The Detroit Tigers reportedly struck a deal Tuesday to acquire third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis from the Florida Marlins.
According to a baseball official requesting anonymity, the Tigers negotiated a preliminary agreement with the Marlins, who'll receive pitcher Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin, catcher Mike Rabelo and pitchers Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De La Cruz and Dallas Trahern.
Miguel Cabrera is bound for Detroit.
(Nick Wass/Associated Press)
"It is very serious," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "But nothing is finalized yet because some issues need to get worked out."
The players involved must pass physicals for the transaction to be finalized.
"I'm glad we are in the other division," Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That lineup just got scary."
"They are getting two very good players," said New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who skippered the Marlins in 2006.
"Cabrera is one of the finest hitters in the game. And Willis has been one of the premiere lefties in the National League."
Cabrera, 24, hit a whopping .320 with 34 home runs, 119 runs batted in and 91 runs scored in 157 games last season, his fifth with the Marlins.
He is a lifetime .313 hitter with 138 HRs, 523 RBIs and 449 runs in 720 games since making his major-league debut on June 20, 2003.
Willis is a left-handed workhorse, having pitched more than 200 innings in each of the past three seasons.
The 25-year-old posted a disappointing 10-15 record with a 5.17 earned-run average in 35 starts last season, striking out 146 batters over 205 1/3 innings.
Willis is 68-54 overall with a 3.78 ERA and 15 complete games in 162 starts over five MLB seasons, all in Florida.
"It was kind of like — 'Wow' — when I heard," Marlins outfielder Josh Willingham said. "I halfway expected one of them to get traded, but not both in the same deal, so it is a little bit of a shock.
"It is deflating because they are great teammates and good friends, and it is going to be hard not seeing them around. I know we got some good players in the deal, but Miguel and Dontrelle are proven big-league players, and it is going to be tough to fill those roles."
Miller is one of Detroit's most coveted young pitchers, going 5-6 with a 5.69 ERA in 21 MLB appearances, including 13 starts.
The 22-year-old left-hander has 62 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings.
Maybin, 20, was promoted Aug. 17 to the majors and, though he hit a lowly .143, had three doubles and a homer among his seven hits with eight runs and five stolen bases in 24 games with the Tigers.
Rabelo, Badenhop, De La Cruz and Trahern are minor-league prospects.
With files from the Associated Press
