RADIO
After being non-tendered by the San Diego Padres earlier in the offseason, Everth Cabrera has finally found a new home with the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles signed Cabrera, who was given a 50 game suspension last season due to PED use, to a low risk one year deal worth $2.4MM guaranteed with another $600K in performance incentives on the line.
It has been a quiet offseason for the defending AL East champs who won the division with a 96-66 record in 2014. Free agency claimed victim to several key players from that 2014 roster including top of the lineup strongholds, Nick Markakis (Atlanta Braves) and Nelson Cruz (Seattle Mariners), as well as setup ace Andrew Miller (New York Yankees).
Orioles fans have clamored for the team to replace some of the talent they have lost, but the organization has only responded with minor signings of outfielder Delmon Young and relief arm Wesley Wright. Perhaps last year's resounding success in signing the recently departed Cruz, who was also coming off of a PED suspension, to a similar low risk one year deal inspired the organization to dip their toe in the PED water again and sign Cabrera.
Cabrera is coming off of a miserable 2014 campaign which included the aforementioned 50 game PED suspension coupled with a triple slash (AVG/OBP/SLG) line of just .232/.272/.300. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. In 2013, the former San Diego Padres shortstop made the All Star team, triple slashing .283/.355/.381, stealing 37 bases and playing solid defense in the middle of the diamond.
Cabrera is certainly a risk coming off of the rough statistical season and the 50 game suspension, but he is a speedy middle infielder with a good glove and something to prove. He does have JJ Hardy blocking his path to playing time at shortstop, but Cabrera is capable of taking his above-average defense to second base and I wouldn't be shocked if we see him take on a utility role and do some work in the outfield this season. Considering he was able to post a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 0.6 in his down year last year, and has previously been a 2+ WAR player, he should be well worth the price the Orioles paid based on the estimated cost of a win.
