MLB trade rumors: Astros to pursue Miguel Cabrera or Edwin Encarnacion

Joe Rodgers

MLB trade rumors: Astros to pursue Miguel Cabrera or Edwin Encarnacion image

THE RUMOR: The Astros will pursue Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera or free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion this winter. 

REPORTED BY: Jon Morosi, Fox Sports

MORE: Ranking the top 13 free-agent hitters available

THE DETAILS: Morosi notes a payroll increase is looming for the Astros, who disappointed this past season after finishing second in the AL West and reaching the ALDS in 2015. Houston has one of the strongest farm systems and a slew of young talent but only two players signed beyond 2017. 

THIS PAST SEASON: Cabrera batted .316/.393/ .563 with 38 homers and 108 RBIs en route to his 13th consecutive All-Star selection. A career .321 hitter, Cabrera made $28 million last season and is still owed $220 million over the next seven. He will be 34-years-old next season. 

Encarnacion batted .263/.357/.529 with 42 homers and an AL-leading 127 RBIs. That earned him an All-Star selection for the third time in four seasons. For that and other reasons, Encarnacion's agent, Paul Kinzer says his client should be rewarded with a five-year, $125-million contract. 

OUR TAKE: It will take a lot more for the Astros to trade for Cabrera than it would be to pay up for Encarnacion. The Astros are flooded with stars in the making such as George Springer, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correra, Lance McCullers and Yulieski Gurriel, and the Tigers, who have a depleted farm system, could ask for up to three stars for Cabrera, who registered a 4.9 WAR this past season and saw his home run numbers increase. And no, trading Cabrera isn't out of the question for the Tigers, who have spoken publicly about reducing their payroll for next season, although the players rumored to be moved were Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez and Justin Verlander. 

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters Tuesday that he'd prefer not to trade prospects this winter, adding, "I really think we want to keep this group together and use other resources."

"Other resources" meaning big checks to lure sluggers to Houston. There are plenty of big-hitters market, including Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Bautista, Mark Trumbo and Ian Desmond, some of whom could come at a price cheaper than Encarnacion, who will be 34 next season. 

 

Joe Rodgers