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http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/hots...erican-league-moves-need-happen-offseason-mlb
3. Detroit Tigers sign Melky Cabrera for one year, $7 million
The Tigers' struggles against left-handed pitching were exposed in the first two games of the World Series, when Barry Zito and Madison Bumgarner carved up their lineup in San Francisco. Especially problematic was the team's reliance on journeyman rookie (two words that don't often go together, and with good reason) Quintin Berry in left field, and his placement in front of Miguel Cabrera in the lineup due to the team's lack of on-base threats. Melky Cabrera can solve both problems at once, giving the team a drastic upgrade in left field who can also serve as the switch-hitting No. 2 hitter that Jim Leyland craves. Oh, and there's the fact that Cabrera destroyed left-handed pitching this year, putting up a 202 wRC+ against southpaws that ranked fourth in baseball, behind only Buster Posey, Ryan Braun and Andrew McCutchen.
Yes, there's the whole PED suspension issue, and Melky Cabrera is unlikely to ever repeat his 2012 performance, but he was pretty good for the Royals in 2011 and didn't fail any drug tests then. And on a one year "make good" contract, there wouldn't be much risk for the Tigers, who know a thing or two about giving second chances to guys who can hit. Offering Melky the chance to hit in front of the Triple Crown winner is a perfect sales pitch to get him to Detroit and show that he can perform even while clean. Given his contact rate, gap power and switch-hitting skills, he'd be the perfect complement to Miguel Cabrera, and the "Cabrera Squared" shirts would sell themselves.
3. Detroit Tigers sign Melky Cabrera for one year, $7 million
The Tigers' struggles against left-handed pitching were exposed in the first two games of the World Series, when Barry Zito and Madison Bumgarner carved up their lineup in San Francisco. Especially problematic was the team's reliance on journeyman rookie (two words that don't often go together, and with good reason) Quintin Berry in left field, and his placement in front of Miguel Cabrera in the lineup due to the team's lack of on-base threats. Melky Cabrera can solve both problems at once, giving the team a drastic upgrade in left field who can also serve as the switch-hitting No. 2 hitter that Jim Leyland craves. Oh, and there's the fact that Cabrera destroyed left-handed pitching this year, putting up a 202 wRC+ against southpaws that ranked fourth in baseball, behind only Buster Posey, Ryan Braun and Andrew McCutchen.
Yes, there's the whole PED suspension issue, and Melky Cabrera is unlikely to ever repeat his 2012 performance, but he was pretty good for the Royals in 2011 and didn't fail any drug tests then. And on a one year "make good" contract, there wouldn't be much risk for the Tigers, who know a thing or two about giving second chances to guys who can hit. Offering Melky the chance to hit in front of the Triple Crown winner is a perfect sales pitch to get him to Detroit and show that he can perform even while clean. Given his contact rate, gap power and switch-hitting skills, he'd be the perfect complement to Miguel Cabrera, and the "Cabrera Squared" shirts would sell themselves.
