Dan Duquette is Vice-President of Baseball Operations for the Baltimore Orioles, and he knows a deal when one presents itself. The kind of guy who probably plays roulette at the casino, Duquette now wants to roll the dice on free agent shortstop Everth Cabrera. It’s nearly March and he remains unsigned. Duquette knows this club will have leverage in any contract negotiations.
Cabrera was one of many players tied to the Biogenesis scandal that graced MLB headlines for much of 2013. He served a 50-game suspension that same year, also when former Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz served one in the same capacity.
Last year, the Orioles took on Cruz at a discounted salary of $8 million based on his PED track record. The reclamation project paid huge dividends for the club, as Cruz was one of the most productive hitters in the entire league. Ultimately leading it in home runs, finishing third in total bases and fourth in runs batted in, he finished seventh in AL MVP voting.
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While the flier on Cruz was huge for the O’s 2014 success, it remains to be seen if Cabrera can find success in the league once again. He has character issues that extend beyond his PED use and Biogenesis involvement. He had a domestic violence charge on his rap sheet during spring training in 2012. The charges were eventually dropped.
While he and Cruz profile as different players on the field, the proposed pact again appears to be of the one-year variety with the Orioles. The opportunity for redemption that the O’s provided to Cruz in 2014 led to justification for the then 33-year old. His production culminated in a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners this offseason for $57 million to be their everyday designated hitter.
Cabrera was once a promising shortstop within the San Diego Padres’ organization. As a 22-year old in 2009 he appeared on the NL ROY ballot. Then in 2012, he hit .246/.324/.324 for the Friars and led the NL in stolen bases with 44. In 2013, he appeared poised for a breakout season. The 26-year old was named an All-Star for the first time in his career and at the time of his suspension was a valuable leadoff hitter for the Padres hitting .283/.355/.381 through 95 games played. Cabrera was also second in the league with 37 stolen bases and leading his team in runs scored before the suspension.
Last season Cabrera digressed and was hardly worthy of a roster spot. He hit only .232 and contributed a WAR of 0.6 to his ball club. Further mounting to his aforementioned issues in character, during the 2014 season in September he was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of marijuana. In the offseason, Cabrera was charged with resisting arrest in November, entering a not guilty plea in December.
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Cruz fit well into the designated hitter position with the O’s. He offered support in a power-hitting role after injuries to Matt Wieters, Manny Machado and a drop-off in productivity from Chris Davis threatened the clubs postseason chances in 2014. Cabrera profiles more as a defensive asset whose biggest plus as a hitter is his speed on the base paths. He is roadblocked by current shortstop J.J. Hardy on defense.
Given these variables, it appears Cabrera is merely insurance capable of filling in at most infield positions should an injury arise or players require a day off. Given Machado’s injury history, Cabrera could probably play third base if called upon. Appearances at second base for a potentially ineffective second year player in Jonathan Schoop may also be an option. Starts at DH could factor in, but expect him to pinch-run frequently. The Orioles finished dead last in the league with only 44 stolen bases as a team in 2014.
If the right situation occurs where Everth Cabrera can receive everyday at-bats while keeping out of trouble off the field in 2015, it’s possible Duquette’s short-term investment could flourish with a long-term deal for 2016 and beyond — for the O’s or elsewhere — in the similar manner Cruz has.