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It is time for Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers to be traded out of Detroit for the good of the franchise. He does not need to go because he is slumping or putting up bad numbers, instead he needs to be traded cause he is putting up great numbers.
In his two seasons since being traded to the Tigers from the Marlins, he has hit a .292 average, 37 home runs, and 127 RBI in 2008, and a .324 average, 34 home runs, and 103 RBI in 2009. He is a true middle-of-the-lineup threat and in an offseason with slim pickings in the power department, his demand may never be higher.
It’s about the money
The Tigers, in 2008, averaged 39,538 fans and, according to Forbes , had an operating income of negative $26.3 Million . In 2009, the Tigers averaged 31,963 fans per night, which is a 20 percent decrease in attendance from 2008, and one has to conclude that the team can see a 20 percent decrease in 2009 revenues.
It is time to shop Cabrera to a team like the Mets or Giants, which both could use his kind of lineup presence and would move him to the National League. Cabrera, at 26 years old, is scheduled to make an average $19 Million per season until the deal expires after 2016, which is the richest deal in team history.
Detroit, a city hit hard in the current economic climate cannot profitably support a team with a payroll over $100 Million. It would be a shame to give up on a talent like Cabrera so early into his deal, but the finances don’t make sense, and the team has failed to make the postseason in his two seasons in Detroit.
Mets or Giants
If you can trade Cabrera, it has to be to a National League team so you don’t have to face him in the regular season. Two of the teams who came to mind who would be interested in a middle of the lineup guy would be the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants.
The Mets play in the win-today market of New York, and after a disappointing 2009 injury-riddled season, they may be looking to make some major improvements. The San Francisco Giants pitched well enough to make the postseason as a wild card but were over taken by the Colorado Rockies mainly because of lack of run production.
Cabrera would be a great addition to either of those teams and help Detroit with payroll relief and a solid prospect package in return. I think the Mets would be the most likely to make a deal, because, regardless if the cross town Yankees win or the Division rival Phillies comeback and win, the Mets will have to do something this offseason. (Other teams interested in Cabrera may include the Cubs or Dodgers.)
Other Tiger Moves (After the 2010 season)
After Magglio Ordonez and his $18 Million player option for 2010 is over his payroll should come off the books. Dontrelle Willis, who came over with Cabrera from the Marlins is only signed for 2010, so his $10 Million should be ready to come off the books after next year.
I don’t see any team taking Willis or Ordonez, so they will have to wait 'til after 2010 to save the additional $28 Million.
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