Ausmus refuses to shut down Miggy over back issues

Brad Ausmus doesn't believe an extended rest is going to do any good for Miguel Cabrera's ailing back.

Earlier this season, Cabrera admitted he has been playing through discomfort since originally tweaking his back during the World Baseball Classic in March. But the Tigers skipper, who dealt with his own back issues during his playing days, is ruling out shutting down his team's prized slugger as the Tigers play out the rest of a disastrous season.

"Baseball players are paid to play baseball," Ausmus said Sunday according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. "If they are physically able to play, they play."

Cabrera's back injury flared up again Saturday as the first baseman was removed in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox. He was also kept out of Detroit's lineup for Sunday's series finale. The Venezuelan, however, is still owed a guaranteed $184 million after this season through 2023 - not including two $30-million vesting options in 2024 and 2025 - according to Spotrac, and Ausmus doesn't feel having him sit for the majority of that extension makes much sense for anyone involved.

"This is going to be an issue for him for the rest of his career. Maybe we should sit him the next seven years," he said sarcastically, according to Beck.