With what is being regarded as a blockbuster deal to gain LHP Dontrelle Willis and 3B Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers pretty much cashed in their farm system. With the exception of Rick Porcello, all the top Tiger prospects are no longer with the team. The top four Tiger prospects, as laid out by Kevin Goldstein last year, all are now elsewhere and six of the top ten are elsewhere. That is quite a change in just over a month.

So what did we trade away? Outside of Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, who we all know about, Detroit had some considerable talent.

1) Dallas Trahern – An impressive starting RHP prospect that pitched for the Erie Seawolves during the 2007 season with a short stint in Toledo. David Laurila at Baseball Prospectus believes he could be the ‘Sleeper’ in this trade. Which could very well be true.

Trahern isn’t a huge strikeout pitcher but gets ground balls and relies heavily on the defense. He’s been solid and consistent at each level of play and appeared to be destined for the shot at the bottom of the rotation. I guess just not for this team.

2) Burke Badenhop – Burke is another RHP starter though not as far along as Dallas in his maturation as a pitcher. That said, he’s shown talent at the level’s in which he’s seen action. He only got a taste of Erie last year and was expected to be in the starting rotation for the Seawolves once the season started.

He has some OK stuff, enough to win 2006 Tiger Minor League Pitcher of the Year, but isn’t projected to be much more than a backup starter or end of the rotation guy.

3) Eulogio De La Cruz – We all saw DLC last year a bit when he filled in the bullpen during some of the rough spots. He didn’t give much more than the Tigers were getting at the time and got roughed up pretty bad a few times. Despite his rough first outings in the big leagues he has been impressive in the minors. He spent last year in the bullpen for the Seawolves and the Mud Hens keeping his ERA in the mid 3.00’s with the ability to strike batters out.

I had expected him to have a real shot at the bullpen this year and was keeping my fingers crossed that he could unseat Grilli. With the bullpen in the shape it is now this was the Tiger I was surprised to see in the mix.

While the Detroit farm system might be looking a bit bare, the team still has considerable talent and the 2007 draft crop could be one of the best classes yet.

[UPDATE] – Kevin Goldstein has an article out at Baseball Prospectus (subscription required) with a bit about the prospects the Tigers traded. A bit different insight than here as he seems to see Burke Badenhop as the potential sleeper. One thing is certain, the Marlins received quite a bit of potential but little ‘here and now’ talent.