12 left-field assists, third with 344 total bases, fifth with 43 doubles, and sixth with 106 runs scored.

Cabrera continued to dominate National League pitching in 2006, hitting 26 round-trippers and an NL-ninth 114 RBI. He played in his third all-star game and won another Silver Slugger, this time at third base. His .339 batting average was second in the league, he was third with his .430 OBP and with 50 doubles, and sixth with his .568 SLG in 158 contests.

2007 would be Cabrera’s last season with the Marlins, and would see him hit an NL-eighth .320/.401/.565 in 157 games. He clocked an NL-fifth 34 homers and an NL-third 119 RBI.

After the season, the Marlins traded Cabrera with Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers for Dallas Trahern, Burke Badenhop, Mike Rabelo, Frankie De La Cruz, Cameron Maybin, and Andrew Miller.

Cabrera will be entering his 13th season with Detroit in 2020, and his 18th major league season overall. Since leaving Florida, he’s played in another seven all-star games, won five more Silver Slugger Awards, and won the AL MVP in 2012 and in 2013. He’s got a career .315/.392/.543 slashline and 477 career home runs. All of his metrics point to a first ballot hall of fame election, whenever the time comes.