WOW WOW WOW!!!!! Forgive my excitement but man o man! What a Winter Meetings. It should be at least for the Tigers the Winter Blast!! MEGA BLOCKBUSTER 8 Player Trade!! Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis for Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo and 3 other prospects.
Tigers
This has gone down as one of the biggest trades the Detroit Tigers have ever made. The Tigers in sending their #1 and #2 Prospects for two All Star YOUNG and ill say that again YOUNG players. This was a deal that was way to good to pass up. From what I understand Mike Ilitch was the one who was interested in Miggy and without him the deal probably wouldn't have gone down. I will go down every major player in the deal right now:
Miguel Cabrera #24, 3B, 24 years old
Cabrera the centerpiece in the deal is a 4 time all star and a young Pujols stud. A guy who has averaged .320 30+HR and 120RBIs the last 3 seasons will supplant Inge at 3B. Cabrera will be absolutely phenomenal for the Tigers. The Tigers lineup is about 3x as deadly as they were in '07 and 6x as deadly as '06. The lineup is similar to the 2006 Yankees murderers row and Cano. The lineup is so versatile that its just sick. Edgar Renteria 5 time all star is hitting 7th, 7th that is just sick. Then you got Granderson, Polanco, Cabrera, Maggs, and Sheffield in 1-5 that is just an insane lineup. No need for a trip to the All Star Game just go see a tigers game this season. Cabrera is projected at .318 AVG 30 HRs and 118 RBIs in his first year in the AL. This lineup is projected by Bilfers new projections to average 5.83 RPG that is insane. And its pretty darn good.
Dontrelle Willis #21, LHP, 25 years old
Willis the other big guy in the deal is Dontrelle "D-Train" Willis. "D-Train" had a down year last year but is hoping to rebound with a competitive team with a non ace and non stressful role. Willis should bounce back in dominant form. Willis should be able to compile around a 4.50 ERA with around 11-12 wins and 7-9 losses. With the addition of Willis the Tigers rotation should be more than enough to keep Tigers leads as with a huge lineup like we have now. I predict a 12-8 Season for Willis with a 4.32 ERA, 160 K with 75 BB. With a Rotation of Verlander, Rogers, Bonderman, Willis and Robertson the rotation should be in the middle of the top tier of the AL pitching staffs. If the Red Sox get Santana, and Beckett, Dice-K, Wakefield, and Curt Schilling are all staying at the level last year the Red Sox will have the best rotation but the Detroit Tigers should have a solid rotation with a solid pen this year. Willis also contacted his agent and would like a multi year deal with the Tigers. This would present a bargain for the Tigers if they sign him now and he rebounds. If not, it can be seen as a decent acquisition for the Tigers for two years.
This rotation should notch with the addition of around 3 to 4 more wins. While the Lineup should notch 5 to 8 more wins. This should be a completely awesome season next year as the Tigers go for broke and land two young stars and instantly make them favorites in the division on paper.
In other News, Detroit swapped a reliever for a reliever both for a new start in a new league to see if they have what it takes. Danny Bautista from the Rockies for Jose Capellan. Bautista was 2-1 with a 12.46 ERA, Bautista looks to restart his career in Detroit. He has a fire thrower for an arm. But his inaccuracies and control problems will exist. If he doesn't shape up within a month or show signs of improving he needs to be gone.
In the last move of the Tigers winter meetings the Tigers swapped once prized Rule 5 Draft pick Chris Shelton to Texas for Freddy Guzman. Freddy was a top 10 Padres prospect entering 2006. But his value has diminished in AAA he batted .279 with a .366 on-base percentage and 42 stolen bases. Here's hoping maybe he can be effective for the Tigers as a pinch runner or a decent backup OF.
In other news, The Tigers non tendered Chad Durbin. Chad went 7-8 on the year while subbing in for the injured Kenny Rogers. Durbin hopes to pitch somewhere but is quoted with saying “If I had a choice,” the right-hander said Wednesday, laughing, “it wouldn’t be in the AL Central.” I will miss but also say goodbye to Durbin. He was reliable but not on a team that is now all star calibur. Also Tim Brydak has signed a one year/ $712,500 deal with the Tigers to avoid arbitration. Brydak held left-handed batters to a .176 AVG with a 3-0 record and 3.20 ERA in 39 games. Brydak is a very reliable lefty with Bobby Seay out of the pen. I'm glad he has resigned with the Tigers. His good mechanics and control should help the Tigers hold many leads in the season especially in the later months, during the playoff chase.
I will get to the Braves Winter Meetings acquisitions a little later.
