The Detroit Tigers are off to one of the best starts in franchise history. They are 48-29 and sit comfortably atop the American League Central. However, they have bigger aspirations than just winning the division; Detroit wants to advance past the ALDS and make a run for the American League pennant. They are certainly set up to do so with southpaw Tarik Skubal at the top of the rotation. However, after Skubal and Jack Flaherty, the Tigers could use another solid starter.
After the news of the youngster Jackson Jobe having to miss the remainder of this season due to Tommy John Surgery, that starting pitcher depth is running a little thin. Detroit has an excellent bullpen as well, but is being forced to turn to numerous “bullpen” games due to that thin rotation.
Marlins Reportedly Selling Edward Cabrera
The Miami Marlins are not in a position to contend this season and will likely be sellers at MLB’s trade deadline. Sandy Alcantara is undoubtedly a name that a lot of teams will be calling about. Still, Edward Cabrera is putting together a solid season that is worthy of trade speculation as well.
Cabrera has a 3.81 ERA in 59 innings pitched this season. He also has 63 strikeouts and is making strides as a starter that show he can run out there every fifth day and be consistent.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly recently produced an article that ranked the top 10 starting pitchers that could be available on the market. Cabrera was ranked fifth on the list:
“Edward Cabrera has a 4.28 career ERA, but with a five-pitch arsenal that includes a 96.3 mph sinker, he’s going to be one of the more intriguing starting pitchers on the market this summer. Cabrera probably isn’t the right fit for a team that’s hell-bent on winning a World Series this year. But if you’re a team that’s contending and think your window will be open for the next few years, Cabrera makes sense because he’s only 27 years old and can’t become a free agent until after the 2028 season.”
Kelly expresses the sentiment that Cabrera shouldn’t be traded to a team that has World Series aspirations, but that can indeed be argued for a team like the Detroit Tigers which has all the necessary pieces in place, but just needs a solid bridge starter in the playoffs that can be run out there in between the starts of Skubal and Flaherty.
Do the Tigers Make Sense As a Potential Suitor?
However, Kelly does make a good point that Cabrera has the arsenal that makes him a very attractive target. His Miami Marlins teammate, Sandy Alcantara, is certainly another good option. Still, after a slow start to the season, teams may be cautious about making a big splash for him, especially if Alcantara continues to show regression. But for Cabrera, he seems to be maturing as a starter.
As the calendar turns to July, the Detroit Tigers are certainly a team to keep an eye on as they will likely be making additions. They also have a solid farm system, which allows them to be versatile in the players they target.
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