Reds sign Orlando Cabrera to one-year, $3M deal; option for second year

[OnBaseMachine]

From Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports:

Cabrera agrees to 1-year deal with Reds. 3 mil. Second-year option for another 3 mil.

http://twitter.com/TBrownYahoo

[RedEye]

Well, that was anti-climactic.

[Ron Madden]

I can live with it.

[OnBaseMachine]

I hope the option is a team option.

[RedEye]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

I hope the option is a team option.

Me too. I think 2011 should be Cozart's year.

[Ron Madden]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

I hope the option is a team option.

So do I.

[Spring~Fields]

Looks like we can relax on the SS issue.

How much will this guys defense help the pitching?

Orlando Cabrera SS Age 35
2009 -- 	.284 .316 .389 .705
2008 CWS 	.281 .334 .371 .705
2007 LAA 	.301 .345 .397 .742 
2006 LAA 	.282 .335 .404 .739 

2009 vs right .289 .311 .400 .711	vs left .271 .327 .362 .689
2008 vs right .284 .327 .361 .688	vs left .273 .354 .400 .754
2007 vs right .299 .339 .376 .715	vs left .308 .369 .474 .843
 
2010 James 	.323 .377 .700 
2010 CHONE	.326 .374 .700

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by Spring~Fields

Looks like we can relax on the SS issue.

How much will this guys defense help the pitching?

Depends on which Cabrera shows up. If experts on UZR can be believed, Cabrera is probably right around average as a SS, perhaps a bit better. His bat is around 700, according to projections.

He's a meh signing, IMO, and offers little upside. But he's the devil you know.

[toledodan]

if he is healthy i think its a good deal. he is an upgrade over janish with the bat. also we don't have to rush frazier to SS.

[BearcatShane]

I really like having Cabrera. The entire infield is proven. If they do indeed sign Gomes they might have a shot at something.

[11larkin11]

Wow! Talk about out of the blue!

[Ron Madden]

Guess who our new two hole hitter is.

[OnBaseMachine]

I was hoping it would be a minor league contract, or at worst a one-year deal worth no more than $2M. I'm not sure how much of an improvement Cabrera is over Janish at this point in his career. If Cabrera returns to 2008 form, he'll be a fairly big improvement over Janish. If he has another season like 2009 then he'll actually be a downgrade. Let's hope he can play more like the 2008 Orlando Cabrera instead of the 2009 version.

[RedEye]

Originally Posted by BearcatShane

I really like having Cabrera. The entire infield is proven. If they do indeed sign Gomes they might have a shot at something.

Not sure this is the point. What we should be worried about is whether they are going to play well this year. I think that's still a big question mark.

We know Votto and BP are solid. However, while Rolen and Cabrera have played decent-to-very-good major league baseball in the past, there are major questions about whether both of them will continue to play at a high level (Rolen because of recent injury questions, O-Cab because of recent ineffectiveness).

I don't hate this signing, but I don't love it either. And I'm really not sure it makes the team substantially better. I suppose it does provide another warm body to put at SS--and that has to be a good thing.

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Depends on which Cabrera shows up. If experts on UZR can be believed, Cabrera is probably right around average as a SS, perhaps a bit better. His bat is around 700, according to projections.

He's a meh signing, IMO, and offers little upside. But he's the devil you know.

Looks he can contribute, of course we all hope for the best.