Yes, the media is exploding with rumors of Manny Ramirez being traded to the Marlins. Best source I can find is MLBTR which has been updating these rumors regularly.

Marlins GM Mike Hill had to cancel his appearance on tonight’s broadcast so let the speculation continue.

Update: Of course, Mike Berardino says NFW

Update 2: So the Red Sox want Jeremy Hermida, Ryan Tucker, and Mike Stanton (Jason Stark / ESPN). Two good prospects sounds expensive for a rental player.

Update 3: My take on Ken Rosenthal’s latest update that the Fish will not include Stanton: The Marlins are seriously talking about acquiring Manny Ramirez.

Update 4: Here is what was supposudly submmited to the Commisioner’s office for approval:

Marlins get Manny Ramirez, one prospect (BOS), and cash (likely Ramirez’s remaining salary)
Pirates get Jeremy Hermida and three prospects (two FLO, one BOS)
Red Sox get Jason Bay and John Grabow

Update 5: Nice dramatic feel in this writeup by the Palm Beach Post.

If you aren’t impressed by the work of Larry Beinfest and Michael Hill, you should reconsider. Apparently the “cash” exchanged with the Phillies is $2.15 Million which happens to be Wes Helms‘ 2008 salary. Now the fish will probably buy out his last year at $750,000 but that’s not a bad price for a quality veteran.

Update: Turns out the Marlins gave Philadelphia $1 as consideration for the deal.

The first place Florida Marlins have brought back Wes Helms via a trade with Philadelphia. Helms was designated for assignment by the Phillies and the Marlins traded for him plus cash in exchange for an infamous player to be named later. Helms is making $2.15 million this season and has a $750,000 buyout for 2009.

Here is what the experts are saying:

“Wes was unbelievable in the role for us in 2006, filling in at third, and filling in at first, and being a primary bat off the bench,” Marlins president of baseball operation Larry Beinfest said. “He was a guy that we never wanted to lose in the first place. We’re happy to have him back.”

To make room for Helms, the Marlins designated Jason Wood for assignment. No word if the last place winless Detroit Tigers will try to pick up Wood (just a joke).

MLBTR speculates that the Marlins are looking to trade for another starter. We know Sergio Mitre is out and Scott Olsen is slow to recover but is it worth trading away Mike Jacobs or some younger talent to get one of these guys?

potentially available starters include Kyle Snyder, Kei Igawa, Dave Bush, Claudio Vargas, Jason Marquis, Daniel Cabrera, Matt Morris, Woody Williams, Matt Belisle, Justin Germano, Anthony Reyes, Cliff Lee, Jeremy Sowers, Aaron Laffey, and Gustavo Chacin.

BTW, I don’t buy the salary argument. If the Fish found a meaningful starter who has a multi-million dollar salary, I’m sure ownership would make it’s infamous one-player salary splurge.

From the good guys at FishStripes:

Lo Duca was traded to the Marlins in July 2004 and the last evidence in the report of him buying performance enhancing drugs was in August of the same year. Lo Duca signed a three-year deal with the Marlins in January of 2005.

If the report is accurate, the Dodgers juiced him up and sold the Marlins a bill of goods and the only way I can see to right the wrong is to give us Brad Penny back and have the Dodgers pay out Penny’s existing contract. And you wonder why I’m not the commissioner.

It’s a good time for a poll:

We’ve talked about this before:

• Why the Marlins Should Trade Cabrera
• Why the Marlins Should Trade Willis

Now that we’ve all had a day to digest the big trade, here are some of our thoughts:

• Most Marlins fans are angry. We traded away the best hitter and the best pitcher in franchise history. Both likable, both marketable, both young. Most people haven’t heard of any of the guys we got in return.
• The more we read, the more it sounds like Andrew Miller is the real deal. Tall and powerful with a slider and a cutter.
• He’s only 20 years old, but you have to wonder whether Cameron Maybin is nothing more than another Preston Wilson or worse Reggie Abercrombie
• Dallas Trahern may end up being a diamond in the rough.
• What did we get for Dontrelle? We should have received Miller, Maybin, Rabelo and probably one of the other pitching prospects for Cabrera alone.
• It’s Hanley’s team now.
• Who’s on third? I say Uggla and lets find a good defensive second basemen. Pitching and defense wins games.
• We all know the payroll is very low so would the team consider a one-year “special” deal for Andruw Jones?
• And about that payroll issue: The Marlins are profitable with this kind of payroll. It may not be as high as Forbes estimated, but it should be quite a bit. The Marlins can do themselves a great benefit if they come out and tell us that they are setting aside all this money to help build a ballpark. Miggie and Dontrelle for a new ballpark? I’d accept that deal.
• Finally, whatever happened to Dave Dombrowksi? He used to be a genius at acquiring great young talent. Now he’s collecting former Marlins and trading away his entire farm.
• Optimism from DeadSpin: “it wouldn’t surprise us in the least to see that collection of Florida cheap youngsters do one of their patented annoying wild-card runs to the World Series in a couple of years”

