In a thorough article for Fox Sports, Dayne Perry discusses the Tigers-Marlins trade, which in case you missed it sends Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers for LHP Andrew Miller and OF Cameron Maybin among 6 minor leaguers sent to the Marlins. 

In the article, Perry attacks Marlins’ owner Jeffery Loria and the way he not only is controlling the Marlins now, but the way he controlled the Expos years ago.

It’s no secret that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is a thoroughly deplorable character. This was, after all, the man who willfully and with malice aforethought destroyed the Montreal Expos. During Loria’s tenure north of the border, he did things like fail to negotiate a television deal or an English-language radio contract, allow a lease on stadium land to expire, and offer his team up for contraction. It was an orchestrated failure designed to get baseball out of Montreal, and Loria pulled it off.

Great article, and every word in it is so true.  Its nice to see a writer once in a while come out with blunt truth rather than trying to appease everybody. 

What Marlins ownership is forcing this team to do is terrible. I’m sure they’ll spin it in some sort of positive way, but it’s not like they traded away some aging stars for these prospects.  They traded Miguel Cabrera, 24 years old and Dontrelle Willis, 25 years old. 

This is precisely why revenue sharing was created, and precisely why it fails.  Sure, the Marlins might have relatively low income. Yet they can afford more than a minor league roster.  Revenue sharing was meant to give small market teams a chance to compete and sign players, not for the rich and greedy owner to just pocket it.  Look at the Royals, they’ve signed Jose Guillen, Gil Meche and have used the system well.

All I can conclude is that the Marlins will promise to have the best AAA roster in baseball next year.

Peter Gammons of ESPN updates us on the other three pitchers that the Tigers have sent to the Marlins. In addition to the Marlins receiving OF Cameron Maybin, P Andrew Miller, and C Mike Rabelo for P Dontrelle Willis and 3B Miguel Cabrera, the fish also received the following pitchers:

Eulogio De la Cruz (3.62 ERA in the minors with a blazing fastball)
Dallas Trahern (13-6 between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo)
Burke Badenhop (12-6 between Lakeland and Erie)

Baseball America named Maybin and Miller as Detroit’s top two prospects prior to the 2007 season. If you missed it yesterday, check out Anthony’s post on Maybin and Miller.

I am thankful that Dontrelle won’t be doing this off us anymore.

According to Jim Molony of MLB.com, the Tigers and Marlins are finishing out the final details on an eight-player trade that would send third baseman Miguel Cabrera and left-handed starter Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for a left-hander Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin and four other prospects.

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald is reporting that the Chicago White Sox are making a major push to obtain Miguel Cabrera from the Florida Marlins. While the Detroit Tigers have spoken to the Marlins about Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis, it is now believed the White Sox have the inside track on Cabrera after losing out on free agent center fielder Torii Hunter.

Pete Gammons reports on ESPN that the Marlins are no longer insisting on both Adenhart and Santana.  Jon Heyman had reported earlier that

Jon Heyman on SI.com  reported earlier today that the Angels had left the door open for the Marlins to approach them regarding their offer.

The offer included Howie Kendrick and Jeff Mathis, along with Nick Adenhart or Ervin Santana, plus a “mid-level” pitching prospect. 

The Marlins wanted both Adenhart and Santana, which is where the Angels balked.

The Angels’ original offer stands, and they’ll wait to see if the Marlins decide to take it.  Heyman lists the Angels, Dodgers, Giants, and White Sox as those most serious in Cabrera, with the Rangers, Indians, and Mets also placing calls.  The Mets, eh?  That’s a new one.

Jon Heyman on SI.com reports that the Astros and Giants are interested in Miguel Tejada’s services. The Dodgers and Angels would look to Tejada as a fall back or as an alternate to Miguel Cabrera, whom they both have been reported to have interest in.

Heyman writes that the Orioles would want OF Michael Bourn, who they acquired from the Phillies in the Brad Lidge trade, as well as SS Adam Everett in addition to prospects in a deal with the Astros.

Joe Christensen at the Minnesota Star-Tribune, quotes a NL executive who believes Miguel Cabrera is the most coveted player this off-season, not Johan Santana.

