It seems that A-Rod, who is probably going back to the Yankees, has increased Cabrera's value on the open market.
While much of the coming Cabrera-based speculation will be Southern California-centered, the sleeper may be in Northern California. The source singled out the Giants as being "very interested."
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Any Cabrera deal likely would revolve around Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain or Noah Lowry, both of whom are signed to reasonable multi-year deals. The Giants are thin on young, high-end position players. Rajai Davis is an outstanding defensive outfielder, and Fred Lewis is the kind of skilled prospect the Marlins love.
I find it a little hard to believe that the Giants will give up two good young pitchers and two promising outfielders since they don't have much of anything to replace them with in the system. Davis hits for more power and Lewis has more speed.
But even if they are willing, they still can be outbid by the two Los Angeles teams.
If the Red Sox enter into the mix, it would probably cost them some combination of Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Jacoby Ellsbury, which they probably wouldn't be willing to do. I fully expect the Red Sox to enter into a bidding war for Mike Lowell's services with the Yankees.
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The Sox came out of the gate with a three-year, $36 million proposal that one club official deemed "really strong," and it certainly appears as if the Sox have no intention of budging.
I bet they do.
The other teams are more than likely hoping that the Marlins can't get their asking price in terms of players and that they will be able to pick him up on the cheap, relatively speaking. Which probably won't happen.