SAN DIEGO -- Once again, the Tigers pulled off a headline deal at baseball's Winter Meetings, this time waiting until its final hours.By adding slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for right-hander Rick Porcello on Thursday morning, their parting shot to this year's Meetings was an answer to the past few days of business done by the rest of the American League Central.
A Major League source said the agreement is in place, pending physicals. Detroit will also receive right-hander Alex Wilson, who made 18 appearances for the Red Sox last season, and a lower-level Minor League pitcher, WEEI Radio in Boston reported. Neither the Tigers nor the Red Sox have confirmed the trade. 
The Tigers spent Wednesday afternoon and evening making a push for Cespedes, according to sources, breaking for a previously scheduled team dinner early Wednesday night. Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski pushed back his regularly scheduled 4 p.m. PT meeting with Detroit reporters; the meeting was postponed just before 11 p.m. PT.Tigers officials broke camp and went to bed just before midnight. By morning, they had their man.The Tigers have coveted Cespedes since he defected from Cuba in 2011, and nearly signed him during his free-agent courtship before the 2012 season. Victor Martinez's season-ending knee injury, however, changed their plans and directed them to Prince Fielder, whom they signed to a long-term contract.Cespedes signed a four-year, $36 million deal with Oakland, which won back-to-back AL West titles with the help of his right-handed power bat before trading him to Boston at the July 31 Trade Deadline for left-hander Jon Lester. He enjoyed his first 100-RBI season in 2014, hitting the century mark on the nose to go with a career-high 36 doubles, but hit .260 with 22 home runs and a .751 OPS.Once the Red Sox signed Rusney Castillo in the summer and Hanley Ramirez this offseason, and welcomed back Shane Victorino from the disabled list, Cespedes entered his contract year as an expendable part in Boston's search for starting pitching. And the Tigers, who had an opening in their outfield after Torii Hunter's departure via free agency, had a second chance at Cespedes.Cespedes joins a Tigers lineup that includes three-time batting champion and two-time AL MVP Miguel Cabrera, AL MVP runner-up Victor Martinez, breakout hitter J.D. Martinez and a supporting cast of speedy players.Three years into his Major League career, Cespedes is still an ultra-aggressive hitter, and his resulting on-base percentages led to an OPS that was lower than Hunter's in each of the past two seasons. Yet his impact power bat and his strong-armed defense, punctuated by a highlight throw on the fly to home plate from the left-field corner this past season, make him the kind of all-around contributor the Tigers couldn't pass up.Cespedes, who turned 29 in October, is expected to take his customary spot in left field, with J.D. Martinez moving to right.From a contractual standpoint, the Tigers acquired one season of Cespedes for one season of Porcello. Unlike Porcello, however, the Tigers cannot gain a Draft pick if Cespedes leaves as a free agent after the season, because his contract prevents his team from making a qualifying offer.Porcello, meanwhile, becomes the second starter the Tigers have traded in the past 12 months. Unlike Doug Fister, however, Porcello netted an established player and a star on his way out.Though Porcello turns just 26 later this month, the sinkerballer has been for the most part a fixture in Detroit's rotation since 2009, when he made the team out of Spring Training at age 20. He set career bests with 15 wins, 204 2/3 innings and a 3.43 ERA this past season, and he led the Majors with three complete-game wins.Those numbers are difficult to replace on any squad. For the Tigers, who called up several rookie hurlers over the summer, it's even trickier.
Jason Beck/ MLB.com
The Tigers spent Wednesday afternoon and evening making a push for Cespedes, according to sources, breaking for a previously scheduled team dinner early Wednesday night. Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski pushed back his regularly scheduled 4 p.m. PT meeting with Detroit reporters; the meeting was postponed just before 11 p.m. PT.Tigers officials broke camp and went to bed just before midnight. By morning, they had their man.The Tigers have coveted Cespedes since he defected from Cuba in 2011, and nearly signed him during his free-agent courtship before the 2012 season. Victor Martinez's season-ending knee injury, however, changed their plans and directed them to Prince Fielder, whom they signed to a long-term contract.Cespedes signed a four-year, $36 million deal with Oakland, which won back-to-back AL West titles with the help of his right-handed power bat before trading him to Boston at the July 31 Trade Deadline for left-hander Jon Lester. He enjoyed his first 100-RBI season in 2014, hitting the century mark on the nose to go with a career-high 36 doubles, but hit .260 with 22 home runs and a .751 OPS.Once the Red Sox signed Rusney Castillo in the summer and Hanley Ramirez this offseason, and welcomed back Shane Victorino from the disabled list, Cespedes entered his contract year as an expendable part in Boston's search for starting pitching. And the Tigers, who had an opening in their outfield after Torii Hunter's departure via free agency, had a second chance at Cespedes.Cespedes joins a Tigers lineup that includes three-time batting champion and two-time AL MVP Miguel Cabrera, AL MVP runner-up Victor Martinez, breakout hitter J.D. Martinez and a supporting cast of speedy players.Three years into his Major League career, Cespedes is still an ultra-aggressive hitter, and his resulting on-base percentages led to an OPS that was lower than Hunter's in each of the past two seasons. Yet his impact power bat and his strong-armed defense, punctuated by a highlight throw on the fly to home plate from the left-field corner this past season, make him the kind of all-around contributor the Tigers couldn't pass up.Cespedes, who turned 29 in October, is expected to take his customary spot in left field, with J.D. Martinez moving to right.From a contractual standpoint, the Tigers acquired one season of Cespedes for one season of Porcello. Unlike Porcello, however, the Tigers cannot gain a Draft pick if Cespedes leaves as a free agent after the season, because his contract prevents his team from making a qualifying offer.Porcello, meanwhile, becomes the second starter the Tigers have traded in the past 12 months. Unlike Doug Fister, however, Porcello netted an established player and a star on his way out.Though Porcello turns just 26 later this month, the sinkerballer has been for the most part a fixture in Detroit's rotation since 2009, when he made the team out of Spring Training at age 20. He set career bests with 15 wins, 204 2/3 innings and a 3.43 ERA this past season, and he led the Majors with three complete-game wins.Those numbers are difficult to replace on any squad. For the Tigers, who called up several rookie hurlers over the summer, it's even trickier.
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