And now, back to your regularly scheduled program...
On The Block – Miguel Cabrera
Just to address the other sexy name on the block.
The Why: A farm system with some depth, but with a lot of graduations, an ownership unwilling to invest more than what they get in the luxury tax, and a assortment of problems at the ownership level results in the Marlins being unable to afford their superstar third baseman and potential MVP candidate. The Marlins recognize they have holes in their team that they weren’t able to fill in the fire sale two years ago and are going to try and jettison their most attractive piece in order to fill them.
The Rumored Asking Price: The Marlins are demanding FOUR players with 0-3 years in service time and all have to be studs. Ouch. That’s hard enough for any team to handle and the Marlins have already made it clear who they want from each team, no if’s, ands, or buts about it.
Can A Trade Be Done: Iffy. The Marlins have acquired a lot of talent as well as a reputation for being difficult to negotiate with. They are going to demand the very best players for Cabrera and mean to get him, but what they’re asking for is going to scare off a lot of people.
The Good: Cabrera has drawn many comparisons to Manny Ramirez in terms of hitting ability and power. He could be a potential Hall Of Famer if he continues to improve and is already better than several superstar players were at his age, including Saint Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Potential Hang-ups:
Prospects – The amount and quality of prospects that Florida is going to want makes a trade very prohibitive for many teams, even those with the prospect depth to do so.
Health – People are wondering if Cabrera’s weight issues will continue to be a problem, limiting his long-term value.
Money – Any team that is looking to acquire Cabrera would want a negotiating window to extend him beyond his two remaining years. The problem is, the Marlins have no intention of granting one, meaning it’s a buyer beware proposition.
Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order
Chicago White Sox – The White Sox were aggressively going after Cabrera, offering a package of 3B Josh Fields, CF Jerry Owens, LHP Gio Gonzalez and reportedly LHP Jon Danks. That probably won’t cut it, as the Marlins seem to be going after superstar prospects and nothing less.
Los Angeles Angels – The Angels already look like they’re gearing up for a Cabrera trade, filling a rotation hole by the recent addition of Jon Garland. They can now offer Florida a package that includes Ervin Santana, who fits the service time requirements. However, the Angels would also need to add in 2B Howie Kendrick, top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart, OF Reggie Willits or one of Mike Napoli or Jeff Mathis catching tandem. Reportedly, Adenhart and Kendrick are the sticking points, as the Angels are willing to give up one, but not both. Also, the Marlins aren't too high on Santana.
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers also can offer a good package, maybe even better than the Angels. Top pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw would have to be included in the deal, as well as 3B prospect Andy LaRoche, RHP Jonathan Broxton and one of either 1B James Loney or RF Matt Kemp. That’s a hell of a price to pay with Kershaw alone, let alone the rest of the young talent on the Roster. The Dodgers look like they’re all about it, but to be quite honest, I think I would rather pass.
New York Yankees – Yup, the Yankees apparently are still in it, looking to move Cabrera to first base. A package would have to be centered around CF Melky Cabrera, RHP Phil Hughes, and 2B Robinson Cano, which the Yankees would balk at, then state publicly that they’re waiting for the market to go down, all the while wondering why the Marlins are simply giving Cabrera to them.
San Francisco Giants – The Giants looked into getting Cabrera early in the off-season, but they lacked positional players to send back to Florida. Even then, would it really be worth sacrificing \either Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum?
Texas Rangers – The Rangers have the talent to make a trade, but the Marlins would insist on RHP Eric Hurley, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 2B German Duran and SS Joaquin Arias (allowing them to move Hanley Ramirez to centerfield.) That is a VERY high price to pay and the Rangers have made it known that they’re rebuilding, not looking to gut the farm. This really is only out there to shut up those emails about whether or not the Rangers have a shot at Cabrera.
If I Had To Pick A Deal Right Now…Traded To The Los Angeles Angels For RHP Ervin Santana, RHP Nick Adenhart, OF Reggie Willits, 2B Howie Kendrick.
