Detroit Tigers Rumors: Melky Cabrera a Free-Agent Target in 2015?
There is certainly no shortage of Detroit Tigers rumors circulating the internet these days. They will likely continue to until the two major holes on the clubs roster are filled, the bullpen and center field.
Earlier this week, I touched on the possibility of Peter Bourjos coming to Detroit from the St. Louis Cardinals to fill the void left from the departure of Austin Jackson. Jackson was sent to the Seattle Mariners as a part of the three-team trade that brought former Cy Young winner, David Price to the Motor City.
Mixed results were received, so here is another possible solution:
Should the Detroit Tigers target Toronto Blue Jays outfielder, Melky Cabrera?
The Blue Jays did submit a $15.3 qualifying offer to Cabrera on Saturday and would like for him to return in 2015.
However, it remains fairly unclear how close the two respective sides are on reaching a deal. Some are skeptical.
With the money we saved with Lind,Jays R still FAR apart with Melky Cabrera with resigning him.Like I said before,think he's as good as gone
— Blue Jays Live (@Blue_Jays_Live) November 2, 2014
Keep in mind, Cabrera is not a center fielder. He is however a very good baseball player.
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Cabrera, 30, was signed by the New York Yankee’s in 2001 as an amateur free-agent. Four-years later, at the age of 20, he made his MLB debut. Up until the 2006 season Cabrera seen little playing time. That year the switch-hitter would hit .280/.360/.391 in 524 plate appearances for the Yankees that season, drawing 56 walks to 59 strikeouts. Cabrera would go on to be the primary center fielder for the next three seasons in New York.
Then in 2009 he was traded to the Atlanta Braves.
Since then, he has played for four different teams in five seasons. The last two in Toronto.
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Cabrera has slowly became one of the most underrated hitters in professional baseball the last couple of years. He has hit .300 or better three times since 2011, finishing with an .800 OPS or higher in all three years. His best season came in 2012 when he hit .346/.390/.516 in 501 plate appearances for the San Francisco Giants.
In 2012, with the National League batting title in sight, he was suspended for PED use. As a result, he did not appear for the Giants during their World Series run and forfeited his opportunity to receive postseason awards.
Since his suspension he has produced similar numbers to his 2012 season. In 2014 when he hit .301/.351/.458 with 16 home runs for the Blue Jays.
Does the idea of Cabrera to Detroit seem too outlandish to you? I myself wouldn’t be shocked to see him in a Tigers uniform come spring time.
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Next: Top 5 Possible Free-Agent Targets for the Detroit Tigers in 2015