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. 

In Honor of Movember: The Top 5 Mustaches in the History of the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB

Movember is once again upon us...

In honor of one of my favorite annual traditions, I've compiled my list of the greatest sports mustaches.

The following list is a list of men. Real men. Because it takes a man to not only grow a mustache, but to go out in public with a mustache as well.

NHL

Let's start with the NHL. In a league where playoff beards are frequent, there are a surprisingly low number of respectable mustaches. We need some players today to put the razors away.

5.) Wendel Clark (1985-2000)

As a rookie in 1985 he had 227 penalty minutes, which earned him the nickname "Captain Crunch." Although the debate remains open as to if this nickname came strictly because of his mustache.

4.) Eddie Shack (1959-1975)

Shack played for six teams in his career. Perhaps the most disappointing part of his retirement came with a Schick razor promotion in which he shaved off his famous mo'.

3.) Cal Clutterbuck (2007-present)

Who cares what he's done with his short career. His name is "Clutterbuck" and he has the second greatest active mustache in hockey.

2.) George Parros (2005-present)

One of the baddest guys in the NHL with the best mustache in the league. Oh, and for what it's worth, he went to Princeton.

1.) Lanny McDonald (1973-1989)

Two words: Ginger 'stache.

NBA

Imagine showing up to a pick up game at your neighborhood court rocking a mustache. Chances are, no one is gonna pass to the guy with the 'stache.

Honorable Mentions:

David Stern

Mike D'Antoni

Phil Jackson

Cliff Paul

5.) Adam Morrison (2006-2010)

Much like Morrison's career, his mustache was a bit lacking. Fortunately he looks ridiculous enough to land him the five seed.

4.) Clyde Drexler (1983-1998)

Cylde "The Glide" is one of the 50 greatest players of all time. He is known for his fast pace play on the court and his smooth laid back attitude off the court. It's tough to be anything but smooth with a 'stache like Drexler's.

3.) Larry Bird (1979-1992)

Known as "The Hick from French Lick," Bird is arguably the greatest Celtic of all time. There is no debate about the fact that he has the best mustache in the history of the storied Boston franchise. It could be the ugliest 'stache on this entire list but it could also be the greatest blonde caterpillar in all of sports.

2.) Kurt Rambis (1980-1995)

Rambis is perhaps the first ever hipster. With his thick framed glasses and his even thicker mustache he has paved the road of style for thousands of twenty-somethings in modern day Brooklyn. Rambis was once clotheslined by Kevin McHale in the 1984 NBA Finals because McHale was jealous of Kurt's upper lip.

1.) Walt "Clyde" Frazier (1967-1980)

Words cannot describe the swagger this man possess. Frazier needed every inch of his 6'4" frame to support the growth on his upper lip. Bonus points given for the sideburns...not that he needed it, as the 'stache speaks for itself.

NFL

It's tough to rock a 'stache as a football player due to the fact that no one sees your face under your helmet. These guys didn't let that kill their upper lip caterpillar. 

Honorable Mentions:

Peyton Manning

Joe Flacco

5.) Walter Payton (1975-1987)

Contrary to popular belief, Payton gained the nickname "Sweetness" after Coach Mike Ditka (see below) was asked to describe Payton's upper lip.

4.) Aaron Rodgers (2005-present)

Although Rodgers took home Super Bowl XLV MVP honors, his career really took off when he started sporting an epic trucker 'stache during the 2012 season.

3.) Joe Namath (1965-1977)

Broadway Joe was usually a clean cut, fashionable guy, but when you've slept with more women than the average porn star, eventually a mustache is bound to make an appearance.

2.) Dave Wannstedt (1975-present)

Coach Wannstedt has the look that begs the question, "did that man come out of the womb with a full mustache?" 

The answer is no, he was not born with a mustache. That would be ridiculous.

1.) Mike Ditka (1961-present(?))

A mustache that needs no introduction. From gracing the playing field, to the sidelines, to your television on Sundays, Coach Ditka's 'stache is head and shoulders above the rest.

MLB

Major League Baseball takes the cake for the best mustaches. In a sport full of strange traditions, it's no surprise that the mustache thrives.

Honorable Mentions:

Clay Zavada 

Carl Pavano 

Randy Johnson 

John Axford

5.) Don Mattingly (1982-1995)

Despite currently losing his hair as manager of the Dodgers, Mattingly once sported a nice bushy caterpillar on his upper lip in his days with the Yankees.

4.) Wade Boggs (1982-1999)

Only a man with a mustache could drink 64 beers during a single cross country flight, as Boggs is rumored to have done during a road trip. Although 64 beers is a stretch, it is impossible to exaggerate the greatness of the Boggs 'Stache.

In Boggs' words "Let's put it this way, it was a few Miller Lites."

3.) Dennis Eckersley (1975-1998)

Eckersley owns possibly the greatest achievement of all mustache's on the list as his mo once graced the pages of Playgirl. When he wasn't saving games, his 'stache was surely breaking hearts.

2.) Goose Gossage (1972-1994)

Gossage lead the American League in saves three times and in greatest mustache nine times during his 22 year career. Fortunately for Gossage, our number one ranked player retired in 1985 allowing Gossage to take over the title until his retirement in 1994.

1.) Rollie Fingers (1968-1985)

Closing out our list we have a mustache that needs no introduction. The King of Face Furniture, The Sultan of Snot-Mops, The Wizard of Whiskers, Mr. Rollie Fingers.

So there you have it, the top five Mo's in the four major sports.

I leave you with perhaps the manliest stache in all of sports:

Dale Earnhart Sr.