ESPN’s Christopher Harris summarizes the deal and has some positive views on the new Marlins:

Check out this haul: Florida got prized centerfielder Cameron Maybin, should’ve-been-top-pick lefty starter Andrew Miller, middle-of-the-rotation prospect Dallas Trahern, possible future closer Eulogio De La Cruz, major-league backup catcher Mike Rabelo and another starting prospect, Burke Badenhop.

On Andrew Miller:

Miller probably came to the bigs too fast, but the Tigers couldn’t help it. He’s a lefty with a high-90s fastball, the potential for a fantastic slider, and a nasty cutter, and he’s a horse who’s posted a 2.60 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in his abbreviated minor-league career, since being taken in the ‘06 draft. Unfortunately, he scuffled over two seasons in Detroit: 4.56 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 49 walks in 74 1/3 big-league innings. But he’s still just 22, and unless he absolutely spits the bit in spring training, will make the Marlins’ rotation. Scott Olsen figures to be in the mix, Sergio Mitre had a decent ‘07, Josh Johnson is out for the year with Tommy John surgery … there’s just very little reason to think Miller won’t see his first full season in the bigs. The move to the NL, the slightly more pitcher-friendly park and all those innings he’ll get to work out the kinks make Miller a fantasy name to know in NL-only and deeper mixed leagues for ‘08. His WHIP may hurt you, but high strikeouts are coming.

On Cameron Maybin:

Maybin’s Detroit cameo this fall (.143 AVG, .473 OPS in 49 at-bats) indicates he’s probably not ready for prime time, but Florida’s gaping hole in center gives this 20 year-old (he turns 21 in April) a legitimate shot to make the team with a good spring. In 192 minor-league games, Maybin hit .309 with an .884 OPS, and he’s six-foot-four and fast. The Marlins have all but raised the white flag before the new year, so why not let Maybin suffer his growing pains in the majors? My prediction is that it’ll happen, and the kid will reward fantasy owners with steals (he had 25 at High A last year and five during his September callup), flashes of power and a whole lot of strikeouts. He might be a bit overvalued in redraft leagues because he’s got that bonus-baby name, but in keeper leagues, with a Granderson-free path to the majors suddenly thrust upon him, he’s got to be considered one of the highest-upside fantasy forces of the next few years.

Wow, the blockbuster deal just happened.

MLB.com is reporting (and Peter Gammons is confirming) that the Detroit Tigers have acquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. In return, the Marlins will get outfielder Cameron Maybin, left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller, catcher Mike Rabelo, right-handed pitcher Eulogio delaCruz, right-handed pitcher Dallas Trahern and right-handed pitcher Burke Badenhop.

It’s not official yet, but:

The deal was all but finalized as of late afternoon at the Winter Meetings.

Here is who we know we’re getting:

Maybin and Miller were both first-round Draft picks of the Tigers, Maybin in 2005 and Miller in 2006. Both have tasted the Major Leagues.

Maybin, 20, made his debut in August and appeared in 24 games, hitting .143 with one home run in 49 at-bats. However, he made a rapid rise through the Tigers system, batting .304 with 10 homers in 83 games for Class A Lakeland before making a brief stop at Double-A Erie.

Miller, 22, made 13 starts for Detroit last season, going 5-6 with a 5.69 ERA. In 78 Minor League innings in 2007, he allowed 71 hits and struck out 61 batters. He was drafted out of the University of North Carolina.

Looks like Dave Dombrowksi is serious about bringing as many former Marlins to the Tigers as possible.

Links:  

• Cameron Maybin Profile
• Andrew Miller Profile
• Mike Rabelo Profile
• Eulogio De La Cruz Profile
• Dallas Trahern Profile
• Burke Badenhop Profile