Deportes
18y

Agent: Cabrera filed necessary paperwork

By ENRIQUE ROJAS

MIAMI (ESPNdeportes.com) -- Miguel Cabrera of the Florida Marlins has made official his decision to participate in the World Classic, which will take place in March.

"I am going to play for Venezuela in the World Classic. I'm not just saying this; I have also signed a letter of intent so that it becomes official", Cabrera told ESPNdeportes.com from his home in Venezuela.

Cabrera, 22, had not yet officially agreed to take part in the tournament organized by Major League Baseball, the Players' Union and the International Baseball Federation.

"Cabrera has already signed his letter of intent, which I forwarded to the Players' Union on Tuesday. Miguel will be available if Venezuela calls him," said Andy Mota, Cabrera's agent.

Cabrera would add even more power to a Venezuelan lineup that could already feature outfielders Magglio Ordoñez and Bobby Abreu, shortstops Omar Vizquel and Carlos Guillen, first baseman Alex Cabrera and second baseman Edgardo Alfonso, among others.

On another matter, Cabrera said he did not participate in an incident in which a young man was attacked last week in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan press had reported that Cabrera was accused of attacking a man, along with three other men, last Thursday in the city of Maracay.

Cabrera, currently playing winter baseball with the Aragua Tigers in the Venezuelan Winter League, said there is no formal charge against him and that local police questioned him on Saturday only as a witness.

"Police asked me what I saw, and that was it. I'm in no way involved, and as far as the police told me, there are no charges against me."

Cabrera has been outstanding in the semifinal playoffs of the Venezuelan winter league; he leads the circuit in home runs (three) and RBIs (seven), is second in runs scored (six) and eighth in batting average (.368) during the round robin series.

Aragua, 3-2, is tied for second place with the Magallanes Navigators. The Caracas Lions are currently in first place (4-1).

"Right now, I'm focused on two things," said Cabrera. "I want to help the Tigers win the championship, and then I will get ready to play for Venezuela in the Classic,"

"I don't want to lose focus with any off-the-field incidents" he added.

^ Al Inicio ^