Last winter the Reds signed Orlando Cabrera to a one-year deal in part because of his leadership abilities and playoff experience. The veteran earned $2.02MM in 2010 with a $4MM mutual option for 2011. If Cincinnati declines the option, the buyout will be for $1MM and if Cabrera declines, it will be for $500K.
While Mark Sheldon of MLB.com writes that Cabrera delivered on the leadership, his offensive numbers slipped in 2010. The soon-to-be 36-year-old hit .263/.303/.354 in 123 games while playing above-average (5.3 UZR/150) defense. Meanwhile, Paul Janish improved his offensive production, posting a slash line of .260/.338/.385 in 82 games while also playing a solid shortstop (2.2 UZR/150) in a limited role. Janish also did a solid job of filling in for Cabrera when he was injured for critical games in August.
Will the Reds pick up their end of Cabrera's option?
It’s all about the intangeableas…Yes
“Talent makes winners, not intangibles.” -Sandy Koufax
Sold
Janish’s numbers are deceiving. he had a .308/.392/.446 lines against lefties and a ugly .237/.311/.356 line against righties. If he were to be the regular shortstop and face both lefty and righty, his numbers would be pretty bad, especially since he doesn’t have a track record of hitting in the majors either.
what about signing a left handed SS to platoon with Pauliewood?
Like an Omar Vizquel?
Great defensive SS (still). Hit .280 with a .347 OBP against righties this year (career numbers are better against righties too).
Still don’t think he’ll leave the White Sox….but Omar does have Ohio roots with all his years in Cleveland. Omar didnt’ sign with Cleveland and chose the White Sox cause they were closer to winning a title……well, Reds are probably closer than the White Sox.
Decligning O-Cab’s option and signing Omar would likely cost less than $4M too.
This option seems pretty sound to me.. Anyone have the number on Vizquel from last season. The hitting seemed pretty decent to me.
True that Janish’s splits are better against lefties, but he has 2x the plate attempts against righties. So the overall numbers are not deceiving due to being platooned like many players stats who play for good managers may be.
do people forget his poor defense in the playoffs or his lack of hustle in the late innings of game three?
As a Reds fan I’ve watched Cabrera everyday this season. He D was about as bad as it could be and his bat was awful too. Janish’s D is flat out awesome. Watching him pick it is a blast. I hope they don’t pick up that option.
it’s the intangables though. O-Cab is a veteran who’s won before thats what he brought to the table and was a big reason in the Reds success.
What are you Dusty Baker!!!!!! That totally sounds like him.
I’m with you. Cabrera doesn’t play a very good shortstop anymore, and his batting skills have declined. If there’s any team that ought to be able to carry a weak bat at shortstop like Janish’s, it’s the Reds.
Honestly if after watching about 90 percent of the games this past season. I would be ok with Janish and someone else new platoon. O Cab was just kinda blah all season it seamed.
If all you bring to the table are intangables its time to hang it up and start coaching.
Cabrera is a poor fielder with a weak bat, he doesn’t really walk, doesn’t really run, has poor range. He does field what he gets to though and doesn’t strike out much.
Of starting SS at the major league level I would say he’s in the bottom five, and at 37 that likely isn’t going to change. If he’s a bench player for 1 million fine, but not as a starter. I decline the option and turn the position over to Janish and Cozart or trade for a SS such as Stephen Drew or Jason Bartlett.
Cabrera also could have been named divisional series MVP since he did more to help the Phillies win that series then any of their offensive players.
I like the idea of trading for Drew or Bartlett. I figure the Reds probably wouldn’t have to give up too much to get one of them, and you pretty much stated all the reasons why it would be preferable to have one of them starting as opposed to O-Cab.
The Reds would have to give up a LOT to get Stephen Drew. Anyone would. He’s not leaving Arizona unless it’s for a solid package.
Bartlett won’t cost you anything, but I’d look at Brignac if possible.
I think the default option is to keep him. He played decently (during the season anyway) and the Reds did very well, well beyond most peoples’ expectations for them for the year. It’s a sort of “don’t rock the boat” thing at work.
The real question, however, is whether or not they can fill whatever needs they feel they have, pay out the big incoming arbitration raises to players like Votto and Bruce, and still afford Cabrera. I don’t know the answer to that; I didn’t watch them enough to get a good feel for what their needs may be and how much they may cost.
