Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Just when you were waiting for the hot stove to really heat up so far in this somewhat dull Major League offseason, the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers appear to have gone and done something crazy. While the two sides have yet to officially announce anything, there is a deal on the table between the two sides that would send Prince Fielder to Texas in exchange for second baseman Ian Kinsler.
The deal was first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman:
Fielder for Kinsler trade has been agreed to. http://t.co/9D3YUw36G5
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 21, 2013
The tweet indicates that the deal has actually been agreed to, while the article doesn’t give any such details. It simply says that the deal is “on the table”. While you could certainly look at the deal and acknowledge that it makes sense for both sides, such a move would be intriguing for a few reasons.
The first is simply the fact that the Rangers would get the big first base bat that they’ve coveted for quite some time, while the Tigers would solve their second base puzzle, which has been a lingering issue for them. So it’s undeniable that there is a fit here on each side. Even more intriguing is what this could do to their rosters.
In Texas, it likely locks in Jurickson Profar, whose name had been floated out there in trade rumors, particularly for starting pitching. He could slot in at second base if Kinsler is traded. As for Detroit, Miguel Cabrera likely moves back over to first, having spent time over at the hot corner while Prince was in town. It also frees up the necessary cash to re-sign Max Scherzer to a long term deal.
There is still a long way to go before this deal becomes official, and there could be some other parts involved. It’ll be interesting to see, though, if this trade sets off some sort of chain reaction throughout the league. Stay tuned for more details.