Cabrera, Reds Agree to One-Year Deal
Sunday, January 31, 2010Posted by Andy Ouriel
Orlando Cabrera is getting good at playing the waiting game.
For the second consecutive offseason, Cabrera remained a free agent deep into the winter, but his patience paid off.
Cabrera and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract Saturday night, reports Yahoo! Sports and MLB.com. The contract includes a $3 million option with a $1 million buyout for 2011, according to MLBTradeRumors.
The Reds have not yet confirmed the deal or the details of payment.
The 14-year veteran shortstop hit .284 with nine home runs and 77 RBIs during time with the Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins last season.
His biggest moment in 2009 came in a very clutch situation with the Minnesota Twins battled their division rivals, the Detroit Tigers, in a one-game playoff to determine the American League Central champion in the 163rd game of the season.
Down 3-2 in the 7th inning, Cabrera took a Zach Miner slider deep to left field to put the Twins up by one run. The Twins would eventually win the epic game in extra innings.
But why would such a reliable player such as Cabrera remain among one of the last free agent left?
It's not because of his talent. Last year, the Oakland Athletics signed him weeks before spring training. Considered a Type-A free agent, if a team were to sign Cabrera, they would have to give up two draft picks, one being in the first round.
Teams believed they would not want to sign Cabrera to millions of dollars and give up players that could make up the future makeup of their teams.
However, Cabrera has shown he will be productive for any team he plays for.
The former Golden Glove Award winner averaged a .282 batting average, eight home runs, 70 RBIs and has had at least a .965 fielding percentage during that time period.
Cabrera will replace the light-hitting Paul Janish who occupied the shortstop duties for the Reds in 82 games.
The Colorado Rockies also were in pursuit of Cabrera.
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