Miguel Cabrera's Trade Preference

Enrique Rojas's April 20th article on Miguel Cabrera slipped under my radar, but he snagged some interesting quotes from one of the game's best players.

Cabrera mentioned that if he was traded, he'd prefer to play with Albert Pujols on the Cardinals.  Now there's a 1-2 punch to be reckoned with.  That's Ruth-Gehrig-esque. Cabrera also said he wouldn't like to play for the Yankees because of the rules.  Additionally, he wants to remain at third base and continue to improve his defense.

Cabrera won't become a free agent until after the 2009 season.  His salary jumped from $472K in 2006 to $7.4MM after beating the Marlins in arbitration and setting a new first-year arb record.  If he and the Marlins go to arbitration again after this season, he'll probably set another record by topping $10MM.  $12-13MM seems an appropriate reward.  Pujols made $14MM in his fifth season in '06.

Cabrera is already taking up 24% of Florida's payroll; it could reach 40% in 2008.  The trade bounty could be otherworldly; Hanley Ramirez/Anibal Sanchez could pale in comparison.  I don't think the Cards have the players for a trade. 

Comments

[Guitar Hero]

This is one thing I don't get. Unless your team is really in dire financial situations, then its not relatively worth it to get rid of your star players who are arbitration eligible. I dunno, it's like having 25K to spend on a discounted BMW or buying a Hyundai for 10K and saving the rest. To win you have to keep every advantage that is clearly in your favour. But I guess some of these really rich owners are really cheap. The same thing goes for the Devil Rays. In 2010, when they supposedly could win the World Series, they'll have to either trade away Crawford and guys like him, even though they're great and making 10 million a year, or they can keep all their stars, have maybe a 60 million dollar payroll, be in debt, but win the world series.

[quintjs]

Just not sure why the Marlins would trade Cabrera, now the stadium looks like its getting sorted, they have security.

30million this year, they obviously have money to spend, look at the last off season, Aaron Boone, they didn't need him. Jorge Julio they defiantly didn't

People forget they take in 30million in revenue sharing, and in 2005 they spent 60million.

Cabrera is the fact of the organization and a really important player, they can easily win it all in a year or two, why trade him?

What do people think the Marlins are not spending huge amounts today? they are saving that money for Cabrera and Willis.

The bounty would be impressive though.

[desturbd1]

...who needs a 3B next season and has a deep farm system? Boston. It's too early to speculate on what it might take, since this is a big season for a large number of Boston minor leaguers, but Miguel Cabrera in that ballpark, in that lineup...eesh.

That said, most of Boston's depth is in its pitching, and I'm not sure it'd necessarily fit with Florida's needs.

[ArodSucksAtLife]

"That said, most of Boston's depth is in its pitching, and I'm not sure it'd necessarily fit with Florida's needs"

I'd throw the farm at them for him, but I would have to agree.

[zubes007]

Boston's farm team is deep, but they don't have the top tier talent to get Cabrera. I doubt that Buchholz, Ellsbury and Lester/Bowden gets it done.

The teams to watch have to be the Dodgers, Angels and Mets who have lots of top prospects. I think something like Laroche, Kershaw, Kemp/Wood, Adenhart, Conger/Milledge, Gomez, Humber would get the Marlins interested. And those teams have the $$$ to sign Cabrera.

The sleeper has to be Arizona. If they are ready to be WS contenders going into '08 and are willing to pay Cabrera, they could definitely put up a nice offer.

[bravesrule14]

If the Marlins do trade Cabrera and thats a big if it would prob be to the Dodgers Angels or Red Sox. all 3 hav the money 2 sign him and they hav the farm talent to get him. the BoSox would prob hav 2 giv up a starter also 2 get him.

[desturbd1]

All I can say is Ellsbury's doing A LOT so far to raise his stock, and his stock was already pretty damn high. I know it's early, but he's hit in every game so far and currently sports a line of .434/.483/.660 in AA. (He should be in AAA, but he's currently blocked by Dave Murphy, a lesser CF prospect and potential trade bait)

I think the question is whether the Fish would require a legit power prospect to replace Cabrera. If so, Boston's definitely not a match, since right now Ellsbury's the only positional prospect really worth mentioning in the context of a potential Cabrera deal. But if some combination involving Ellsbury, Buchholz and another pitcher or two would get it done, I think it's at least a possibility. A lot depends on what Ellsbury does this year.

You're right about the Dodgers and Angels, though, they definitely have what it takes. But I'm not sure Zona would be involved, because they have Tracy locked up pretty cheap through 2009 anyway. Of course, if he has another down year they might deal him, but we'll just have to wait and see.

[Guitar Hero]

IF Cabrera is traded, he's not being traded for these minor leaguers who "have their stocks raised." They're going to get back some major league ready, very good talent, like Hanley Ramirez. No single-A hitters on a hot streak or what have you. They'd probably get what the Red Sox have been demanding for Manny Ramirez all this time, except he doesn't have attitude problems, old age, and a 20 million dollar contract. I'm talking about 3 major league ready taltened players.

