According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s only have interest in free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera if he can be had as a late bargain. Despite the twists and turns it seems safe to say the A’s are no longer in the mix for Rafael Furcal.
The problems with Cabrera are the loss of a second-round pick and his probable $10MM+ salary demands. Slusser sees a legitimate chance the A’s stick with Bobby Crosby at shortstop for 2009.
Cabrera is said to be the Dodgers’ Plan B, though he carries an even steeper price for them. The Dodgers have the #17 selection in the 2009 amateur draft, the first unprotected pick. The White Sox would be thrilled to get it, and Cabrera’s Elias number is higher than that of any other Type A free agent who was offered arb the Dodgers could plausibly sign. So if the Dodgers sign Cabrera and, say, Oliver Perez, the White Sox still get the #17 pick.
