Hot Stove League Is Heating Up

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:17 pm

Wow, this from ESPN.com tonight:

The Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers have agreed in principle on a trade that will send Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for key prospects, sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons.

The Tigers would send outfielder Cameron Maybin, pitcher Andrew Miller, catcher Mike Rabelo and three other minor league pitchers to the Marlins.

What do you think of that? That's a pretty good trade for Florida from my vantage point. Your thoughts??

Let's get the Hot Stove talk started here as well. Should be a wild winter meetings, which will force all of us to adjust our Cheat Sheets. I love it.

DiamondKing · Post by **DiamondKing** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:25 pm

I wonder if the Tigers "Had" to take Willis,or actually gave more to obtain him.The Tigers may be smart enough to put the hitch back into his delivery.My opinion is he became way too smooth.The hitter had no problem picking up the ball.I liked it when the ball would come out of his shoe.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:46 pm

My understanding is that they wanted to get DTrain in the deal (and probably gave up less as a package)

Quite a lineup for the Tigers

Now the question is whether the Angels having missed out on Cabrera offer the Twins a package to bring Santana to Anaheim - looks like it will cost them Jered Weaver and Brandon Wood and one more player (possibly Willits for CF?) or a couple of minor league pitchers.

Next trade target after Johan is dispatched will be Dan Haren

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:15 pm

Does this give Maybe and Miller a chance to start the year in the majors? Maybe not Maybin right away, but it sure does give them some more value for 2008, doesn't it?

Hey Perry, I'm glad I went $2 for Maybin now in the XFL!!!

Hard Heads · Post by **Hard Heads** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:29 pm

I love the Detroit lineup even more now and love Miggy as a $22 keeper even more in my local league!!

Maybin should get a chance to start even though it is early, but Florida needs a CF in a bad way. Miller will start as well in my opinion and could succeed in the NL.

DTrain is a tough call, but if they do switch back to the hold delivery he could fool some hitters for a little while, but his stuff is average and very hittable and he should struggle in the long run in the better AL.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:49 pm

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Does this give Maybe and Miller a chance to start the year in the majors? Maybe not Maybin right away, but it sure does give them some more value for 2008, doesn't it?

Hey Perry, I'm glad I went $2 for Maybin now in the XFL!!!

Greg the only thing wrong with buying him for $2 was that he will go up $5 each year instead of $3 and he may take a year to get up - BUT if he makes the team this year you will get a Great return on your money right away.

I think Florida will give Miller a chance in spring training, but they do have a lot of arms ready to go, so he will have to earn a spot in the rotation.

Plymouth · Post by **Plymouth** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:34 pm

The Tigers have a great club and will be fun to watch. Will Cleveland counter that move now? Even KC is improving and should be an interesting team as there younger players learn the ropes. I haven't written the Twins off either but I sure don't like a deal with the RSox if Ellsbury is not in the package with either Buckholtz or Lester and a couple of prospects. A Weaver, Wood, and Wilts deal with the Angels sure sounds good to me.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:36 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Does this give Maybe and Miller a chance to start the year in the majors? Maybe not Maybin right away, but it sure does give them some more value for 2008, doesn't it?

Hey Perry, I'm glad I went $2 for Maybin now in the XFL!!!

Yes. I do not think the Marlins have any other options in CF and will have to show the fans at least a little return for dealing two of their most marketable players.

As for Miller, the Marlins have a stockpile of young arms, many of whom broke down last year, so Miller will certainly get his chance.

Who are the Marlins going to use at third base? Their best minor league prospects, Chris Coghlan and Gaby Sanchez, are described as having "stiff" hands. Not exactly the defensive help that a young staff would like.

Rameriez and Uggla have already stepped up. I am not sure about Jacobs. He may end up as a career second tier 1B production-wise. Hermida and Willingham need to take a step up. If they don't, it looks like a Triple-A kind of year for the Marlins with raw talent at best in CF, questions at C, and no real good option at 3B.

In the short term, I view this as a plus trade for the Tigers.

Tampa Munchers · Post by **Tampa Munchers** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:50 am

The D-Train reminds me somewhat of Dwight Gooden. Doc-K in his early years had a very jerky wind-up which left hitters baffeled. As Dwight became older his body started to change and he began to fill in. Once this happened if you re-call his wind-up changed becasue he wasnt as flexible and his dominance was lost.

I see a similar comparison with Willis here. I think as he is maturing, his body is filling in and he hes less flexible which has led to a switch in his delivery.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:36 am

Originally posted by Tampa Munchers:

The D-Train reminds me somewhat of Dwight Gooden. Doc-K in his early years had a very jerky wind-up which left hitters baffeled. As Dwight became older his body started to change and he began to fill in. Once this happened if you re-call his wind-up changed becasue he wasnt as flexible and his dominance was lost.

I see a similar comparison with Willis here. I think as he is maturing, his body is filling in and he hes less flexible which has led to a switch in his delivery. I am not sure I agree with the comparison to Doc. I think Doc's decline had more to do with his early manager (Davey Johnson) and overwork on a young arm. I remember watching one very frosty evening in NY (temperature in the 40's) in very early in the season in April and Johnson left Doc out there for 140+ pitches.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:48 am

Originally posted by Captain Hook:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Does this give Maybe and Miller a chance to start the year in the majors? Maybe not Maybin right away, but it sure does give them some more value for 2008, doesn't it?

Hey Perry, I'm glad I went $2 for Maybin now in the XFL!!!

Greg the only thing wrong with buying him for $2 was that he will go up $5 each year instead of $3 and he may take a year to get up - BUT if he makes the team this year you will get a Great return on your money right away.

I think Florida will give Miller a chance in spring training, but they do have a lot of arms ready to go, so he will have to earn a spot in the rotation. [/QUOTE]I know, but someone threw him out for $1, so there was no chance to get him in the March supplemental draft. We'll see if he can establish himself enough later this year to warrant a $7 keeper next October. I'd keep a 21-year-old who can steal 20+ bases at $7 if he shows he can hit in the majors this year. All I know is that he's better off in Florida than Detroit for 2007.

That trade makes prospecting more fun this year. This is a real interesting rookie class and deals like this will allow some of these interesting rookies a better chance to perform this year. Keep the trades coming.