No, this isn't a joke.  We 're being serious.  We would trade Cano, Melky, Kennedy, and even throw in Farnsworth + cash.  Before you accuse us of being crazy, hear us out -- because the player we would trade for is someone who is a hitter of historical stature.  This player is the Florida Marlins' Miguel Cabrera.

Why we want Cabrera and why we think this trade is possible

Miguel Cabrera is a hitting talent which we will rarely see in our lifetime.  In his last three seasons, he's put up OPS+s of 130, 151, and 159.  And those were at ages 21, 22, and 23.  That is insane!  Just to put things in perspective for you, here are some of the hitters which Cabrera compares to through age 23: Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, and Ken Griffey Jr.

To put it simply, Miguel Cabrera is a franchise-changing hitter.  He's now only 24 and due to his youth, he might actually get better.  That is a scary thought.  Over the next 10 years, will there be anyone who performs better offensively than Cabrera.  We would wager serious money that there will not be.

As Cabrera continues to dominate, not only will his status in MLB baseball grow, but so will his bank account. Before the start of the 2007 season, Cabrera won his arbitration case and saw his salary jump from $472,000 to $7.4 million.  Cabrera will once again be eligible for arbitration before the 2008 season, and one can only expect for him to experience another significant increase in salary.  The same situation will occur before the 2009 season, and he finally becomes a free agent at the end of that season.

So what team would trade of one of the planet's best hitters, especially when he's under there control for the next two years?  Why the penny-pinching Florida Marlins, of course!

In fact, there has already been speculation that the Marlins will look to deal Cabrera:

Even though Cabrera can't file for free agency until after the 2009 season, the huge increase in his salary for the next two years could force the Marlins to trade him to a bigger market team. (Source)

Even Cabrera has addressed the issue:

"I am not paying attention to any rumors," Cabrera said. (Source)

Unfortunately, Cabrera also has offered this comment:

"I wouldn't like to be on the Yankees," said Cabrera. "They have too many rules. That's what I think. It's not in my hands. But I don't think it will happen." (Source)

Hey, he's a kid and kids don't like rules.  That will change and like he said, it's not in his hands.

The point is that the Marlins currently have a payroll of $30,507,000, of which $7.4 million is paid to Cabrera.  Twenty-four percent of the Marlins payroll is dedicated to Cabrera, and that percentage will only increase if they keep him.

This is why we believe Miguel Cabrera is available.
 

Why we would trade Cano, Melky, Kennedy, and Farnsworth + cash

There really aren't many people we wouldn't trade for Miguel Cabrera.  The only two we could think of are Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain.  Like we said, we're talking about a player who will go down in history as one of the elite hitters in MLB history.  Additionally, it's not like the Yankees would be sacrificing youth to acquire Cabrera - he's only 24 years old.

The Marlins will command a great package for Cabrera, and after looking over the Yankee organization, we think a package of Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Ian Kennedy, and Farnsworth + cash could have a realistic chance of being accepted.

Robinson Cano:  As Cano showed in 2006, he has the ability to be a very good hitter.  However, as he has shown this year, his lack of plate discipline can cause wide fluctuations in his performance.  He went from a 132 OPS+ last year to a 94 OPS+ this season.  Bottom line, if you swing at balls over your head or in the dirt, your slumps will last longer and you may have a poor season mixed in every so often.  We doubt Cano will ever become a patient hitter.  However, even with Cano's poor current season, he still has a ton of hype value.  Scouts love his swing.  He is an excellent defender.  And he did put up a .890 OPS last season.  Dan Uggla already mans 2B for Florida, but Cano could be moved to 3B.  Also, Cano is eligible for arbitration for only the first time after this season.  This is very important to the Marlins as Cano is cost-controlled for the next few seasons.  By including Robinson Cano in a trade, the Yankees could open a door to a blockbuster deal.

Melky Cabrera:  He's a tremendous defensive OF with hype value, and he surprised many with his productive season last year.  Yet, he's never shown any signs of power carrying a .422 SLG through the minor leagues and a .383 SLG in his brief major league career.  People say that power is the last thing to develop for a hitter, and we agree, but we're talking about Miguel Cabrera here.  Plus, Florida does need a CF and Cabrera could fit that need.

Ian Kennedy: He's been nothing but dominant in his brief minor league career.  Despite a fastball which sits 89-91, he's put up ridiculous numbers.  Between Tampa and Trenton this season, he has a 10.37 K/9 and a 1.77 ERA through 106 2/3 IP.  He's recently been dubbed by Cashman as untouchable, but one of the advantages of building up a great farm system is gaining the ability to trade away prospects when opportunities present themselves.  The Yankees are stocked with pitching talent, and if Kennedy can help secure Miguel Cabrera, we would make the trade without blinking an eye.

Kyle Farnsworth:  He's been a disappointment since his signing, so why would the Marlins want him?  First, the Marlins could use a reliever, as their bullpen ERA ranks 11th in the NL.  Farnsworth has had considerable success in the smaller markets of Detroit and Atlanta.  Second, we would suggest the Yankees throw in cash to help cover Farnsworth's contract.
 

Given the Marlins' fiscal tendencies, Miguel Cabrera will be available.  We believe the package explained above would have a realistic chance of getting a deal done.  We'd even through in a player like Brett Gardner or Kevin Whelan too.  The point is that when a once-in-a-generation player is available, you put your best effort forward to acquire him.  If the Yankees pass on Cabrera, it will be a colossal mistake.