The Indians officially announced that they signed Orlando Cabrera to a one-year Major League contract. Cabrera gets $1MM according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com (on Twitter). Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the deal includes incentives (Twitter link).
The 36-year-old Colombian will compete for the second base job, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Indians are keeping Asdrubal Cabrera at short and challenging their new acquisition to learn a new position.
Cabrera has 33 games of big league experience at second base, but has spent most of his 14-year career at shortstop. Last year, Cabrera hit .263/.303/.354 in 537 plate appearances for Ohio's other team, the Reds. Cincinnati did not offer the Type B free agent arbitration after the season, so they don't get a compensation pick for their loss.
Cabrera's deal is just the second one the Indians have completed under new GM Chris Antonetti, as MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows. The team brought Austin Kearns back to Cleveland earlier in the offseason.
Cabrera's brother, Jolbert, spent five seasons with the Indians (1998-2002). Jon Heyman of SI.com first reported the agreement between Cleveland and Cabrera.
Mark S
Don’t they already have Asdrubal Cabrera/Jason Donald/Valbuena for the MIF positions?
Eli
This came out of nowhere… good signing of a long time vet can’t do anything but help the team.. maybe…
Daniel Wesley
I suppose, if you consider a .303 OBP and 657 OPS helping your team…
Lunchbox45
..They do..
Kyle Buttermore
The Dolan’s are actually spending money?
Triple Hawpes Brewed
Well, at least you can say that the Indians showed signs of life this offseason…
Chuck345
Even hurting oneself sometimes requires energy.
ellisburks
I guess it was just Cleveland’s turn to own Orlando.
MetsORnothing
My guess is to play third? Or move asdrubal to second again?
heyirma
I can’t imagine Asdrubal would move back to second. They have a number of options there. I’m going to assume they got him to play third.
rbeezy
this guy has nothing left, long season ahead for the tribe.
Lunchbox45
Is this is the first Indians story of the season?
heyirma
LOL
ryanszabo
no way he play ss. he’ll have to compete for 2b or 3b like everyone else. asdrubal IS the ss, as should be clear to anyone who has watched him play the past two seasons.
big league choo
This move is a relief. O Cab will play 3b. Should be similar in effect to the Sox with Vizquel. I like it. Tribe infield defense was the worst in 3 decades last year.
Travis Reitsma
I would guess that Orlando stays at short while Asdrubal moves to third. Nix is awful, Donald has played all of 3 pro games there and Asdrubal has played only 11. What they really needed was a third baseman.
Travis Reitsma
Apparently now they’re saying he’ll compete for the 2B job. Are they really going forward with Jayson Nix or Lonnie Chisenhall as their 3B option?
rockfordone
As a Sox fan, always liked Nix – but only for a couple weeks of the season
Nick Mazur
What does this have anything to do with Grady Sizemore? The Indians are not going to trade him and his team-friendly contract anyways.
raysfan8791
you missed the joke buddy
Nick Mazur
I don’t see a joke.. so clearly it’s not a good one.
Jose Manzur
O.C is going to be the player of the year in Cleveland team. He, somehow manages the team to be a contender.
Jose Manzur
Roy Baker
With Renteria in Cincy, I wonder if O-Cab will actually attempt to speak to that man again…
Lee Steva
O-Cab has a great streak of playing for playoff teams going. Yankees Cleveland ALDS sounds like ratings gold to me…
Chuck345
So much for that streak…
ProfessorIronHorse
“Cabrera will compete for the second base job… The Indians are keeping Asdrubal Cabrera at short”
Out of curiosity, how many double play combos consisted of players with the same last name? Seriously, if anyone can name any others, please do so.
ellisburks
Ripken.
ProfessorIronHorse
I always forget about the “other Ripken”. Just like the “other Canseco”
ellisburks
And the “other Guerrero” and the “other Martinez” (Ramon)
Cam Marr
and the other griffen kathy (peter)
Cam Marr
Does O-Dog bat 2 or 7th?where would you slide him in line up? i have him 7
Asdrubal, Grady Sizemore ,Shin-Soo Choo, Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner, Matt LaPorta, O-Dog, Jason Donald 3B, Michael Brantley