Fansided

The 10 biggest what-if MLB trades that never happened since 2000

By Steve Zavala

NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 2010 in the Bronx borough of Manhattan. The Yankees defeated the Rangers 5 - 2. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 2010 in the Bronx borough of Manhattan. The Yankees defeated the Rangers 5 - 2. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI – JUNE 24: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Florida Marlins looks on during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida on June 24, 2007. The Twins defeated the Marlins 7-4. (Photo by Victor Baldizon) MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MIAMI – JUNE 24: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Florida Marlins looks on during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida on June 24, 2007. The Twins defeated the Marlins 7-4. (Photo by Victor Baldizon) MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

MLB what-if No. 3: 2007 — Miguel Cabrera to the Los Angeles Angels

Imagine a team with Miguel Cabrera and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.? Two of the greatest Latin American players ever on the same team would have been a spectacle to watch. And it was mere inches away from becoming a reality back in 2007.

The Angels were among the frontrunners in the Cabrera sweepstakes for weeks during the winter of 2007. According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the two teams had discussed a variety of trade packages. In each trade proposal, both second baseman Howie Kendrick and catcher Jeff Mathis were included. The Marlins were also inquiring about pitchers Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Nick Adenhart, but the Angels felt adamant about not including all three in the deal.

The Angels simply could not meet the Marlins’ ever-changing demands. The Marlins opted to send Cabrera to Detroit instead.

Talks were so close between the two teams that even Cabrera felt that the move was inevitable.

“I thought I would be here,” Cabrera said in 2013 when visiting Anaheim for an April series. “When my agent called and told me I was going to Detroit, I was surprised. I think Dontrelle Willis [being in the deal] might be why I ended up in Detroit.”

In a hypothetical scenario where the Marlins had agreed to trade Cabrera to Anaheim for Kendrick, Mathis, Santana and Saunders, it certainly would have garnered a larger return than what they received from the Tigers. Both Santana and Saunders turned out to be durable pitchers; they made All-Star appearances in 2008 with sub-3.50 ERAs. These two along with Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson would have been just the rotation Florida needed to throw their hat into the NL East division race. Mathis would have become a sure starter as a catcher while Kendrick’s versatility may have made him a regular out in the outfield.

With the Angels, the move surely would have propelled their offense to elite status. Still, with Saunders and Santana gone, it then may have created a gaping hole in their rotation. They may not have won 100 games in 2008 and made an ALCS appearance in 2009 without them. At the least, it would have forced Angeles General Manager Tony Reagins to empty out the farm system and acquire an ace in the likes of a Cliff Lee or Jake Peavy.

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