Veteran SS still looking for work

A 34 year old Shortstop, who has played 140+ games for 8 consecutive seasons, a career .274 Batting Average, 2 Gold Gloves, a World Series Ring and a single season high of 71 strikeouts over a 12 year career. This is the resume for one Orlando Cabrera. Can someone please explain to me why, a day before spring training games are set to begin, he hasn’t been signed. Yes I understand teams covet youth like never before and signing Cabrera will force a team to forfeit a #1 draft pick to the Chicago White Sox. I know all about the possible questions concerning Cabrera’s ‘negative’ attitude in 2008. But there’s got to be one team out there that could use him, isn’t there? Even though, he’s pretty old in the baseball world, he’s still been remarkably consistent over his last 3 seasons. If we look at his averages since 2006 we get a stat line of 635 At-bats, 183 Hits, 37 2Bs, 96 Runs, 22 SB, a .288 BA, and he still remains a solid defensive SS.

The A’s had expressed interest earlier in the winter. Cabrera would be a definite upgrade over current SS Bobby Crosby, but the A’s have reportedly been courting Nomar Garciaparra of late. He would certainly be useful for the St. Louis Cardinals. Cabrera would be a massive upgrade from newly acquired Khalil Greene and also be a nice table setter at the top of the lineup for Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick. He would be a nice one year shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds in their quest to compete while rebuilding. There’s got to be a few other clubs with at least mild interest as well.

Now I’m sure money was a major factor earlier in the winter. But it’s now late February and like other recently signed free agents Orlando Hudson and Bobby Abreu, Cabrera should realize it’s in his best interest to take a one year deal at market value in this depressed market. Hopefully for Cabrera’s sake he’s not holding on to the hope that he’ll get a contract similar to the head scratcher the Giants gave Edgar Renteria (2yrs-18 mil). It’s hard to believe Cabrera won’t be playing in 2009 but if it is about the money and he doesn’t realize the Renteria deal is the anomaly of the winter than we might not see Cabrera on the field come early April.
-Robb Lennahan