MLB Blockbuster- Breaking It Down

There is nobody that could have predicted the trade consummated between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers last night. This trade was a true rarity- An all star caliber one-for-one swap. The trade is one that benefits both teams. It's not often where you see two top clubs deal a top player to one another. We often see prospects swapped for a veteran, with one team keeping more of an eye on the future. Not exactly the case here. Let's break it down a little more.

Fielder is coming off a career low season in slugging, OPS, and home runs. He really struggled in the playoffs during the Tigers previous two October runs. But Fielder is still just 29 years of age and has been one of the most powerful hitters if thesst few years. It speaks to this fact that he has batted behind a league MVP in each of the past three years. His presence in the Rangers lineup will provide a great boost to those surrounding him. Prince will also find the confines of Arlington much more favorable to his big lefty stroke than the spacious right field and right center of Comerica.

Where the real bitterness in the deal for the Rangers is the contract remaining owed to Fielder. The burly first baseman is still due $168 million over the next seven years. So while Fielder should still have a few seasons left of his prime, the back end of this contract could get real ugly. Fielders ahem... large frame... doesn't seem to give confidence that he will age gracefully. It will be worth watching how his body holds up in the Texas heat during the dog days of summer. While this looks like an all out 'win now' approach by Jon Daniels and the Rangers front office, it acuay sets them up well for the future too. By moving Ian Kinsler, the Rangers can finally insert top prospect Jurickson Profar into the everyday lineup. The middle infield of Elvis Andrus and Profar could develop into one of the best. 

The move by the Rangers to trade Kinsler was by no means based on his skills or performance. Kinsler has been a main component of the successful teams Texas has been rolling out for years now. It was simply a matter of making pieces fit. As mentioned, Texas had Profar in waiting, and needed a power bat and 1st baseman. For the Tigers, they saw a chance to shed some payroll while still improving the team. One thing this deal succeeds in doing for the Tigers is to increase their defensive abilities in the infield. Miguel 

Cabrera can now shift from the hot corner where he was a bit of a liability, and return across the diamond to 1st base. The Tigers also free up room for a top prospect, as Nick Castellanos is expected to get a chance to be the every day 3rd baseman. Kinsler is not exactly a subpar offensive player anyhow. He is on the wrong side of 30, but in 2013 Kinsler still posted a solid .277/.344/.413 with 13 HR 72 RBI. Kinsler provides a lead off option for Detroit, which could allow Austin Jackson to move elsewhere in the lineup where he is more comfortable. The biggest advantage to this deal from the perspective of Detroit, is how much money they can save. Kinsler is due $62 million over the next four years. They did have to send $30 million to Texas to help cover a small portion of the amount of food Fielder will eat next year, I mean money he will earn, but that still leaves over $70 million saved. This will be helpful in going towards trying to sign Max Scherzer to a long term deal.

Overall, both teams get something they need out of this deal, and both teams will still be playoff contenders. In the long term the benefits will certainly favor the Tigers, but for now it will at least make for an intriguing matchup next year when these two meet.