NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dontrelle Willis was on vacation in Mexico when the blockbuster deal was completed, and Miguel Cabrera was home in Venezuela.
Their next stop is Detroit, where the busy Tigers are building an awfully powerful team.
The Tigers finalized their big trade with the Marlins on Wednesday, an eight-player swap that sent both coveted All-Stars from cash-strapped Florida to go-for-broke Detroit.
"I was caught off-guard," Willis said on a conference call. "When I heard where I was going, I was eager and excited."
The Marlins received a package of six players, including two highly rated prospects: left-hander Andrew Miller and outfielder Cameron Maybin. The teams reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday, with the deal subject to both sides being satisfied after exchanging medical records.
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The Tigers also sent catcher Mike Rabelo and right-handers Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De La Cruz and Dallas Trahern to Florida in a huge trade that developed quickly and took the spotlight away from the Johan Santana sweepstakes at baseball's winter meetings.
"The inclusion of Dontrelle was not something at the outset that we had considered," Florida president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said.
Detroit president Dave Dombrowski didn't intend to pursue the pair until he received a surprise phone call at home two days before Thanksgiving from owner Mike Ilitch, who read in a newspaper that Cabrera was available.
"I just wanted to kind of mention his name, that he seems like he'd be a great player for us," Ilitch said, according to Dombrowski.
"Well, he would be," Dombrowski remembered replying.
The clubs touched base a little bit Monday night, then Florida approached Detroit on Tuesday morning. The Marlins told the Tigers they could have both stars for those six players, then Detroit called back later in the day and agreed.
"We made this trade to win now. It's obvious," Dombrowski said.
Cabrera and Willis can become free agents after the 2009 season, but the Tigers hope to keep them long term.
"I have been on the trading block for so long," Willis said. "It'd be mentally draining."
Inside pitch
● Free agent reliever David Riske agreed to a $13 million three-year contract with Milwaukee on Wednesday, moving to the Brewers after an effective season with Kansas City.
Riske, 31, was 1-4 with four saves and a 2.45 ERA in 65 relief appearances last season.
● The Colorado Rockies re-signed Aaron Cook on Wednesday, closing in on a $30 million, three-year contract with their World Series Game 4 starter.
