A’s Sign Orlando Cabrera

According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the A’s signed shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a one-year, $4MM deal.  Since Cabrera was a Type A free agent offered arbitration, the White Sox will receive Oakland’s second-round pick this June as well as a supplemental pick.  The move leaves Bobby Crosby ($5.5MM) as a pricey backup infielder.  ESPN’s Buster Olney adds that the A’s "have had substantial talks with Nomar Garciaparra in the last 48 hours."  They also remain in talks for Dennys Reyes.

The A’s have been flirting with Cabrera for a while now, and I didn’t think they’d go as high as $4MM (which is still a bargain in general).  Perhaps recent reported interest by the Blue Jays forced them to make a move.

Now seems like a good time to bust out some quotes from John Dewan’s awesome new Fielding Bible Volume II.  Here’s his opinion on Cabrera’s defense:

"Cabrera is a fundamentally sound shortstop who plays with a lot of energy and does everything well.  He has above-average range and makes a lot of sliding plays, but he also led all shortstops in 2008 in defensive misplays (56)."