Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski deserves a nickname -- Dealin' Dave.
He's certainly earned it.
On Wednesday, the Tigers agreed to trade first baseman Prince Fielder and cash to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Ian Kinsler.
The team confirmed the move, first reported by CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, late Wednesday night.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports the Tigers will send the Rangers $30 million as part of the deal.
Fielder disappointed fans and reportedly some in the organization after a subpar postseason followed by comments he made after the Tigers were eliminated.
"It's not really tough, man, it's over," Fielder said after Game 6 of the ALCS. "I got kids I got to take care of, I got things I got to take care of. It's over."
Fielder, who turns 30 next May, is scheduled to make $24 million each season through 2020.
Kinsler, who turns 32 in June, is under contract for $16 million in each of the next two season, $14 million in 2016, $11 million in 2017 and a club option for $12 million in 2018 or a $5 million buyout.
Although Tigers owner Mike Ilitch has hardly been stingy about spending money to acquire players, the money saved will offer an opportunity to re-sign Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, a free agent after next season, and two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera, a free agent after 2015.
Cabrera was part of another one of Dombrowski's successful blockbuster trades, as was Scherzer.
The Tigers acquired Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis from the Florida Marlins for Cameron Maybin (now with San Diego), Andrew Miller (now with Boston), Burke Badenhop, Dallas Trahern, Mike Rabelo and Eulogio De La Cruz during the winter meetings in 2007.
When you get a two-time MVP and three-time AL batting champion, there's no debating who wins the trade.
Dombrowski, the former general manager for the Marlins, has made other trades with his former team.
In 2012, Dombrowski sent top pitching prospect Jacob Turner, left-hander Brian Flynn and catcher Rob Brantly to the Marlins for Anibal Sanchez.
Sanchez led the AL in ERA at 2.57 this past season and set a franchise record by striking out 17 in a game.
Dombrowski also was very proactive this past season when he realized that shortstop Jhonny Peralta, whose name appeared on the Biogenesis lists, was facing a lengthy suspension.
Before the trade deadline, Dombrowski made sure the Tigers were covered by acquiring defensive wizard Jose Iglesias, 23, from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team deal that sent outfielder Avisail Garcia to the Chicago White Sox.
"He’s unbelievable," former Tigers manager Jim Leyland said at the time. "He’s really good at what he does, and he’s not afraid.
"It’s mind-boggling to me. I swear on my father’s grave that I came to work and had no idea in 24 hours the Tigers would’ve made a trade for a shortstop."
The Tigers also picked up current starter Doug Fister, along with David Pauley, from the Seattle Mariners for Charlie Furbush, Francisco Martinez, Casper Wells and Chance Ruffin before the trade deadline in 2011.
Fister has won 32 games for the Tigers in the regular season and three more in the postseason.
The year before that, the Tigers acquired Peralta from the Cleveland Indians for left-hander Giovanni Soto.
Of course, if you're making deals, not all of them will work out.
Dombrowski tried to shore up the Tigers' shaky bullpen this season by acquiring reliever Jose Veras from the Houston Astros for prospect Danry Vazquez, but that deal didn't turn out well. Veras was shaky with the Tigers, who opted not to pick up his option.
In 2009, Dombrowski got Jarrod Washburn from the Mariners for left-handers Luke French and Mauricio Robles. That same year he got Aubrey Huff from the Baltimore Orioles for right-hander Brett Jacobson.
But even in the trades that didn't work out so well, the players that left have generally not turned into All-Stars for their new teams.
Also in 2009, Dombrowski made the blockbuster, three-team deal that brought Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-handers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy. Curtis Granderson went to the New York Yankees and Austin Jackson, Phil Coke and Kennedy came from New York.
Going back to 2004, Dombrowski sent Ramon Santiago and not-that-Juan Gonzalez to the Mariners for Carlos Guillen.
Although Guillen's time in Detroit was marred with injuries, his leadership and production when healthy helped the Tigers make the turnaround from 119 losses in 2003 to a World Series appearance in 2006.
In 2005, Dombrowski got second baseman Placido Polanco from the Philadelphia Phillies for Ugueth Urbina and Ramon Martinez. Polanco was another key player for the Tigers in 2006.
The Tigers still have some holes to fill, particularly in the bullpen.
With the winter meetings coming up in Orlando next month, Tigers fans should stay tuned.
You never know what Dealin' Dave will come up with next.
