Soriano to the Tigers? Make it happen!

The rumor mill is grinding away. First it was Bobby Abreu in the mill, but another rumor is gaining steam. Alfonso Soriano to the Tigers talk is everywhere. To use one of Pat Caputo's favorite lines, "The guy can rake!"

Even though he's not a LH bat, Soriano would add some much needed punch to the order. Soriano to the Tigers could be the equivalent of the Pistons getting Rasheed Wallace. In other words, the final piece to the puzzle. Even better, it would eliminate the need to have Dmitri Young wear the Olde English D again. Sounds like a plan to me.

You'd think most people would feel the same way, but if you check out the message boards, many Tiger fans don't want to make the deal. Why? Because they are afraid of losing the next John Smoltz. WHAT?

Jessus H. Christ people! It was 19 years ago! Let it go. Just. Let. It. Go.

The odds of the prospects brought up in a possible trade (A combination of Humberto Sanchez, Jair Jurgens, Jordan Tata, Brent Cleven, Nook Logan being most often mentioned) becoming a Hall of Fame caliber player are longer than the trail of beer cans behind Da Meat Hook. What happened with John Smoltz was a fluke. A once in a generation trade that backfired in the long term. But you cannot forget, that in the short term, the Smoltz for Doyle Alexander trade also won the Tigers their last division title. No one in their right mind would have guessed that Smoltz would become an all world hurler. No one, and you're lying if you say otherwise.

Isn't the reason to develop a surplus of prospects is to be able to trade them for prime major league talent? To get the final piece to a championship caliber team? You hear fans talk that Sanchez is the next coming of Justin Verlander. Look up his stats, and you see he's only been effective for the first half of this season. The rest of his minor league career has been inconsistent, to be generous. Sanchez's value will never be higher, and the Tigers have young pitching to burn.

Fans also fall into the trap of overvaluing their own players. You think a Nats fan is thrilled to hear that Sanchez, Tata, and Cleven are being dangled for a stud hitter? More likely they are saying, "Who in the Hell are they? In exchange for Soriano? You're kidding! Fire Millen the GM!" Much in the same way many fans were upset that the Tigers only received Carlos Pena, Franlyn German, and...oh yeah...Jeremy Bonderman, for Wobb Parker's favorite pitcher, Jeff "I'm on my 5th team in 5 years" Weaver.

You'll hear the arguement that the Tigers already have a bat under contract, with Young in the minors. That he's the answer, and he won't cost anything more than the 8 million he's already owed. Unless the question is where to find liquor stores, and the cost being clubhouse harmony, I don't think so.

People forget that it takes something of value to get something of value. Soriano is going to come at a price, and that price is more than Craig Monroe and a bat bag. MLB GM's just don't give away talent. Unless you're Brian Sabean.

Soriano isn't perfect. He's a free swinger who would be joining a team of free swingers. He's a free agent to be, so Soriano could be just a 2+ month rental. He's not exactly a gold glover in the field. But Soriano's a known quanity at the plate, he can play more than one position, you may be able to entice him to stay long term, and he's not Dmitri Young.

Every trade is a risk. But considering the stakes, those being winning a division crown and making postseason noise, the rewards outweigh that risk.