Cincinnati Reds in discussions about Orlando Cabrera

• Eric Taylor

  According to Jon Heyman from SI, Cincinnati is "seriously considering" him to fill the SS slot.
  
  This would be a great sign if they can do this.
• charliehustle14

  I'd like this better than the Damon rumors, basically just because of the need we have for a SS.
• crab42

  I posted this a minute ago on the Damon thread:
  
  "Also, I'm kinda of mixed on Cabrera... As long as the Reds don't go 2 years for him then I won't mind it if they sign him. His defense was down last year, but there's a chance that it was an outlier. He does have some pop at the plate but I don't like that he doesn't walk very much. His bat is a no doubt improvement over Janish, but his glove doesn't look as good anymore. I do think that he's an upgrade... But for God's sake, don't give him 2 years!"
  
  IMO, the Reds aren't in need of a SS... they are in need of a SS that can hit. Cabrera does hit better than Janish, but he's quite a bit worse on D. And if you're worried about just getting a bat there, go ahead and let Frazier play SS because he'll hit better than Cabrera. There are no dual threat options for the Reds at the position. Their best hope is that Zack Cozart continues to improve with the bat, because the kid can pick it and he's made great strides with the bat. His Arizona fall league numbers were outstanding, and he really started to show some power while at AA Carolina last season.
  
  So in other words, I guess the signing of Cabrera wouldn't be too bad as long as the don't committ past this season.
• jordo212000

  

  Definitely need a SS. Janish isn't going to get the job done long term. Hopefully they don't do anything silly and give him a monster contract with a bunch of years on it. Anything for 1-2 years would be perfect IMO
• crab42

  There are reports that Cabrera will choose between the Reds and the Rockies later this afternoon. Most are reporting the Reds are his likely destination.
• darbypitcher22

  

  looks like the Reds are trying to make a few moves this off-season to better their club... their offense could be decent with Rolen and Cabrera...
• Eric Taylor

  Looks like Cabrera is going to sign with the Reds.
  
  
• osu45804

  

  Cabrera agrees to 1-year deal with Reds. 3 mil. Second-year option for another 3 mil.
  
  
• charliehustle14

  Good signing for the price, IMO.
  
  He's had a pretty solid career and has always been a good clubhouse guy. He'll give the SS position some much needed offensive output, which is a nice change. His D is sometimes shaky, but solid. I think the astro-turf in Minnesota had a hand in some of his defensive woes last season. He has won a couple Gold Gloves in his career, after all. Him and Rolen will be a nice combo on the left side of the infield.
  
  I think Dusty will assemble the line up like this (at least I pray it's Stubbs in CF and not Taverashit)
  
  CF-Stubbs
  SS-Cabrera (I'd prefer him in the 7 or 8 hole, but since he plays SS, he'll automatically hit 2nd)
  1B-Votto
  2B-BP
  3B-Rolen
  RF-Bruce
  C-Hernandez
  LF-Dickerson
• stroups

  

  I like the signing of Cabrera but I still hate BP hitting in the 4 hole. Oh and we have toothpick as a coach.
• charliehustle14

  Yeah BP is kind of a waste in the clean up spot, but for whatever reason, BP and Dusty both think it's the right thing to do. It wouldn't be so bad if BP didn't change his plate approach based on where he's hitting in the line up. I'd be okay with him hitting clean up if he went up there with the mentality of hitting in the 2 spot (hitting to all fields, not swinging out of his shoes, not pulling off the ball, not trying to pull breaking pitches)
• dave

  i think they overpaid but im glad we won't see janish at short for 100+ games. he will be nice to put in on D late in games cause cabrera has lost a lot of his range and arm. Cozart needs to start in 2011 so 4 mil for 1 year is pretty high.
• Eric Taylor

  I dont know how many times in my lifetime that you have been able to look at all 4 positions in the infield and see all star caliber players at each position.
• jordo212000

  

  dave wrote: i think they overpaid but im glad we won't see janish at short for 100+ games. he will be nice to put in on D late in games cause cabrera has lost a lot of his range and arm. Cozart needs to start in 2011 so 4 mil for 1 year is pretty high.

  When you are the Reds and you haven't been winning in the past 5-10 years, sometimes you have to overpay. However, that is if you even think that they did "overpay" for Cabrera. I don't think they did...
• Eric Taylor

  4 million for him is not high at all.
  
  I believe you will see him in Cincy for 2 years.
• charliehustle14

  Yeah I don't think they overpaid either. And it's 3 million, not 4.
• mhs95_06

  charliehustle14 wrote: Yeah I don't think they overpaid either. And it's 3 million, not 4.

  4 counts the at least 1 that they are commited to next year.
• mhs95_06

  dave wrote: i think they overpaid but im glad we won't see janish at short for 100+ games. he will be nice to put in on D late in games cause cabrera has lost a lot of his range and arm. Cozart needs to start in 2011 so 4 mil for 1 year is pretty high.

  I don't think the problem is seeing Yanish at short, it's the prospect of seeing him at the plate so much! But I'm afraid that Cabrera's SS skills are so dimished that the offensive difference with him may be more than off-set by the defensive difference in value to the team.
• Eric Taylor

  It is a 4 million dollar deal with a 3 million option for 2011 and a 1 million dollar buyout.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Eric Taylor wrote: It is a 4 million dollar deal with a 3 million option for 2011 and a 1 million dollar buyout.

  No it's not.
  
  He had a 4 million dollar contract last year. It is 3 million w/ the Reds.
• Eric Taylor

  Thats the numbers I had in the email I received.
  
  It doesnt matter really, all that matters is that he is signed and sealed to play for the Reds in 2010.
• mhs95_06

  Janish's on base percentage is only 0.019 worse than Cabrera's --- .296 to .315
• Ironman92

  

  I like it. He's a baseball player. He'll fit in.
  
  
  Hopefully the Reds can keep adding and do what the Giants did and give Dusty a team he can't lose with....though he still found a way in the end.
• crab42

  I'm fine with this because I don't believe that he will be of negative value defensively. His bat is an improvement for the Reds, who struggled scoring runs last season. He didn't have a high OBP last year, but he was over .340 in 3 of the previous 4 seasons. And he's a decent run producer from a position that the Reds got nothing from last season. Dusty will hit him 2nd, so I would much rather see him getting those ABs than Janish even though I love Paul's glove work. IMO, if the Reds have 3 things go their way they will contend for a playoff spot... 1)the young players (Homer, Cueto, Jay, Stubbs, maybe Chapman) continue to improve and play somewhere near their projected level. 2) The "cornerstone" vets (Harang, Aaroyo, Cordero, Rolen) stay healthy and produce at a normal level, while Joey and BP have big offensive seasons. 3) Dusty has to stay out of his own way... this may be the toughest of all. If these things happen then this team will win some ballgames and keep fans interested after August.