You Always Play Me in the Cheapest Key - Jays Say Signing Orlando Cabrera "Makes No Sense"

by hugo on Jan 9, 2009 10:28 AM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

This Buster Olney blog post talks about how some Type A free agents who were offered arbitration are having trouble getting offers because teams don't want to give up draft picks to sign them.

The one most relevant to us is Orlando Cabrera, 34-year old shortstop and Richard Griffin's favourite subject. Olney notes that Cabrera is a "productive major league veteran" (you can't argue with the last 3/4 of that) who would fit well on the Jays (I tend to agree that Cabrera would fit in fine on the Jays for the right price - very little - and if they could also find someone to take J-Mac and his 2+ million dollar salary off their hands, it would really make sense). But, as he notes, Toronto would have to give up their first-round draft pick to sign O-Cab. Olney quotes a "highly ranked Blue Jays executive" who sounds familiar:

"I like Cabrera, and think he could help us," one highly ranked Blue Jays executive said. "But I cannot justify giving up a pick for a 34-year-old shortstop on a one- or two-year deal. It makes absolutely no sense for us. None."

I have to admit, when Furcal, Renteria, etc shook out the way it did, I thought the writing was on the wall that the Jays were going to get Cabrera on a deal similar to the one that Eckstein signed with our heroes last winter. I was not happy about that at all, but I thought it would happen. Now it looks like the Jays will not be in at any price.

Remember when Griffin said we should offer O-Cab a 4year, $32 million dollar contract? Me too. Thanks to Ottawa's own Kathleen Edwards for today's post title (it's from "The Cheapest Key" on her record Asking for Flowers)

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I really wonder where Orlando will end up...

I don’t see him as being a big upgrade for anyone. add in the loss of two draft picks and I can’t see anyone wanting him. is it too late for him to accept arbitration?

On a different subject, the Southpaw has a good post saying our Jays should be better offensively in every position next season, except catcher and short and those two spots shouldn’t be any worse next year. As much as I’d like the Jays to sign a slugging DH, I agree with all of it. But I didn’t realize that Rios hit so poorly when he played center field last year, would have to guess that that was just a fluke, that he just happened to be playing CF when he wasn’t hitting well, not that playing CF caused him to hit poorly.

by Tom Dakers on Jan 9, 2009 11:05 AM EST reply actions

Cabrera probably makes the least sense of any players who’s name has been connected with the jays this winter.

he brings NOTHING we don’t already have except a pissy attitude.

by TamRa on Jan 9, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions

well

if we didn’t have to give up the draft pick, AND Cabrera cost us less than what Eckstein did last year for a one-year deal AND we found someone willing to take on J-Mac and his salary, I wouldn’t mind Cabrera as he would provide some stability at the SS position for very little money. Scutaro never put up good fielding numbers at SS before last year, and ranged from mediocre to terrible as a fielding SS, at least, according to UZR. Cabrera might be no better with the bat (he’s probably a tiny bit better) but he has always been average to well-above with the SS glove.

Last year Cabrera gave $15.6 million in value (he earned $10) while Scoot gave the Jays $14.5 million (he only earned $1.6), though not all his value was at SS. Scoot was clearly the better bargain last year and if they both play exactly as they did last season, Cabrera’s not really worth anything except as injury insurance. But it’s far from a sure thing that Scoot will be as good with the glove in 2009 as he was in 2008.

Anyway, the first and third of those things I mentioned above aren’t going to happen, so it doesn’t really matter – I agree I don’t want Cabrera. But I would not be shocked if he has a better season than Scoot. for, say, Baltimore.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 9, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t be shocked if he had a somewhat better year but the balance between the investment and the added wins (as opposed to what an equal amount of money would do elsewhere to) makes the decision an easy one. IMO.

by TamRa on Jan 10, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

I very much agree

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 11, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

Key question

“Is it too late for him to accept arbitration?” I guess that is what he gets for declining sometimes. Can’t win them all.

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" -- Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Jan 9, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions

If no one signs him before the season....

at what point would signing him no longer cost draft picks? If he had to sit out a year would he still cost draft picks?

by Tom Dakers on Jan 9, 2009 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

I assume if he's signed after the draft

he would no longer cost a draft pick.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Jan 9, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

Where are the Jays slated to pick next year?

by oc on Jan 10, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

Even if we can find someone to take Johnny Mac’s salary, this moves makes no sense. The guy can hit for average, but has a low OBP and no SLG power. As Jeff Passan notes, “only once in his 11 full seasons has his OPS been better than league average.” The last thing the Jays need is another light hitting SS. Scutaro is by no means a power hitter, but plays solid defense and was one of our most consistant hitters and I see no need to replace him this year, at least not with Cabrera.

The Jays farm system is average-at-best, and giving away a first round pick for a one-year, under-achieving rental player is not a good move, considering the Jays need all the prospects they can get. Maybe, maybe if he was a type-B I’d consider it, providing we could move one of Johnny Mac or Scutaro.

Of course the Jays will need to get a shortstop soon (since Justin Jackson is at least three seasons away and Johnny Mac and Scutaro are FAs after 2009), so we might as well wait until 2010 when there is a chance of competing. Next years free agent class at SS- Jack Wilson, Bobby Crosby, and Khalil Greene- is allright, though by no means terrific, and at least one of these guys should be type-B. Resigning Scutaro to another two-year deal isn’t a bad idea if he plays well this year.

Bradley
http://44north.mlblogs.com

by 44north on Jan 10, 2009 4:43 PM EST reply actions

I agree

it’s not worth the draft pick, even if it essentially cost us nothing else. I know draft picks can be overrated in value, but especially if the team is trimming payroll or freezing it, we need the draft picks to keep talent in the Jays’ system.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 11, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions