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THE UNIVERSITY DADY KANSAN
MLB
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2007
Tigers add Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis to team
BY RONALD BLUM ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One swift move, two new stars. The Detroit Tigers are loading up for another run at the World Series, this time with Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.
Detroit reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday to acquire Cabrera and Willis from the Florida Marlins for a package of six players, an unexpected blockbuster trade that developed quickly at the winter meetings.
"I'm glad were in the other division," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That lineup just got scary."
In a huge deal that took the spotlight away from Boston's pursuit of Johan Santana, Florida gets lefty Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin and four other prospects from the Tigers, a baseball official with knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been finalized.
"It's very serious, but nothing is finalized yet because some issues need to get worked out," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told The Associated Press.
The Marlins also receive catcher Mike Rabelo and right-handers Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De La Cruz and Dallas Trahern. The players involved must pass physicals for the deal to be completed.
Cabrera, an All-Star in each of the past four seasons, would join an
imposing line that already includes Maggiolio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco. The Tigers also acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria, a five-time All-Star, in a trade with Atlanta this offseason.
Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star, is coming off a down year in which he went 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA. He would be part of a solid rotation with Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers and Jeremy Bonderman as Detroit tries to reach the World Series again after losing to St. Louis in 2006.
Florida didn't even approach the Tigers until Tuesday morning. The Marlins told the Tigers they could have both stars for those six players, then Detroit called back about two hours later and agreed, the baseball official said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Florida Marlins starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis, right, is congratulated by teammate Miguel Cabrera. The Detroit Tigers reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday to acquire Cabrera and Willis from the Marlins for a package of six players.
"It if does happen, obviously they're getting two very good players," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who managed the Marlins in 2006. "Miguel Cabrera is one of the finest hitters in the game. He can do so many things with a bat, whether you want him to hit a home run for you, you want to hit and run, work the count, get on base. And Donttrelle Willis has been one of the premier lefties in the National League."
Willis was on vacation when he heard the news.
secure a new ballpark, the Marlins keep shedding players when they are due to earn huge salaries. Cabrera made $7.4 million this year and Willis $6.45 million. Both were eligible for arbitration and likely to receive raises.
Detroit had not been considered a contender for Cabrera or Willis. Both can become free agents after the 2009 season.
"I'm in Mexico right now with my family. I'm kind of busy," he told the AP.
Cabrera and Willis were the last players left from Florida's 2003 championship队. Unable to
"I halfway expected one of them to get traded, but not both in the same deal. So it's a little bit of a shock." Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham said. "It's deflating."
In return, the Marlins get a pair of highly rated prospects. Maybin was the 10th pick in the 2005 amateur draft and Miller was selected sixth overall the following year.
The 24-year-old Cabrera made 23 errors this season at third base. To make room for him, it appears Detroit could trade third baseman Brandon Inge or left fielder Marcus Thames. Cabrera played the outfield in 2004 and 2005.
Boston, meanwhile, was focused on Santana, Minnesota's two-time Cy Young Award winner. Finding the price too high, the Yankees ended their efforts to acquire the 28-year-old left-hander.
"The deal they appear to have reached, they felt was a better fit for them." Angels general manager Tony Reagins told a pool reporter.
The Los Angeles Angels had pursued Cabrera for weeks. The Marlins didn't give the Angels a last chance.
Yankee senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner had set a Monday deadline for an agreement with the Twins.
"I know there's a lot of speculation that we're close to something big," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. "Until we reach an agreement, then we're not that close."
"A deadline is a deadline. It was pretty much done as of this morning," he said Tuesday. "He's a fine pitcher, but there's a lot of things that go into this. This isn't fantasy baseball."
Boston had offered the Twins
packages built either around pitcher Jon Lester or outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, but not both.
"To tell you the tru'h toward the end, Minnesota negotiated in good faith. They really did," Steinbrenner said. "I have no problem with them."
New York had proposed pitcher Phil Hughes and center fielder Melky Cabrera. The Twins dropped their demand that pitcher Ian Kennedy be included, but the sides couldn't agree on a third player.
Twins general manager Bill Smith wouldn't discuss the talks specifically.
reached a preliminary agreement on a $36 million, three-year contract, a deal subject to him passing a physical.
— NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy and the San Diego Padres reached a preliminary agreement on a $52 million, three-year extension through 2012, a deal subject to a physical.
- Power-hitting outfielder Jose Gullen and the Kansas City Royals
In other news:
— The Dodgers are interested in a trade for St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen.
- Reliever Ohman and infielder Omar Infante were dealt to the Atlanta Braves from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Jose Ascanio.
— Denny Bautista was acquired by the Tigers from the Colorado Rockies for Jose Capellan in a swap of right-handed pitchers.
— The Yankees reached a tentative agreement to trade Tyler Clifford to the Washington Nationals for Jonathan Albaladejo in an exchange of young pitchers.
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BY DOUG TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Family deaths take Terry Johnson out of play
KANAS CITY, Mo. — The injury-depleted Kansas City Chiefs were stretched even thinner Wednesday by family deaths that took away starting right tackle Chris Terry and linebacker Derrick Johnson.
Terry was making arrangements for the funeral on Saturday of his mother, coach Herm Edwards said, and Johnson hurried home Tuesday night when he got word that his father had died. Edwards said it was possible both would miss Sunday's game against Denver.
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Starting left tackle Damion McIntosh could not practice because of a knee injury and might also be out this week. Another starting linebacker, Donnie Edwards, was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the second half of last week's 24-10 loss to San Diego.
In addition, the Chiefs (4-8) listed backup offensive tackle Kyle Turley as questionable with a foot injury and third-team quarterback Tyler Thigpen was scheduled for an MRI exam after hurting his knee in practice.
So besides being down to second- and third-teammers at tackle and linebacker, the Chiefs might have only two quarterbacks when they try to halt a six-game losing streak in Denver, where they haven't won since 2000.
"The plot thickens," Edwards said with a wry smile. "I know one thing — after the cloud leaves, there's a rainbow. When that comes, I don't know."
Quarterback Brodie Croyle, who missed last week's game against San Diego with a back injury, practiced for the first time on Wednesday and will probably start. But there was still no guarantee of that.
Backup Damon Huard was OK on Wednesday, Edwards said, after being roughed up in the loss to San Diego while the depleted offensive line gave up eight sacks.
Thigpen finished the last few minutes of the San Diego game, with Huard feeling wooxy on the bench.
If Thigpen is out, would the Chiefs take a chance on having only two quarterbacks for Denver?
"That wouldn't be wise, I don't think," Edwards said. "But we'll see. Unless we figure the third guy's going to be an option quarterback and just run the option. You can't just go to the grocery store and pick up a quarterback. It's not like buying a fresh tomato. But there are some out there. There's always a guy out there if you feel like you have to go get a guy.
"But if it's not possible, you cross your fingers and go with two."
The emergency quarterback is wide receiver Eddie Kennison, who played the position in high school.
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