Hot Stove Roundup: Cabrera, Rodney, Orioles, Pirates

In this Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, photo, Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera is seen in the dugout before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Detroit. Cabrera was taken to a police station over the weekend after getting into a fight with his wife at their suburban Detroit home when he came home drunk, authorities said Monday. Birmingham Police Chief Richard Patterson said Rosangel Cabrera called 911 at 6 a.m. Saturday, requesting police assistance. An alcohol test found that Miguel Cabrera was at three times the legal limit for driving, police said. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

AP

Here’s a few Hot Stove items of note as we eagerly await 12:01 am on Friday:- Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com thinks that if the Tigers aim to cut payroll,they should consider trading Miguel Cabrera to the Red Sox. Likewise, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe thinks Cabrera

should be on Boston’s short-list of possible middle-of-the-order bats. Cabrera, 26, is owed $126 million over the next six seasons.

- Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes that the Phillies reportedly have interest in Fernando Rodney,but he might not be an option since he will want to close. In a related story, Brad Lidge “should be ready at or near the very beginning of spring training” following elbow surgery,says his agent Rex Gary.

- Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that the Pirateswon’t be major players in free agency yet again, but they could have interest in lower-tier free agents like Rick Ankiel, Jamey Wright, Mark Hendrickson and Japanese pitcher Ryota Igarashi.

- Roch Kubato of the MASNSports.com wonders if the Orioles will consider signing Braden Looper, Jon Garland or Matt Treanor since the club was connected to them last winter.

- Jesse Spector of the New York Daily Newstakes a look some of the top set-up men available on the free agent market, and how arbitration and draft pick compensation may impact where they end up.