Some talk began to surface yesterday about the Tigers putting Miguel Cabrera on the trading block.  While I think this is doubtful, except as a last resort,  the rumor certainly opens up some interesting points of view.  Lynn Henning writes that the Boston Red Sox certainly might be in the mix- and Cabrera certainly does create at least the offensive answer to Mark Teixeira.

The team that would have to look hard at Cabrera though is the New York Mets.  While I personally think they could find a better glove for cheaper than Cabrera at first base this off-season, one that would help all their other infielders defense, what Cabrera brings to the table with his bat could certainly help the team.  Sure, he goes through slumps so the Mets would need bats around him.  But Cabrera is only 26 and could grow with the other young players on the team.

As Henning points out in talks with the Red Sox, the team would have to do some serious investigating into the drinking incidents Cabrera was involved in this past season.  Those problems would be greatly magnified playing in New York or Boston.  The nightlife in both cities would add to the risk, as well, if Cabrera does have a problem.

The Tigers are set to pay Cabrera $20 million and up through the next 6 years.  While that was reasonable a couple of years ago for his production, that money could seriously help the Tigers if the Mets could take on the whole cost.  It would leave very little to upgrade in all the other areas the Mets seem to need.  The  same money might be able to be used for a Matt Holliday and then get a cheaper Carlos Delgado-type for first.  (While Delgado is not the best defender, he has spent a fair amount of time already with this infield which is an advantage, and with Holliday you can treat your first baseman’s bat like gravy.)

For the Tigers, losing Cabrera’s salary off the books while keeping Granderson might make some sense, even though Cabrera’s bat would be hard to replace.  Grandersons bat is no where as strong, and losing the power around him would not help, but Granderson is fairly cheap.  With Cabrera, there is a choice of lesser prospects if the team could take all of his salary, or better prospects if the Tigers would still pay a portion. If a deal does start to come together, it will move slowly as the detail get worked out.

Its just interesting to me that the Red Sox were the team pointed to most quickly.  If the Sox are to give up the kind of prospects that Henning mentions, it might mean that the Tigers continue to pay some of Cabrera’s salary.

In the end, my bet is against Cabrera going anywhere, let alone to the Mets.  I just thought it might be an interesting thing to bounce around.

By the way, did you see Aaron Heilman was traded to the Diamondbacks?  Have suitcase, will pitch.