Considering we spent about 2.5 hours in the car last night (about one hour, 45 minutes to get from downtown Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul, then another 45 minutes later to get home back in Minneapolis), we had quite a bit of time to think about the Tigers’ acquisition of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins for a boatload of prospects. We also had plenty of time to change our minds about the trade several times. But here are some over-riding thoughts:

*The number of teams jumping into the “have” category in the American League has certainly grown, hasn’t it? And it’s really messing with the Balance of Power. Why, if we’re not careful, it will soon be Guitarmageddon (that only makes sense if you follow the link, and even then it only makes sense if you’re willing to accept that it will take place this Sunday at tea time). But we digress. It used to be Boston and the Yankees putting together all-star lineups and spending boatloads of cash. Now the Angels are definitely in that mix. And despite the financial hit of Willis and Cabrera not being all that great relatively speaking, it appears the Tigers want to be in that conversation, too. Four major players from three divisions. Four playoff spots, including a wild card. It could be getting even bleaker for teams like the Twins.

*That said, the Tigers mortgaged quite a bit to get these two players, even if they are young. Most people think of Willis as the guy who burst onto the scene as a rookie on the Marlins’ World Series team in 2003, or they think of his 22-win 2005 season. They might forget that he was 10-15 (including 1-11 in June, July and August) with an ERA over 5 in the weak-hitting National League last year. Cabrera has had weight issues in the past, though his production cannot be overlooked. He’s a terrific hitter in a now even more stacked lineup. That said, with the age of the Tigers’ other players and the fact that both Cabrera (2009) and Willis (2010) will be free agents in not too long (and are both arbitration-eligible now). Unless they truly want to enter the Yankees’ stratosphere, the Tigers look to be gearing up for a 2-to-3 year run. And even with nearly the same team last year, they didn’t make the playoffs. (They also added Jacque Jones this offseason, which immediately downgrades their offseason).

*All the more reason for the Twins to trade Santana and gear up for 2010 and the new ballpark. We don’t like the “play for the future” angle, but we do think the Twins need to be thinking about an upswing when Detroit and maybe Cleveland are potentially on a downswing. Hang on long enough to get Lester, Ellsbury and Lowrie from the Red Sox. That’s fair value. Roll out a rotation (ideally) next year of Liriano, Lester, Baker, Bonser and Slowey. Young as hell, but full of potential. Roll out a lineup of Ellsbury (or Crisp if they settle), Mauer, Young, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Lowrie, Harris, Casilla. Punto is your Denny Hocking/Jeff Reboulet/Al Newman/some other guy we can’t think of that TK loved.
*Guitarmageddon?

Fasola-link! An economic history of Abs. Awesome.

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