Miguel Cabrera Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation on Tigers 1B

Miguel Cabrera has been the face of the Detroit Tigers since they acquired him before the 2008 season, but with the franchise boasting a large payroll that features a lot of players over the age of 30, the two-time American League MVP could find himself on the trade block this offseason.  

Continue for updates. 

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Cabrera Unlikely to Be Traded

Saturday, Dec. 3

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported Cabrera probably will not be traded, with a source adding, "There's never been anything close."

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Cabrera Comments on Trade Possibility

Saturday, Dec. 3

Cabrera told Andrew Sanchez Ruiz of Venezuela's El Nacional (h/t  Jon Morosi of MLB Network) that he loves playing in Detroit, but if a trade is beneficial to both sides, "the doors are open."

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Astros Reportedly Interested in Potential Trade

Thursday, Nov. 10

Heyman called reports linking the Houston Astros to a potential deal for Cabrera "more hype than anything." Heyman noted there is a lot of money left on Cabrera's contract, which includes a no-trade clause.

On Wednesday, Morosi reported the Astros will pursue Cabrera, noting a "payroll increase is coming" with only two players signed after 2017. Morosi also pointed out Jose Altuve would be a key part of the sales pitch, as the two are friends and from the same hometown.

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Tigers Open to Cabrera Trade 

Friday, Oct. 21

Per ESPN's Buster Olney, the Tigers are willing to listen to offers for everyone on their roster, including Miggy.

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Cabrera Remains Elite Hitter for Tigers

The key phrase there is "willing to listen." There's a difference between taking a phone call when an opposing general manager asks about a player and actively shopping a player. 

The Tigers are in a difficult spot. They won 86 games in 2016, finishing two losses out of a wild-card spot, so it would be easy for general manager Al Avila to make a few tweaks in hopes of making a playoff push next season.

Per MLB.com's Jason Beck, Avila said at his end-of-year press conference that the Tigers want to add more youth and be able to run an organization "without having to go over our means."

At some point, though, the front office can't continue to spend so much money. The Tigers spent $198.5 million on payroll in 2016 and have $176.2 million on the books for 2017, per Cot's Baseball Contracts. 

Cabrera is signed for $212 million through 2023 with vesting options for 2024 and 2025 at $30 million per season, so if he makes it all the way through his deal, he will be 42 years old. 

While he is still a great hitter, posting his eighth straight season with at least a .300 average and .500 slugging percentage, owing a player who is already 33 years old that much money over such a long period is a way to cripple the payroll.

It's a bad time to trade Cabrera because of his age and what he's still owed, especially since the Tigers could seek multiple top-tier prospects in exchange for him. But Avila has to try whatever he can to help the team keep pace with the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central. 

With players such as Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Jordan Zimmermann all on the wrong side of 30, the Tigers are built around an aging core that's not going to have many years of peak performance left. 

A team needs to take drastic measures when it is spending more than it ever has without making a playoff appearance since 2014. Exploring the market for a hitter like Cabrera would fall into that category.