The willingness of the Detroit Tigers to send six of its best prospects to the Marlins for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera makes a bit more sense---if it was that anyone was questioning the wisdom---when one considers the age of the club's core.

Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen, Ivan Rodriquez, Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones, even Magglio Ordonez and Edgar Renteria are not young men. Their time, individually and collectively, is short as viable big leaguers. What is more, Manager Jim Leyland has already retired once and is himself not likely long for the sport. Hence, it was imperative the ballclub struck quickly to prop open its window on contention.

Sheffield is 37 and coming off a serious shoulder injury that required surgery, sapped his power and may abbreviate his remaining years. Quite possibly, he is finished as an everyday fielder. Cabrera not only protects the club against a slide by this much-travelled vet slugger, but he potentially bridges the organization, since he is but 24, to the next generation of Tiger contention.

While reports are that Cabrera is fit and has dropped more than 15 pounds already this off-season (reports are he had plenty to spare), at least according to his neighbor Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox manager, it may yet develop that the newcomer will station at first base, with former SS Carlos Guillen positioning at third. At this point, however, Miguel will report to camp as a 3b, with Guillen at first.

Either way, Brandon Inge reverts to a super-sub capacity, able to play all over the diamond, perhaps even as Rodriquez' backup behind the plate again.

What else is certain is the Tigers figure to have as explosive and deep an everyday lineup as exists in the game today, with Granderson, Polanco, Ordonez, Cabrera, Guillen, Sheffield, the LF platoon of Jacque Jones and Marcus Thames, Rodriquez and Renteria the possible order.

This development does not require response by the reigning divisional titlist Cleveland Indians, but it surely puts them on alert. Similarly, Chicago will not receive the news passively, as both Ozzie and GM Ken Williams were already intent on returning to prominence.

As a first major volley during the Nashville Winter Meetings, the Detroit-Florida exchange was a profound one.