[desturbd1]

Uhh, my point was that Ellsbury could well be ML ready, and the Marlins need a CF. Not my problem if you've never heard of him...he's not just some random minor leaguer off to a hot start. And as I said, what happens next depends entirely on what he does the rest of the season. He was ranked 33rd overall on BA's 2007 top-100, and his ETA set at 2008. Ellsbury and Lester seems like it'd be a reasonable place to start; obviously it'd take a bit more than that. (I said Buchholz up there...mistake)

[DentalPlan]

I don't think the bounty on Cabrera could be all that high. After this year it's 2 more years until free agency. There's maybe like 3 teams that have the prospects to get the job done. Boston is not one of them. Arizona isn't one either, where their awesome pitching prospects? And don't BS me on Micah Owings either. Nobody is getting Cabrera without pitching. So the problem is, there are like 3 teams that can even afford to look, and 1 of them isn't going to trade away their entire farm system for 2 years and no guarantees beyond that. So with only 2 teams even able to window shop, there's no way to raise the bidding.

[quintjs]

Boston is interesting, because they have no real decent middle infield prospects, so interest sure,

But the prospects are not there, plenty of interest in Ellsbury, a Johnny Damon copy, and Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden etc etc, but Boston likes the idea of having pitching prospects, cannot really see them emptying the system for Cabrera, especially when their rotation isn't really set.

Imagine if they can get those pitching prospects to a decent enough level, the Boston pitching situation would be set, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester, (prospects) Papelbon closing. That can be great, and young.

Angels don't trade prospects, and the Dodgers don't really either, though the Dodgers are more likely, they really could use Cabrera.

DentalPlan could be right, If Cabrera was traded (i still say no way it would happen) but teams would be scared he would play for them and hit the open market.

[greenbaydude1232]

I know pay-rod said he wanted to stay in NY but if he hits the FA market or they yankees shop him and this cabrera thing is floating around 2. My god.

[xxxJamesxxx]

Cubs might be interested, but would they part with Mark Pawalek or Brian Dopirak? Seems like a big price to pay for Cabrera

[Baseballfan79]

If you read the Article he stated he would PREFER to be in Florida and have Pujols there.

the article was in spanish and about the idea of how much he admires Pujols. It wasnt an article that he wanted to get traded.

The Marlins have stated Miguel Cabrera isnt on the block. Come on dude, they are taking the spanish Article and putting it completely out of context to twist it into their own means.

I hate when english writers do this to spanish ball players

[beauhoopman]

The Cubs? Yeah, thats Aramis Ramirez's spot for a long time, and neither one is going to want to move. The Cubs could not reasonably resign Cabrera, and it would cost a lot more than Pie and Dopirak. I can't think of a worse match than the Cubs.

[DunkinDonuts]

Boston has the need and the resources, but the price would be exorbitant, even for a slugger of Cabrera's caliber. If you figure that Cabrera would fetch two of Ellsbury/Bucholz/Lester, packaged with one of Bard, Masterson, or Bowden -- the price in talent, combined with the attendant salary raise that Cabrera is due, is mind-boggling.

I'd think more of the Sox pushing for Cabrera if they were able to package Crisp or Pena in the deal, surrendering a more expendable asset. But I think the team most likely to get Cabrera will be the team desperate for a marquee player to put butts in the seats. Or perhaps a team under pressure, such as the Angels, who have been promising "a big bat" for the last few years.

In the end, I just don't see the Sox gift-wrapping the farm for Cabrera, because they seem to have a strong preference toward transactions that only require cash outlay, and not cost-controlled talent. I'd like to see them push for A-Rod, and hope that his recent statements are just PR smoke.

Of course, given that A-Rod is mentally like a dejected puppy who was sent to the doghouse for crapping on the rug and just recently let back in, I think he would do anything to win back his master's approval.

Here's hoping the boos start raining down on him in Yankee Stadium.

[mymrbig]

I think the Dodgers are the best fit.

The really need a power bat who is capable of 30+ HR. They have an extremely deep minor league system, so can afford to give up some great talent without gutting their system. They seem to be a natural fit with the Marlins in terms of needs.

I could see them offering some mix of:

(1) a top young starter (Billingsley/Elbert/Kershaw)
(2) a top young reliever (Broxton/Meloan)
(3) a young 3B prospect (Laroche)
(4) and/or a guy who could play CF for at least a few years (Kemp)

I don't think I'd give up one from each category for Cabrera, but I would let the Marlins pick one guy from three of the categories.

For my money, I think Elbert, Broxton, and Laroche would be a good bounty. Hard to pass on a lefty with Elbert's stuff. Broxton has proven himself to be very good in the majors. Meloan is a little riskier because there have been a ton of minor league relievers who didn't fulfill their promise in the majors (Ryan Wagner anyone?). Laroche is still young and will be an above average major leaguer, if not better. Despite his slow start this year, he's an excellent prospect who could immediately replace Cabrera.

I doubt a trade will go down, but if it does I see these two as the best match. Of course, if I were the Dodgers, I'd probably just hold onto my bounty and stop blocking my young guys with old vets (Garciaparra, Kent, Gonzo, Tomko) or overpaid guys (Pierre). Maybe you don't have a Miguel Cabrera playing 3rd, but at least you have a young Scott Rolen (albeit with less defensive prowess).

[RbCubsFan4Life]

What about this... hypothetically. Cabrera to the Cubs for Murton, Sean Marshall, and Carlos Marmol. Think about it... the Cubs are going to ship off Jones. Then, they get a RF and lock him up long term. Also, the Marlins get what they want. An OF who is signed for 3 more years, and very cheap. And they get 2 young, promising SP.

[nrmax88]

Jacque Jones, Ronny Cedeno, and Cezar Izturis for Miguel Cabrera.

[Aduncaroo]

Is that a joke? I hope so...The Marlins wouldn't even start listening to the Cubs without Pie and Guzman being offered...and I don't do that if I'm the Cubs.