"All indications are that" Cincinnati will decline its end of the $4MM mutual option on Orlando Cabrera for 2011, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The move isn't exactly a surprise (over 80 percent of MLBTR readers polled last week thought Cabrera's option would be declined), but the Reds are interested in re-signing Cabrera at a lower price. Earlier this week, Reds GM Jocketty told WKRC Local 12 Sports Director Brad Johansen that Cabrera's option is "probably more than we want to exercise, we'll try to find a happy medium..if not, [Paul] Janish would be our SS." (Twitter link)
Cabrera could be amenable to staying since it appears as though he'd be given at least a share of the starting shortstop job and his lackluster 2010 season — a .263/.303/.354 slash line in 537 plate appearances — will make it hard to find a larger offer or regular playing time elsewhere. If the Reds pass on the option, they owe Cabrera a $1MM buyout.
Jocketty also told Sheldon that the club also has interest in Ramon Hernandez and Jonny Gomes. Hernandez is a free agent, while Cincinnati has a $1.75MM team option on Gomes. MLBTR's Luke Adams recently examined Hernandez's value on the free agent market, while MLBTR's Steve Adams did the same with Gomes yesterday.
I find it hard to believe that the Reds couldn’t find a trade partner for Cabrera at $3M. (4M salary – 1M buyout).
I don’t.
What team close to the playoffs needs an aging SS who is now not only declining defensively but offensively as well? He is a great clubhouse guy but I don’t think it would sit with him to be a bench player. I think he would retire before that happens.
Interesting…He’ll find a job but I wonder what the Reds are going to do at SS. Most likely Janish. I wonder if they could pry Reid Brignac away from the Rays.
I don’t think the Rays would give him away now(As nice as it would be), Maybe a few years ago. Without Cabrera, It will be Janish and Valaika to start and a glimpse of Cozart in Sept. Hernandez will be with us until Mesoraco can be a platoon guy with Hanigan regularly also. They have to sign Hernandez back. Corky could be a platoon guy with Hanigan next year, but doesn’t hit for as high of an avg. as Hernandez and his main job will be to teach Mesoraco in Louisville. Plus Hernandez hit .300 this year, best offensive season in awhile for him.
Janish and Valaika could be a good nice pair. Valaika was drafted as a SS, and he is good player. It would be nice to see him get more playing time.
I like that group too. Valaika will definitely hit more HR’s here too (A.K.A. Drew Stubbs) and Janish deserves the starting job next year, as he will actually hit for a decent avg next year. In his little playing time, he still drove in bout half as many runs as Cabrera, and hit more homer’s. Janish: .260 Avg 82 games, 5 hr’s 25 RBI’s 200 At-Bats Cabrera:.263 Avg 123 Games, 4 Hr’s 42 RBI’s 494 At-Bats and Cabrera hit only 1 Home Run past June! A shot into the first deck in Left field in September.
Padres should be all over him.
The Reds are better off playing their youngsters if the choice is Cabrera. No doubt he’s a great guy, but he’s become very injury prone and has lost some contact ability. He’d make a fine back up for at a lower cost than 3 million.
I wouldn’t object if the Reds went that route.
This was his first year to hit under .280…EVER. I think he still has that part of his game. The injury really hurt his swing.
I think re-signing Cabrera at a lower price might be a good option. Neither Janish or Valaika have been a full-time starter in the major leagues and having a guy like Cabrera there can help solidify the position. But that depends on 2 things: 1) the Reds can re-sign Cabrera for a much lower price than the $4 million option (probably around $1-1.5 million), and 2) that Cabrera would be OK with more limited playing time than he saw this season. Cabrera is one of those guys who plays on teams that make it to the playoffs; maybe it’s just a coincidence, but it’s a good track record for him. The Reds can use him as a good transition for an inexperienced guy like Janish.