And for all his credentials, Santana isn’t even the most coveted player on the trade market. That would be Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Asked which one would bring the bigger return, one National League scout said Cabrera, adding, “it’s not even a discussion.”

The 24-year-old Cabrera could transform a lineup with his right handed bat. And he’s not eligible for free agency until after 2009.

The two teams mentioned most often when it comes to Cabrera are the Dodgers and Angels. The Dodgers are also rumored to have interest in Santana. They don’t have the prospects to get both.The Marlins are reported to be looking for a package of Howie Kendrick along with catcher Jeff Mathis, pitcher Nick Adenhart, and one of Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, or Ervin Santana from the Angels.

The Dodgers are being asked for Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Andy LaRoche, and one other prospect from the Marlins.

While comparing Santana’s value to Cabrera’s, Christensen writes that the Twins may not get as big a package in return as they expect because the team winning Santana’s services only have him under their control for one year, and would likely need to sign him to a large extension on top of the talent they’re giving up.

I think the trade will happen soon. But it’s going to take some real guts because the offers probably are not going to be as impressive as Twins fans hope.

The teams most likely to be in the running for Santana are the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Angels and Red Sox

The Twins, according to Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports are looking for at least one big name major leaguer, such as Mets SS Jose Reyes or Yankees 2B Robinson Cano, along with two or more highly ranked prospects who will be ready to perform at the major league level in 2008.

The Mets are not likely to be willing to give up Jose Reyes in return for Santana but might look to put a package together that includes either Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez or Fernando Martinez along with Aaron Heilman and either Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber or Kevin Mulvey.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said that discussions between the Yankees and Twins are ongoing but it was too early to tell whether they would lead to a deal. He did not detail how far talks had progressed.

According to Peter Gammons over at ESPN Insider, the Minnesota Twins want a three-player deal from the Yankees for Johan Santana. The Twins are asking for SP Phil Hughes, CF Melky Cabrera and CF Austin Jackson.

The Twins would likely seek some combination of Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and/or Jacoby Ellsbury from the Red Sox.

On top of giving up this talent, the team who makes an acceptable offer to the Twins will then have Santana for one season and need to sign him to an extension. He is reported to be seeking something in the neighborhood of $150 million over 6 years.

Mike DiGiovanna at the L.A. Times writes that the Angels would find it easier to move Howie Kendrick as a result of adding Torii Hunter.

Kendrick is among the players the Marlins are looking for in return for Cabrera, along with catcher Jeff Mathis, pitcher Nick Adenhart, and one of Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, or Ervin Santana.

The Dodgers remain in the hunt, with the Marlins asking for Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Andy LaRoche, and one other prospect.

Miguel Tejada remains plan B for the Angels, and possibly the Dodgers as well.

The Rangers, having lost out on Hunter, will now most likely turn their attention to Mike Cameron. Cameron is expected to command a two- or three-year commitment at less than $10 million per year. The Rangers are now as interested in Aaron Rowand, and Andruw Jones is demanding a multi-year commitment, which the Rangers are trying to avoid.

Considering the landscape of this free agent market, this year could be the biggest off-season of trades in quite some time.

Johan Santana, Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Scott Rolen, and Miguel Tejada are among those who could be seeing a change in scenery this winter.

In terms of Santana, Jayson Stark on ESPN writes that the Mets might be the team most willing to give up the prospects needed to get him.

One NL executive says: Watch out for the Mets, given the pressure on GM Omar Minaya to win now.

“Omar seems determined to make a huge splash,” the exec says. “And I think that’s the guy they’ve had earmarked all along.”

The Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, and Mets would appear to be the top teams in the running for Santana.

The Yankees don’t appear willing to deal Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, or Phillip Hughes, which would likely put they out of the running for Santana.

The Dodgers would need to make a choice on who to use their prospects on, Cabrera or Santana. Buster Olney on ESPN cites a NL source who said that the Dodgers and Marlins are ‘pretty far apart’ on Cabrera. Olney writes that ‘there is growing expectation around the game is that the Angels will land Cabrera’.

