Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 04, 2007
Cabrera Shapes Up

Two weeks ago Miguel Cabrera said he would be working out this winter.

''This winter, I'm really going to work on my physical condition in order to be in the best shape possible for spring training,'' Cabrera told LasMayores.com. ``I've been at it for four weeks now at a gym that specializes in professional athletes, and I'll be there until the spring."

Others are reporting that the third baseman is seeing results:

"He looks good," said Los Angeles Angels catcher Mike Napoli, who has been training with Cabrera for the last three weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times. "He's starting to slim down, and he's getting real strong."

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who saw Cabrera in Miami on Sunday, said the third baseman "has lost about 15 pounds, maybe a little bit more," according to the Times. "If you see Miguel Cabrera now, you will be surprised."

Miguel put up very good numbers in 2007 despite playing at 255 pounds. Babe Ruth played poorly in 1925 due to his excessive habits taking a toll on his body. After that season, he hired a personal trainer (although I'm sure they didn't call it that in his day), started eating right, weight training, and hit 302 home runs over his next six seasons. If this training works, whoever trades for Miguel might see a huge leap in his power. That's something the Marlins should keep in mind as well. Maybe they want a superstar hitter on their team.

Update: Seems the Giants are interested in Cabrera as well:

The second baseball executive in two days questioned the Marlins, saying their trade demands for All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera are unrealistic.

''I hate to speak to somebody else's business, but you wonder if they really want to trade the player or if they absolutely, positively have to win the deal in such a one-sided fashion,'' San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean said during a conference call Thursday with reporters. ``Maybe they're not going to get something done. I don't know.''

The report is that the Marlins want Lincecum or Cain in a deal for Cabrera. Getting one of those seems perfectly reasonable to me. The question is, what else are they asking for.

And by the way, if Hank Steinbrenner is tampering, Moreno and Sabean are coming close to doing the same thing here.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:21 AM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

I'm not a huge Cain fan, but I don't think Cabrera is at all worth Lincecum. Lincecum has 2 dirt cheap years and 3 arb years left. Cabrera has what, 2 arb years left? He's a huge detriment in the field - slimming down might help, but he really needs to be at 1B or DH.

Posted by: Mike at December 4, 2007 01:45 PM
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