Free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera has been in search of a new home. The Cleveland Indians have been in the market for some help in the infield. On Thursday, the two finally connected and worked out a contract that will keep Cabrera in Ohio.
Orlando Cabrera Signs On With Indians As Veteran Infield Option
Terms of the contract aren't known, but it's presumably a one-year deal, and one expects that Cabrera will take a pay cut from the $3.02 million he earned with the Reds last season.
The 36-year-old Cabrera is coming off a rough year that saw his average drop to .263 and his OPS drop to .657. Additionally, he's no longer the agile defender he was in his younger days. Not a strong threat to reach base, hit for power, or nab a grounder in the hole, Cabrera's utility is limited. That said, he's been adamant this offseason about finding a starting job, so it'll be interesting to see what ends up happening in Cleveland. The Indians already have Asdrubal Cabrera, Jason Donald, and Luis Valbuena manning the middle infield, but all three of those young players struggled in 2010, so while Orlando Cabrera may just be coming in as depth, there's a chance he could push his way towards being a regular at short or second base.
For more, check out our Indians blog, Let’s Go Tribe.
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