Raw Meat for the Dogs

The Detroit News says that Miguel Cabrera is now on the trading block:

Opening bids for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson have plainly been underwhelming, or Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager known for a fast trigger-finger, would by now have dealt at least one of two star players on the block during what could be a volatile offseason for the Tigers.

Nor has anything irresistible been offered for first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who might be as available as Granderson, Jackson, or seemingly any Tigers player as the team attempts to pare payroll and prepare for a fresh start heading into a new decade.

"I'm not getting into any names," Dombrowski said Monday, when asked about Cabrera, who would figure to be just the brand of hitter the Boston Red Sox would welcome to Fenway Park in their eternal quest to one-up the New York Yankees.

So Miguel Cabrera, who is maybe a top 3 young slugger, could possibly be traded this offseason. Worth noting.

ht: BTF

Comments

[attackgerbil]

> their eternal quest to one-up the New York Yankees

A crappy myth perpetuated yet again.

The first line in the pull from the article does re-kindle my irrational infatuation with Curtis Granderson.

[Jeff]

If anyone gets Cabrera they should also be forced to take Willis. Just goes to show how even can't miss prospects do often miss. Maybin and Miller were the best around. Now they're not even a decent scratch below average.

Interesting question going forward: Who would you rather have - Teixeira or Cabrera? Same contracts, same defense, same bats. Do you put greater weight on Teixeira being ready each and every game or on Cabrera's age and hope he matures?

Great example of how the Yankees won in the free agent market. The prospects to get Cabrera are a very relevant and real cost. Why did the Tigers give him a contract as well?

[Jeff]

Granderson is very interesting. He gets killed at home but also by lefties. Hard to see how he's not a platoon guy but he could rake at the new park.

Melky may still develop his power. He's going to be 25 (or Granderson's first full season). And the difference in career OBP isn't so great - 10 points. Plus, Melky just showed he can hit lefties.

Tough call. Gun to my head, I say pass. Keep the prospects. And sign Cameron if Damon gets pricey. Then work in Ajax.

[Paul SF]

By my count, the Sox are still one up on the Yankees since the present Sox regime took power. Ah well, storylines are hard to kill.

Is it really much of a choice?

Miguel Cabrera is 26, has a career OPS+ of 140 and is locked in through age 32 at $126 million.

Mark Teixeira is 29, has a career OPS+ of 136 and is locked in through age 36 at $160 million.

Cabrera is younger, cheaper and slightly better than Teixeira.

Of course, as Jeff notes, the prospect cost comes into play, as well. If I'm the Sox, do I trade Buchholz for Cabrera? Are there enough chips to get it done without him? What if the Sox offer to take Ordonez, Willis, Bonderman or some other bad contract off the hands of the team that has been battered arguably the worst by the bad economy?

[Paul SF]

My last comment is predicated on checking into and being satisfied that Cabrera doesn't have off-field problems that would cause problems in the clubhouse or on the field.

[Nick-YF]

I might be wrong about this but if the Sox got Cabrera his contract would be the most expensive the current management would have ever added to the roster. Manny's was comparable but, of course, it wasn't a Theo negotiated deal.

The Sox, of course, were willing to spend a lot on Tex and since Cabrera is probably better and is younger, I'd imagine Boston would be willing to take on the contract. Obviously, as Paul mentions, they'd have to do their homework on the guy. Last season wasn't exactly encouraging given the barroom fight and the drinking the night before game 163 and questions about his weight. Still, talent-wise, Cabrera is on a very short list of the best players in the game.

[SF]

Last season wasn't exactly encouraging given the barroom fight and the drinking the night before game 163 and questions about his weight.

This sounds like me senior year in college, once you subtract the talent that Cabrera has at athletics.

[Nick-YF]

the equivalent of game 163 being your dissertation meeting with Professor Tweedjacket at the insanely early hour of 11 am?

[SF]

What's a "professor"?

[Paul SF]

I think the weight concerns about Cabrera are overblown. He looks pretty svelte in the photos I've seen from this past season. The drinking though is a big concern.

[Atheose - SF]

I'm drooling at the idea of having Cabrera replace Lowell in the Sox lineup.

And hey, Cabrera hit a homer and a double in game 163. Maybe beer:Miggy::spinach:Popeye

[SF]

I think the weight concerns about Cabrera are overblown. He looks pretty svelte in the photos I've seen from this past season. The drinking though is a big concern.

Again, this could just as well be about me, though I don't think a bottle of Popov and a couple of Heineken chasers is a "big concern".

[Jeff]

He wasn't ready for the most important games of the year, and that's not a concern? Sure, he performed. But he was a distraction. I don't see that behavior going over well in Boston.