BLOCKBUSTER TRADE: D-Train and Cabrera to the Tigers!

Well that was fast..

Again, I have learned that all these “rumor” sections on SI.com and ESPN.com are total junk, because it seems like deals like this happen more and more often with no sign to the outside world until the deal is done. Well, lets break down this deal.

Tigers:

You really can’t look at this trade in a negative light no matter how hard you try. Look at the facts: They traded away 6 minor league players (Miller and Maybin have little to no big league experience), and in return they receive 2 big league PROVEN players. Cabrera is almost a guaranteed .315/30/100 + guy, and Dontrelle Willis can eat up innings and doesn’t have to be the Number 1 guy anymore. Both of these players will have little to no added stress because they are falling into an established offense and pitching staff. But be careful not to crown them as World Series Champs just yet. While they will have an AMAZING starting pitching staff and a potent offense, you don’t play the game on paper. Baseball is a long season with injuries and inconsistencies that you wouldn’t think about in the offseason. The health in the bullpen will be key to the success of the Tigers next year. I can’t wait to see the AL Central battle between the Indians and Tigers for years to come.

Marlins:

Hmmm, this sure seems familiar. Sooner or later, the Marlins are going to have to keep SOMEBODY around on their team, and I though Miguel Cabrera would be it. He took a home town discount to stay in Florida in the first place, and there was no reason to think that he wouldn’t do it again. The Marlins have been remarkable because of their strategy when it comes player management. Every time they have won the World Series, the major parts of those teams were traded away or not re-signed over the next year or so. In return, they received a crop of new players that made them contenders within the next few years. So, I guess it is really no surprise that this move occurred, but you’ve got to wonder when it’s going to stop. In return for Willis and Cabrera, they received former UNC star pitcher Andrew Miller (who happens to share my name) and young OF Cameron Maybin, plus 4 other minor league prospects. Since the Marlins received mainly prospects, we won’t know if they benefited from this deal for a few years. Now, the Marlins made a move for Hanley Ramirez in the Josh Beckett deal, and he has turned out to be spectacular. Only time will tell how the Marlins actually fared.