Why The Latest Miguel Cabrera Rumor - That He's Headed To Houston - Doesn't Make Sense
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Miguel Cabrera may be dealt this offseason. It's a legitimate possibility.
But the Tigers have to find the right trading partner first and it doesn't appear they've done so. Not yet, at least.
Some rumors have linked Cabrera to the Boston Red Sox. It makes sense in theory, not so much in reality. In short, the Red Sox are far more likely to pursue free agent Edwin Encarnacion, who wouldn't cost the team any prospects (just a compensatory draft pick) and would conceivably command a lesser salary than what Cabrera is already owed.
Other reports have suggested Cabrera could end up on the Houston Astros. The Astros are in need of a middle-of-the-order slugger, and they're reportedly willing to take on salary to fill that hole. What's more (as you've likely heard by now), Houston can offer Cabrera the opportunity to play alongside his hometown friend, Jose Altuve.
Again, a feasible idea on the surface. But there doesn't seem to be much substance beneath it.
On Wednesday, Astros GM Jeff Lunhow tempered the Cabrera-to-Houston rumors, via the Houston Chronicle.
"I was asked, 'Would we consider a trade for a Hall of Fame-caliber first baseman', and we're considering everything. I think the media kind of ran with that," Luhnow said. "Whoever started that rumor, it wasn't us.
I can't comment specifically on any deals that we're talking to other clubs about. I will tell you though we're talking to teams about lots of different scenarios, and some of them are notable players that would really impact our club. Whether or not any of those conversations have a chance of getting over the finish line remains to be seen.
"Players that have a lot of service time and have a lot of hardware usually don't move that easily and it takes a while to get those deals done."
The 33-year-old Cabrera is due $210 million over the next seven seasons. As the Chronicle points out, "The Astros under Jim Crane's ownership group have not spent more than $47.5 million on a single player (Yulieski Gurriel)."
It's quite possible that Cabrera's contract could lessen his trade value. For all his hitting ability, there simply aren't many teams in the league that are willing to absorb the corresponding cost. And those that are, might look at his annual $30 million salary as one less high-level prospect they're willing to surrender.
In regard to the Astros, it's hard to imagine trade conversations even progressing that far. Per the Chronicle, "The remainder of Cabrera's contract is more than four times greater than the largest contract doled out by the current Astros' regime... and the front office is reluctant to dismantle its core to improve other areas of the team."
If anything, the General Manager Meetings (wrapping up today in Scottsdale, Ariz.) have taught us that trading the superstar Cabrera - or Justin Verlander, for that matter - won't be easy.
The chatter surrounding the Tigers' two-time MVP was stirred by GM Al Avila's end-of-the-year comments, in which he declared, "changes are coming." And it has gained steam at the GM Meetings, where Avila has confirmed the Tigers are open to trading anyone on their roster.
