MLB's official radio channel on (175) has it's announcers in Nashville sitting around catching rumors and conducting their talk shows. Right now Billy Ripken and I believe Buck Martinez are on the air and announcing that the rumored trade of Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrerra is completed.
I have not heard anything official {Sporting news is making it official as of about 1 hour ago] yet but they claim the trade has gone through for 6 Minor Leaguers.
Willis and Cabrerra, that's a pretty good move.
.............
By Sean Deveny from
Sporting News:
" ..... Posted: December 4, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- Last month at the general managers' meetings in Florida, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski was asked how much he thought his team needed in order to get back on par with the Indians, who had surged past Detroit to win the A.L. Central by a whopping eight games. He thought about it for a moment, then said, "I'll take as much as I can get."
Indeed, with the Indians setting a high standard, Detroit has been forced to respond. And, boy, did they, breaking open a stagnant winter meetings here at the Gaylord Opryland hotel with a blockbuster trade that lands the Tigers both starter Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera for a gaggle of prospects, including top pitching prospect Andrew Miller and can't-miss outfielder Cameron Maybin. This comes after a very proactive kickoff to the offseason, when the Tigers landed Edgar Renteria from the Braves, a move that allowed shortstop Carlos Guillen to move to first base and further boost the infield defense.
That there's movement on a front other than that of Johan Santana is a welcome change here. What also is significant is that the Tigers are being aggressive in trying to catch the Indians, setting up an offseason divisional rivalry just below Yankees-Red Sox in prestige and importance.
Detroit wanted to hit back at the Indians, and they did with a deal that wasn't exactly necessary--just a few days ago, Dombrowski speculated that he'd have a quiet time at the winter meetings, and that the roster was set. Detroit scored the third-most runs in baseball last year. Now, they've added Renteria, Cabrera and outfielder Jacque Jones. The rotation was settled. The staff had some struggles last year, with elbow problems hampering Jeremy Bonderman and Kenny Rogers (who also had surgery on a blood clot). But the first four starters were set--Justin Verlander, Bonderman, Rogers and Nate Robertson. They'll be joined by Willis.
The big problem, of course, is the bullpen, where Joel Zumaya is out for at least half the year and Detroit will hope that Fernando Rodney can bounce back and be an effective setup man for closer Todd Jones. That problem has gone unaddressed.
That's what makes the Tigers' pursuit of Willis and Cabrera of particular interest. More pitching and more hitting are welcome, but they weren't desperate for either guy. This trade is not necessarily rational, and the speed at which it went down--the two teams were seen cuddling up to each other just hours ago--indicates that there was some impulse buying here. Sometimes, finishing second makes a team do irrational things. That's the best indication that the Indians and Tigers have developed into a full-blown rivalry, a la Yankees-Red Sox. One's success is making the other take drastic action.
..... "
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...c.php?t=314417
Linear Mode