However Rosenthal believes the Angels no longer are the front-runners for Cabrera.

Rosenthal cites major-league sources who say, if the Dodgers are willing to part with outfielder Matt Kemp along with third baseman Andy LaRoche and Class AA left-hander Clayton Kershaw, they would likely be able to land the Marlins All-Star third baseman.

If the Dodgers fail to land Cabrera, they are rumored to have interest in Scott Rolen as well.

Jayson Stark believes it will take two young players to get Dontrelle Willis. The Mets, Mariners and Diamondbacks are believed to have interest.

The Orioles want to get rid of the $26 million left on Miguel Tejada’s contract which does not leave many suitors. The Dodgers and Angels may use Tejada as plan B if they lose out on Cabrera. The O’s are also rumored to be shopping Erik Bedard.

The Reds may make Ryan Freel or Scott Hamilton available due to the emergence of minor league player of the year Jay Bruce.

The Pirates could offer 26-year old Ian Snell who has more quality starts (22) than Santana or Roy Oswalt and a better strikeout rate (7.66 per 9 innings) than Carlos Zambrano or Ben Sheets.

The Phillies are looking at Randy Wolf, Matt Clement, Kris Benson, Mike Wood, and Japanese free agent Hiroki Kuroda.

Here’s a rundown of Hot Stove news this afternoon…

Buster Olney on ESPN cites a NL source who said that the Dodgers and Marlins are ‘pretty far apart’ on Miguel Cabrera. Olney writes that ‘there is growing expectation around the game is that the Angels will land Cabrera’.

Buster Olney on ESPN cites a report that Santana turned down a five-year, $93 million offer from the Twins, and writes that Twins GM Bill Smith is quietly gauging the market for left-hander Johan Santana.

Olney beleives the Mets will be among the most aggressive teams in any Santana bidding.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, writes that the Red Sox could be players for Santana but won’t be willing to give up both Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz and certainly not Jacoby Ellsbury.

The Yankees don’t appear willing to give up Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, or Phillip Hughes either.

Omar Minaya has stated that ‘nobody is untouchable’ and that he is willing to trade his top prospects in return for a front line starting pitcher.

The Dodgers and Angels could be players but that is predicated on if they acquire Miguel Cabrera or Miguel Tejada.

Cafardo believes the Twins would want one young pitcher but their needs are at CF, 2B and 3B.

Would Pelfrey, Humber or Mulvey along with Milledge or Gomez and Ruben Gotay do the trick?

The Baltimore Post reports that the Los Angeles Angels may turn their attention to Miguel Tejada if they lose out on Miguel Cabrera.

The Marlins want Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick along with right-hander Ervin Santana, right-handed reliever Chris Bootcheck and possibly Class AA right-hander Nick Adenhart.

Hot Foot reported earlier this week that the Dodgers appear to be the front runners on Cabrera, offering a package of outfielder Matt Kemp along with third baseman Andy LaRoche and Class AA left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports believes the Dodgers are now the front runners in the race for Miguel Cabrera.

Earlier today, Hot Foot relayed a story from Mike Di Giovanna at the Los Angeles Times who believes that the Jon Garland deal could lead to the Angels trading for Miguel Cabrera, freeing them up to trade young pitching for Cabrera.

However Rosenthal believes the Angels no longer are the front-runners for Miguel Cabrera.

Rosenthal cites major-league sources who say, if they are willing to part with outfielder Matt Kemp along with third baseman Andy LaRoche and Class AA left-hander Clayton Kershaw, they would likely be able to land the Marlins All-Star third baseman.

The Marlins have had their sights on Kemp since last season. Cabrera is two years away from free agency, Kemp five years away, making him an attractive target for the cash conscious Marlins.

Kemp batted .342 and hit 10 HR with 42 RBI in 292 at bats last season.

Trading Kemp would make the Dodgers bigger players for Aaron Rowand, Torii Hunter and Andruw Jones.

Hunter is scheduled to have dinner at Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks‘ house tonight, along with general manager Jon Daniels, manager Ron Washington, starting pitcher Kevin Millwood and Hunter’s agent Larry Reynolds according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.