My instinct is that while the money is probably better spent elsewhere, they end up keeping him.
Your forgetting the Ca$htelli concept though.. The Reds owner has said in the past he would spend on the right person. We do have some money coming off the books this year Harang and some of the options years won’t get picked up. Yes there are going to be some nice Arb Case Rases but maybe not if multi year deals go down on Votto and Bruce and please don’t quote that report about Votto blowing off that reporter about a multi year deal. Votto is known for not liking to talk about his future.
Make a trade for a shortstop.
Reyes – Wood – Valaika
Bartlett – Alonso , Frasier or Heisey.
I’d trade Valaika for Reyes and I’d trade Alonso for Bartlett. But other than that, I think you’re getting rather crazy offering Travis Wood for an older Jose Reyes and either Todd Frazier or Chris Heisey for Bartlett. But that’s just my opinion.
A trade to the Rays seems to make a lot of sense, especially if they could pacakge a deal for one of James Shields or Matt Garza, since the Rays are likely going to deal one of them. I’m not sure about the Reds farm system (Span, help me out!), but I’m sure a package of Yonder Alonso, an outfield prospect, a projected middle to back of the rotation starter, and a bullpen arm would get a deal done.
Rays are looking to shed salary, so they might be able to steal Bartlett and Garza if they take on both their contracts, and only end up dealing Alonso and scrubs.
So Yonder Alonso, our outfield Prospect could be Chris Heisey or Todd Fraizer he an play outfield but more in field ad i would keep him. Sam Lecure as the mid roation strter and th bullpen arm maybe Jordan Smith fastball in upper 90s or Logan Ondrusek. I’ddo that for Shields and Brignac. Who would you guys rather have Graza or Shields?
So Yonder Alonso, our outfield Prospect could be Chris Heisey or Todd Fraizer he an play outfield but more in field ad i would keep him. Sam Lecure as the mid roation strter and th bullpen arm maybe Jordan Smith fastball in upper 90s or Logan Ondrusek. I’ddo that for Shields and Brignac. Who would you guys rather have Graza or Shields?
I mean Bartlett not brignac
I mean Bartlett not brignac
A trade to the Rays seems to make a lot of sense, especially if they could pacakge a deal for one of James Shields or Matt Garza, since the Rays are likely going to deal one of them. I’m not sure about the Reds farm system (Span, help me out!), but I’m sure a package of Yonder Alonso, an outfield prospect, a projected middle to back of the rotation starter, and a bullpen arm would get a deal done.
Rays are looking to shed salary, so they might be able to steal Bartlett and Garza if they take on both their contracts, and only end up dealing Alonso and scrubs.
Travis wood highly doubt it. The guy is already loved in Cincy.
Barlette for Alonso and maybe someone else maybe. I do this deal even.
From twitter:
Jocketty on Cabrera option: “It’s probably more than we want to exercise, we’ll try to find a happy medium..if not Janish would be our SS”
Who on Twitter said that?
Who on Twitter said that?
Well remember last year when he said Janish already had the starting spot and sign O-Cab. so dont it to serious about either one. I still see O-Cab coming back and i kinda hope he does if not i think the Janish and Vizquel platoon or what about miggy tejada at short? he did play there for the Padres and he can still hit. If we miss out on Werth fo left which im sure we would what about Maggs for left? 300 average-15 to 25 hrs-80 to 100 rbis and tollerable defense?
Magglio I think will resign with the Tigers. And he’s solid defensively, just lackof range. He catches everything he gets to unlike Jermaine Dye(same age, usedto be a GG outfielder)could get to ball but then either drop it, or have it bounce off his glove.
Well remember last year when he said Janish already had the starting spot and sign O-Cab. so dont it to serious about either one. I still see O-Cab coming back and i kinda hope he does if not i think the Janish and Vizquel platoon or what about miggy tejada at short? he did play there for the Padres and he can still hit. If we miss out on Werth fo left which im sure we would what about Maggs for left? 300 average-15 to 25 hrs-80 to 100 rbis and tollerable defense?
Bartlett and Garza are two very good players in the AL east the toughest division. Cincy will have to give up Alonso, Frasier, and Leake to get that quality.
decline! on the fact that he complained about getting no hit by halladay, not to mention he isn’t worth the money. his “veteran” presence sure didn’t help them in the playoffs this year