Will A Deal Ultimately Happen– Yes. The Angels are up to something and that something is likely Cabrera, as all of their moves this off-season look more and more like their gearing up to trade parts to gain him. However, the Marlins also need to realize that they can’t keep doing this, trading talent away for more prospects because they’re getting expensive. Ultimately, this is a symptom of a cancer at the top and Jeffrey Loria needs to address it with one of two solutions: move the team or sell it to someone willing to put money into it. Because, quite honestly, this can’t work for much longer.
Morisato
With all that's going on and the attention being paid to the perceived Santana dealings.
We tend to forget that there's a lot more that's out there that's now beginning to manifest itself by way of deals being arranged.
Say nothing of the somewhat inexplicable resignings also. Check out my post on the Cubs resigning Wood. And they've yet to make a decision on Prior also. The piece is titled What In The Wild World Of Sports Is Going On Here ?
Let me know what you think as to the merits of the piece ?
Angels trade Kendrick, Willits, Mathis, Santana, Adenhart to Marlins for Cabrera
then
Angels trade Wood and Weaver 4 Santana?
Ive read countless reports that the Twins are in love with Brandon Wood. I realize that this move would involve the angels adding 30-35 million in salary down the line, but it would only be 22-25 for this next year. You cant tell me that doesnt put them near the top in WS contention.
Rotation would still be strong with Santana, Lackey, Escobar, Garland and Saunders
Lineup looks good with
Figgins - 2b
Matthews - lf
Vlad - rf
Cabrera - 3b
Anderson - dh
Hunter - cf
kotchman - 1b
napoli - c
aybar - ss
kendrick, mathis, saunders, santana, haynes or rivera!!! do not give up adenhart or wood!!! i swear if they trade brandon wood i will become a rays fan!!! and 2 #### weaver away for santana is stupid. weaver is 4 years younger and had a comparable season last year.
Well obviously you dont trade for santana without already having an extention lined up. You've gotta remember that age is not everything. The angels are not a team that has to worry about salary that much they are not a small market team. Weaver has made it pretty clear that the guy is probably a #3 at best, especially int he AL. He is a finesse pitcher, not an ace. Brandon Wood has been hyped for years now and each year he disappoints by not improving. He is now what he will be in the pros, a power hitter who wont hit for avg and will strike out alot. If we get Cabrera we dont need wood, and should welcome santana if wood is the centerpeice of that deal.
I would definatly deal rivera and haynes instead of adenhart, but from what ive heard florida is pretty much insisting that adenhart and kendrick and mathis are in the deal...So maybe if we plug in saunders instead of santana (ervin) than we can put him with wood instead of weaver (which i would love, but dont think its gonna happen).
Cabrera is definetly worth alot but as a Dodger fan I would pass if the price doesn't come down. I wouldn't trade Loney and I would only trade Kemp or Kershaw not both. And include others like Laroche, D. Young, Meloan,etc. My offer would be Kemp, Laroche, Meloan and Elbert. If they insist in Kershaw then they should add Uggla.
I love your idea, but here is the problem. First of all for johan there is no chance of us making that deal without giving up brandon wood. From all reports ive heard any discussion with the twins is starting with wood. As far as the cabrera deal...The marlins want 2 sp from weaver, saunders, santana and adenhart. The angels have shown no problems (from what ive read) about giving up 2 pitchers in the deal, they are simply balking on giving two pitchers and both mathis and kendrick. They only want to give one of the two hitters. Since kendrick has been florida's main target from day one, id say he has to be in it and the angels are offering willits to fill their CF hole instead of mathis. I wish there was something that the marlins could give in return for us to give up the 5th player there. But i mean their best bullpen arm came from us and we traded Gregg to them for absolutely nothing last year. They wont want to give up prospects. So there is nothing of interest cept for Willis, but dealing wilis for florida would be pointless in this deal. So idk how it will play out, im pretty sure we'll land cabrera somehow, but i would love the angels to make an aggresive move like landing johan as well. It would leave our farm system not so good, however we have a history of being able to assess talent well in drafts and bring in high quality players, so i feel like gutting our system and making a serious 3 to 4 year run at a championship while rebuilding the farm is worth it
Kershaw is a stud i wouldnt deal him either, none of the angels prospects are as good as kershaw, he is easily the top sp prospect with no mlb experience, and if the marlins are demanding him, id pass too
I'm with you thathe goes to the Angels. I wrote about it right after they signed Torii Hunter. Yay Shameless Self Promotion! But I don't think that Santana is part of the package. Dude has terrible road numbers, but more importantly is only a year away from what the Marlins hate the most-arbitration elligible. I think They might include Brandon Wood in the deal instead. It would fill the hole Cabrera currently FILLS so gracefuly at third for the Marlins. Willits is definatly expendable now too with Hunter there if they are not able to move Gary Mathews JR. I also think that maybe if they send Kendrik, they might ask for Uggla in return. Obviously I have no inside information, merely speculation.
