In a trade that makes Detroit a force to be reckoned with, the Tigers have traded six minor-league prospects to the Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.
I only have two words for this trade: oh, crap. Detroit is going to be AWESOME next season.
The Tigers have managed this off-season (and it’s only December) to acquire some great names, Cabrera and Willis to name two. Cabrera will be in a lineup with Polanco, Sheffield, Ordonez, Guillen, Renteria, Granderson, and Pudge Rodriguez. Tell me that this team doesn’t have hitting power. And the pitching, though not of the same caliber as the hitting, should earn Detriot a spot in the postseason, if not the World Series. Willis, whose 10-15 record with the struggling Fish is less likely to repeat itself. Not to mention he will be joined in the rotation by Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson. Sure, some of those guys have seen better days, especially Rogers, but backed up by a great defense–and getting signals from Pudge–I think Detroit will probably be the team to beat next year… At least, as of December 5th. More trades, injuries, and free agent signings will definitely have an effect on this prediction.
And by the way, if you hadn’t heard, the Posada re-signing is official–he’ll be a Yankee for the next four seasons and make more than $50 mil in the process.
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Categories: Baseball
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December 5th, 2007 at 2:34:55 pm
hey, hey, HEY! This is still football season, none of that baseball stuff allowed ;-)
December 5th, 2007 at 4:52:05 pm
I’m curious as to why Willis is less likely to repeat his season from last year? His crappiness was not just in his 10-15 record, which does not accurately reflect a pitcher’s performance, but more strikingly in his over 5 ERA and 1.6 WHIP in the National League!! All of his core stats have progressively gotten worse for three consecutive years. Move that over to the big boys league and you have the makings of a disaster of a season for a pitcher that I believe is neck and neck with Zito as the most overrated in MLB. Not to mention that after Verlander that rotation is not very good and the bullpen is an absolute disaster even with Zumaya, who is going to miss at least 3/4 of the season.
Despite all that, that line-up is frightening and even with their pitching problems and lack of farm system depth (due to this trade and the one for Renteria) should win at least 90 games. It’s probably going to take 97 wins to win the Central this year.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:35:18 pm
Detroit has to be the odds-on favorite to win the AL Central, but that lineup is loaded with geezers who are injury-prone and on the decline. They’ll make the playoffs, but they don’t have the depth and bullpen to get to the World Series.