The Tigers payroll was over $115M in 2009 and despite a competitive playoff run to the very end of the season, the team is looking to pare down its payroll for 2010 and moving Miguel Cabrera could save the team a lot of money.  Detroit has already openly shopped outfielder Curtis Granderson ($23.75M left on his contract from 2010-2012) and pitcher Edwin Jackson (arbitration eligible and due for a big raise) and not recieved too many bites.  Cabrera's contract blows away that of Granderson and Jackson, as he's set to make the following in each year of his deal: 10:$20M, 11:$20M, 12:$21M, 13:$21M, 14:$22M, 15:$22M. 

Despite being owed $126M over the next six years, there will still be interest in Cabrera because of his immense productivity.  Some potentially interested teams include:

Red Sox: David Ortiz and Mike Lowell come off the books after 2010 and if the Red Sox can convince the Tigers to give them some financial relief in 2010, the money might work out.

Angels: When Cabrera was traded from Florida to Detroit, the Angels were heavily involved in the bidding and would be happy to take Cabrera now, two years later.

Mets: With Carlos Delgado's likely departure, the Mets have a hole at first base that Cabrera could fill.

White Sox: Similar to the Red Sox, the White Sox remove Paul Konerko from the books after 2010 and Cabrera would fill in nicely.

Giants: They are in desperate need of offense, but already have two big contracts in Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand and would need to put Pablo Sandoval somewhere.

Mariners: Resigning Felix Hernandez is their priority, but Cabrera would be a big addition to their anemic offense.

Braves: Much like the Giants, they could really use the offensive help, but may lack the financial flexilibity to bring on Cabrera.  Moving Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez would allieviabe some financial constraints.

Financial reasons will force the Tigers to try and move Miguel Cabrera this off season

Keith Law filed a report from Saturday's Under Armor All-Star Game. Let's take a look.

• Jameson Taillon from Woodlands HS, TX, was the most dominant pitcher with a fastball going 95-93 and a 84-83 splitter.
• Karsten Whitson was similarly dominant to Taillon throwing three solid pitches: a 94-91 fastball, 84-79 slider and a 80-79 change up. The only difference between Whitson and Taillon was Jameson's superior command.
• AJ Cole, a RHP from FL, had a nice 93-90 mph fastball, but did not locate the pitch very well and his breaking ball wasn't fooling hitters as much as it needs to be.
• Kevin Gausman was throwing harder than he did at the Area Code Games (for a review of those games, click here).
• While most pitchers tailed off after the third inning, it took Andrew Smith (RHP, Georgia) a few pitches to get into his grove in the first and improved as his outing went along. He displayed a nice 93-92 fastball with a good 76-74 curveball.
• While DeShaun Dixon is still playing "both ways" he was far better on the mound than at the dish. He threw two different curveballs - a short tight curve and a big Barry Zito-like slow one, but Law feels the shorter one will work better professionally.
• Stetson Allie struggled at the East Coast Showcase (for a review of those games, click here), but showed far better command at the All-Star game. Allie also plays both ways and unlike Dixon, Law likes him better as a third baseman.
• With four double, Nick Castellanos stole the show for the hitters.

Yesterday brought word that the Blue Jays are willing to listen to offers for ace Roy Halladay. Today there's plenty of reaction and speculation.  Let's take a look.

• An intial report has the Phillies as the "leaders" for Halladay, but that is likely only based on their obvious interest in acquiring a pitcher...any pitcher.  What can the Phillies really offer the Blue Jays?  Shortstop Jason Donald is considered their best prospect and after that they have a few 50-100 range ranked prospects, but not the haul that the Jays are likely looking for.
• Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated notes that the Jays were interested in Donald last year. 
• Heyman speculates about how impressive the Giants roster would be if Halladay were added.  That would give them four former Cy Young award winners AND Matt Cain.  Certainly Barry Zito and Randy Johnson are not the same pitchers, but they're pretty good for #4 and #5 pitchers. 
• While the White Sox would not trade Gordon Beckham for Jake Peavy Heyman says they'd consider moving the prospect for Halladay.  I don't entirely understand this unless they actually like that Halladay is only signed through 2010 while Peavy is under contract through 2013.
• The Cardinals seem unlikely to have the prospects to get a trade for Halladay done.
• Phillies general manager Rubin Amaro Jr. said that the Phillies do have the financial flexibility to add an ace pitcher like Halladay. 
• Joel Sherman of The New York Post confirms the sentiment that the Phillies are in the lead for Halladay and notes that the Rangers and Cardinals could be players as well (as we indicated yesterday).  
• In his discussion with Sherman Blue Jays general manager JP Riccardi noted that discussions with other teams has been very preliminary and while they're always interested in teams' best prospect, if they got a shortstop out of the deal, that would be preferable.  However, Halladay does have a no trade clause and has already provided Riccardi with a list of teams that he is not interested in playing for.  The Jays are able to afford Halladay for 2010 if they need to, so Riccardi is trying to give the impression that they are not desperate to move their star pitcher.  He does not, however, think they'd be able to resign him after 2010. 
• Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has given no indication that the team is interested in acquiring Halladay.  That's a bit of a misnomer.  I'm sure they're very interested, but just not for the price tag that it will realistically take to get him.
• Lyle Weber of mlb.com throws out major leaguers Erick Aybar, Joe Saunders or Ervin Santana and minor leaguers Brandon Wood, Sean O'Sullivan and Jordan Walden as possible pieces to group together in a package offer for Halladay.  It seems unlikely that the Jays would be interested in Aybar or Saunders, but Santana could get their attention along with Wood.

Here is Ken Rosenthal's latest column.  Let's go over the highlights:

• The Angels and Red Sox are the likely destination for Mark Teixeira, but the Orioles and Nationals are still in the mix to land the slugger.
• No matter who Teixeira lands with, he figures to have a deal completed before Manny Ramirez.
• Rumors are that Raul Ibanez will sign for three years and $12-$18M.
• It must depend on who you talk to with regard to who the Mets will sign: Brian Fuentes or Francisco Rodriguez.  Rosenthal like the Mets to go after Fuentes over K-Rod.
• This is un-Scott Boras-like: he is disputing claims that he is looking for Barry Zito-type money for Derek Lowe.  Apparently even Scott has standards.

Ken Rosenthal is staying busy and we're the benefactors.  Let's review his latest column:

• Previous rumors that the Blue Jays extended a four year $54M extension to AJ Burnett appear false as they've yet to make an offer. 
• The Boston Red Sox are also mentioned to be interested in Burnett.
• Scott Boras has made teams aware that he is looking for a Barry Zito-type contract for Derek Lowe.  Perhaps that means $18M a season, but there's no way anyone will sign the 35-year old Lowe.
• While Phil Hughes is apparently off limits, the Padres have informed the Yankees that a trade for Jake Peavy is still possible without Hughes.
• The Rockies are still listening to offers for Garrett Atkins and Huston Street.  They're also not expected to sign a free agent to replace Matt Holliday.
• The Mets need to add a right handed bat to their lineup, but are not high on Pat Burrell.

Despite prognostications from Casey Blake that Brewers lefty CC Sabathia would wind up in Los Angeles, Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated is hearing that San Francisco is his primary destination. Sabathia is a Vallejo, CA native, but Heyman reports that many believe money will be the ultimate factor in Sabathia's decision making. This makes New York the favorite over San Francisco or Los Angeles. One of the biggest problems with San Francisco is that the Giants have been recently burned by the signing of Barry Zito for seven years and $126M.