Could the Tigers and Marlins Be Working on a Blockbuster?

by Ian Casselberry on Dec 4, 2007 1:32 PM EST in Detroit Tigers News

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers "are engaged in preliminary talks" over a deal that would bring Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Motown. Among the players the Tigers would give up in return - as you would expect - are Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller.

Rosenthal states definitively that Cabrera would play third base in Detroit. Where that might leave Brandon Inge, if he wasn't included in the trade himself, isn't known.

Last season, Cabrera hit .320/.401/.565 with 34 home runs and 119 RBI. Should we mention that the kid's only 24 years old? And if you're worried about his weight, Cabrera has apparently been working hard to shed some of it this off-season. He's already down 15 pounds, according to Ozzie Guillen. Willis, meanwhile, went 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA in 2007. He'll soon turn 26 years old.

More later, as soon as I hear anything. It's a hot topic on Detroit sports talk radio, as you might imagine.

UPDATE: The Detroit News' Lynn Henning is reporting that Cabrera would not be a part of any deal between the Tigers and Marlins.

UPDATE #2: Jason Beck just appeared on WXYT-AM in Detroit and said he didn't think Detroit had the number of prospects (four to five major league ready players) Florida was looking for in such a deal.

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So many rumors

First it was Dotel, Hawkins, Haren and now this deal. The whole thing is making me dizzy just thinking about it. But you gotta credit Dave Dombrowski for hangin in there and trying to make deals for some quality players.

by densogirl on Dec 4, 2007 12:29 PM EST reply actions

Wow!

If true, and it's being reported by more than just Rosenthal now, this could be the classic win-win deal.

My gut tells me if this dtrade, or something similar, as who knows if there will be add ins on either or both sides, you make this trade. Caberra is a player you can build a team around, he's only a few years older than Maybin at 24. Not that Willis is just a throw in. He could benefit greatly from a change of scenery, and is only 2 years removed from his great 2005 season. And he's only 25.

Dave Dombrowski, knowing their championship window is still open, but beginning to close, may be going all in, so to speak. Win now, indeed.

http://waynefontes.com/

by Big Al on Dec 4, 2007 12:48 PM EST reply actions

What are those other prospects

Most of the stuff I'm seeing is treating the deal as if it were a two for two deal, and saying the Tigers would be wise to pull the trigger.

But I've read there are as many as three more prospects going Florida's way and I'll save my elation until I find out who those guys may be.

Of course, when you have a chance to get a talent like Cabrera, you always have to take a shot and that appears to be what DD is doing.

by mattintoledo on Dec 4, 2007 1:30 PM EST reply actions

Second thought

Thought more about this. I'm not sure the Tigers have three other prospects that would prevent them from pulling the trigger on the chance to get Cabrera.

Of course, that also means they probably don't have the horses to get the deal done, as Beck mentioned in Ian's second update.

by mattintoledo on Dec 4, 2007 2:23 PM EST reply actions