Anniversary of Miguel Cabrera trade should inspire Tigers to make 2026 splash

Almost exactly 18 years ago, the Detroit Tigers sent two position players and four pitchers to the Miami Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Cabrera went on to finish his career in Detroit posting a .304/.380/.510 line, 2,332 hits, 373 home runs, 2 AL MVPs, and the 2012 Triple Crown. He was one of the greatest players this century and will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Those were the days ... when the Tigers went all in to get what they wanted, even if it didn't bring them the ultimate goal of a World Series.

Cabrera’s achievements and contributions to the franchise should be a wake up call for Scott Harris, the Tigers front office, and Chris Illitch. Although the franchise signed Javier Baez to a big contract before the 2022 season, another impact signing could help propel the team past the ALCS.

This postseason the team struggled offensively. The only player to hit above .240 was Kerry Carpenter with a .281 average. Carpenter also led the team in on-base percentage, slugging and OPS in the postseason and no one else was close. Scott Harris must find a way to attract a big star to the Motor City.

The most likely candidate is Alex Bregman. Many insiders and analysts have predicted that he will sign with the Tigers. Last season, Bregman was almost a Tiger before the Red Sox stole his talents at the buzzer. Bregman is a superstar who can elevate and change a franchise. While his time in Houston was met with hostility due to the sign stealing scandal, he is still a great player. He’s reportedly looking for a long-term contract for six or seven years in the range of $150-180 million. He also has familiarity with AJ Hinch, as he was his manger from 2015-2019 in Houston.

Harris could also look to acquire a big-time player via trade. One option is Ketel Marte. The Diamondbacks second baseman just signed a six-year, $116.5 million extension last season. He is a wildly talented player with a great bat, finishing with a .283/.376/.517 line in 2025. His bat is something that the Tigers desperately need in the postseason. Marte would be a great addition but he would cost several of the Tigers’ young pitchers. Some projected trades show Arizona asking for Troy Melton, a great young starter for the Tigers. Marte’s reason for being on the trade block is perhaps not about his performance but rather some apparently personal/off-field issues. Is that a risk the Tigers will want to take if it means they can get him for a bit cheaper?

Harris still can put his stamp on Detroit. Dec. 4 should be a reminder that they need a superstar position player to carry their franchise. If the Tigers are going to let Tarik Skubal walk at the end of the year, they need to find another star in the meantime to make the most of 2026 and lessen the potential blow in 2027.