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Last week blockbuster trade was a surprise to most people I’ve spoken to, but it makes sense for both teams. The Detroit Tigers traded 1B Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers in exchange for 2B Ian Kinsler and cash considerations.
As reported by MLB Trade Rumors, Detroit will be sending $30MM to Texas, tweets Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. With that cash, Texas will effectively be paying Fielder $138MM over seven years. From the Tigers’ side of things, they’ll have a total savings of $76MM.
Now if I were a betting man, I would think that the Tigers would use that savings to extend 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (2013 stats: 21-3, 1st; 2.90 ERA, 5th; 240 SO, 2nd ) rather than trade him this off season as has been rumored since the playoffs began. Additionally, it will allow the Tigers to move 2013 MVP Miguel Cabrera from 3B back to 1B where he is less of a defensive liability. With Cabrera’s increased injuries over the past few years a change back to 1B might alleviate some of the wear and tear of playing 3B over a long 162 game season. Plus it allows the Tigers to promote top prospect Nick Castellanos to play 3B.
Detroit is not the only team that benefits from this trade, Texas is now able to play top prospect Jurickson Profar who was drafted as a SS, but will now play 2B with the departure of Kinsler, making a potent and young double play duo in Profar and Elvis Andrus. This trade adds the power bat that the Rangers needed in the middle of their lineup after the loss of Josh Hamilton last offseason to the Angels. This move was especially necessary just in case former Ranger (over the past eight seasons) and current free agent OF Nelson Cruz signs elsewhere this offseason like Hamilton did the year before.
So as you can see, this deal is in fact a win-win for both teams.
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