I think the Angels will get Cabrera. They could trade Kendrick, Willits, and Weaver to get Cabrera. Then to get Johan Santana, they could trade Ervin Santana, Nick Adenhart, a top AAA prospect, and one of their young catchers.
As far as the Dodgers go, I like that they're standing pat so far. They are building beyond 2008. I compare them to the Yankees circa 1994, when the Yankees had LOADS of young studs. To their credit the Yankees went with the young players, added a key player here and there, and went on an amazing run of four World Series titles in a five-year span. I could see the same thing happening to the Dodgers; their young players WANT to win; it's all about winning to them. By 2009, their potential lineup could be entirely home-grown studs.
I think the Marlins are asking quite a bit for Cabrera. Granted, he's a freaking masher, but he comes with a caveat empor (Let the buyer beware). If they want a veteran 3B, they can get someone like Joe Crede and not have to give up Clayton Kershaw. If it were up to me, Kershaw is OFF LIMITS. He WON'T be included in any trade.
Adamc1883, very nice idea, only change i make, drop E. Santana out of Cabera trade, and use him in the J. Santana trade if you really want to make the move. I don't know if i pull the trigger on both deals. Both come with a little concern, M. Cabrera with his weight, J. Santana is 29, still a great pitcher thou, and Cabrera could be a horse if he commits himself. Looks good on paper thou,SO what the heck, pull the trigger and bring a title back to L.A.A. OF A.
I dont think wood is in the cabrera deal anymore because florida figures to move uggla over to 3b. That has been the speculation that i have heard all along.
I hope the Dodgers don't cave in to the pressure to do a mega deal just to do a mega deal because of the Angels. I would rather they keep those four prospects and let them play it out.
Being a met fan I watch this guy often. So much talent but he is so cocky and dont care who knows. He is lazy and never runs the bases. A true poison in the club house. I will be sad to see him go as when my team plays the Marlins he only shows up 1 out of three games
WHOA! That's A Lot Of Comments. Time to respond to most of them.
The Yankee Bias - Actually, I have none. But I hate the sense of entitlement that comes with the Yankees. To be honest, I respect a lot of what Brian Cashman has done with New York. And the comment I posted on the Yankee portion is true.
Melissa and Jon - Actually, I don't think the Dodgers are seriously after him anymore. It's just gotten too expensive and sooner or later, things become cost prohibative. I'd rather see what I've got before making a deal. What's the point of having prospects if they turn into stars elsewhere.
Clayton Kershaw - Stud. I wouldn't get rid of him for anything. Damn I wish the Rangers had been able to snag him away from LA during the Teixeira dealings.
Jered Weaver - Honestly, he's gotten a little too much press over the years and has been made out to be an ace. He's not. He's a Number Three starter with good control. He's very flyball friendly and doesn't have great stuff. I would have no reservations dealing him as part of a Santana deal.
I'm a long time Texas Rangers fan who has come to love baseball as a whole. I recently began this blog as a way for me to showcase my opinions, provide some analysis, and hopefully entertain those who happen to stumble upon my little soapbox online. I'll toss in an NFL, College, or NBA nugget every now and then. Enjoy the posts everyone, and yes, getting a little love in a Deadspin post was probably the highlight of the year, blogwise.
Do You Have Comment You Don't Want All To See? Just Want To Talk Baseball? Email Me at morisatos_blo g AT yahoo.com. Email's edited to keep away the Spam.
