MLB Trade Rumors: Miguel Cabrera, Edwin Encarnacion To Houston; Yankees, Giants Eyeing Cespedes?
The MLB General Manager meetings in Scottsdale, Arizona will wrap up today, November 10, however, the MLB trade rumors are just beginning to heat up. Right on top of the MLB trade rumors list are three of the best hitters in the game today in Miguel Cabrera, Edwin Encarnacion, and Yoenis Cespedes.
According to CBS Sports, the Houston Astros have their eyes set on Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera and free agent Edwin Encarnacion. It would seem hard to believe that the Tigers would even entertain trade offers for Cabrera, who is one of, if not the best hitter in the game today.
The real question is if and when this blockbuster trade happens, just what would be the Tigers’ asking price? It has to be high. Houston would obviously have to part with the best young prospects they have, and possibly a regular everyday position starter. You quickly learn in sports to “never say never,” but if the Tigers traded Cabrera it would seem that they are content in battling for last place in the AL Central division.
In 2016, Cabrera finished the season with 38 home runs and 108 RBI. He may be closing in on 35-years-old, but Cabrera isn’t slowing down. In fact, if he stays with Detroit, he could play until he was 40-plus and be productive as a designated hitter.
Miggy is still one of the best contact hitters by far in the entire league, and one of the biggest fan favorites in Detroit sports history. He is also in rare company because he surely will be a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Cabrera is just one of those flat out once in a generation players, which makes trading him a very hard thing to do.
The Astros are also very interested in Edwin Encarnacion.
Encarnacion has been very productive for the Blue Jays during his eight seasons in Toronto. In fact, he has averaged 33 home runs over the last five seasons – including 42 round-trippers in 2016. Add to that he knocked in 127 runs this year and the thought of him batting third or fourth in Astros lineup in 2017 has Houston fans salivating.
For Houston to land Cabrera or Encarnacion, the Astros would most likely have to depart with pitching prospect James Hoyt and Alex Bregman – just to name a few. It would be hard to picture either player suiting up in an Astros uniform next season, but baseball is a business after all.
Another big name looking for a big contract is Yoenis Cespedes.
Cespedes has been the New York Mets’ sparkplug the last two seasons, but he may be heading out of the Big Apple in 2017 – or he may just be heading across town.
Are the Yankees going to offer Cespedes a deal?
NJ.com reports that Yankees GM Brian Cashman was asked directly how interested he is in trying to obtain Cespedes.
“I’m certainly just collecting information right now,” Cashman said. “He’s a nice bat in anybody’s lineup. Obviously a very impactful defender and a tremendous bat. Some things might make more sense than others, but we’re going to get access to all the medicals on all the players and as our trade discussions continue it might open up opportunities to explore other avenues.”
Cespedes has opted out of the final two years and $47.5 million remaining on his Mets contract. The short right field fence in Yankee Stadium could be intriguing to Cespedes, and it definitely could add several home runs to Cespedes’ yearly total. That is something both Cespedes and the Yankees would love to see.
KNBR indicates (via Jon Heyman of MLB Network) that the San Francisco Giants are also willing to throw their hat into the Cespedes pool. Cespedes could be a possible replacement for Angel Pagan, who is currently an unrestricted free agent.
[Featured Image by Leon Halip/Getty Images]
