Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers have reached a preliminary agreement on a $152.3 million, eight-year contract, according a personal familiar with the deal.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity yesterday because the contract was not yet final. The third baseman must pass a physical before the agreement can be finalized.

Cabrera agreed on Jan. 18 to an $11.3 million salary for this season. The new deal adds $141 million over the following seven seasons.

Cabrera will earn $15 million in 2009, when he would have been eligible for salary arbitration. He will average $21 million annually over the next six seasons, when he would have been eligible for free agency.

Cabrera's average salary of $19,037,500 will be the fourth-highest in the major leagues behind those of New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana ($22,916,667) and Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez ($20 million).

His deal will be the fourth-highest package. Rodriguez is starting a $275 million, 10-year contract, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is entering the eighth season of a $189 million, 10-year deal and Ramirez is in the final guaranteed season of a $160 million, eight-year contract.

Aspects of Cabrera's agreement were first reported by www.ESPNdeportes.com.

BLUE JAYS

ROLEN BREAKS FINGER, LOSES NAIL IN DRILL

Scott Rolen broke his finger during a fielding drill yesterday, and Toronto's new third baseman might not be available for opening day.

Rolen was taking grounders in the morning on a back field when a ball hit him on the fingernail.

"It ripped his nail completely off his finger," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said.

Rolen also broke the bone above the top knuckle on his right middle finger. It's unclear how long he will be out.

"It's a non-displaced fracture, which is the good news," Ricciardi said.

Rolen was acquired from St. Louis this offseason for fellow third baseman Troy Glaus in a swap of oft-injured All-Stars. Rolen was to travel to Baltimore last night to see Dr. Thomas Graham, the hand specialist who treated Toronto catcher Gregg Zaun's injured right thumb last season.

BREWERS

CAPUANO FACING TOMMY JOHN SURGERY

Milwaukee left-hander Chris Capuano was told yesterday that he has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and will probably need Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career.

The 29-year-old Capuano injured his elbow in an exhibition game Monday against Seattle. He had an MRI on Thursday and team physician William Raasch confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

"We're weighing our options and trying to figure out the likelihood if I rehab it, what are the chances of coming back and performing at this level," Capuano said. "If the chances are 25 percent or less than 25 percent, there's no doubt I can come back from surgery to about 100 percent. It's just going to take more time, about a year or so."

ELSEWHERE

Red Sox: Josh Beckett threw two scoreless innings in a minor league game yesterday, an important step in his return from back spasms. The Boston Red Sox ace, who went 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA last season, allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three for Triple-A Pawtucket against Double-A Portland. He threw 35 pitches and faced seven batters.

Yankees: Andy Pettitte underwent treatment but did not play catch yesterday, one day after being scratched from a scheduled start due to back spasms. "I was really feeling pretty good last night, and feeling good about it, what today was going to bring," Pettitte said. "Then I woke up this morning and it was kind of tight on me again." Pettitte is to make his first scheduled regular season start, April 2 against Toronto.

Tigers: Center fielder Curtis Granderson was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday and will miss opening day. A finger on his right hand was broken Saturday when he was hit by a fastball from Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Travis Blackley in the fourth and final inning of a rained-out game.

Royals: Kansas City optioned pitcher Luke Hochevar, the first pick in the 2006 amateur draft, to Triple-A Omaha yesterday. Hochevar was 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three spring training games, allowing seven hits and two runs in eight innings. But he had not pitched since March 13.