By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

Miguel Cabrera is one of the biggest fish in the trade market this year. He's valued more for his powerful hitting statistics -- .320 average, 34 home runs, 119 RBIs this season -- than his poor fielding as a third baseman, and it's the former that the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox are most interested in.  It's no secret that Mets GM Omar Minaya is in love with Cabrera, but will he open up his wallet to get him? The Mets have also hinted they want to put Cabrera in right field or on first base, so Cabrera would also have to accept a new position to play at Shea next year. The Mets aren't going to move David Wright to accommodate A-Rod (as if those rumors were ever going to pan out) much less Cabrera. Meanwhile, the Yankees need a third baseman no matter how bad he is, and need to make up at least a fraction of A-Rod's lost power. And the Red Sox? They can see Cabrera as a viable replacement if their current third baseman Mike Lowell gets lured away to the Bronx, and as a successor to Manny Ramirez once his contract is up in a couple of seasons.

 

Getting Miggy to any one of those stadiums is an entirely different problem. If the Marlins want any one of the Yankee's top young pitchers -- Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain -- or second baseman Robinson Cano, the deal's probably off. If Cabrera does end up in an Eastern division town, the Mets are his best option. But which player(s)/prospect(s) do you give up in the trade? Phillip Humber? Carlos Gomez? Fernando Martinez? Mike Pelfrey is a possibility because reports say Florida wants pitching in return for Cabrera. Then again, Florida has gained a reputation for holding fire sales and pocketing the difference. They may be satisfied with just a player and a mountain of cash. So open up that wallet Omar, and let the moths out.

Wanna argue with the Ref? Don't like the call? Go ahead and make your own!