How many Midwest Leaguers does it take

to make a blockbuster trade?

Answer: Seven.

That's how many Midwest League alumni were involved in the trade between the Marlins and the Tigers.

Though neither the Tigers nor Marlins officials were commenting on the record about their agreement on an eight-player mega-trade, expected to be announced Wednesday pending review of medical records, the aftershocks were already shaking the rest of the league and officials at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. By acquiring Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo and Minor Leaguers Dallas Trahern, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop, the Tigers will give up what might be an unprecedented amount of future talent in recent memory for an infusion of present power that instantly makes Detroit a team for opponents to fear in 2008.

Cabrera and Willis were with the Kane County Cougars in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Maybin, Rabelo, Trahern, De La Cruz, and Badenhop all spent time with the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Only Miller skipped the league.