How could anyone dislike the A’s signing Orlando Cabrera to a one year, $4 million deal?

Cabrera’s a winner.  The only reason the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, have the label “champions” is because of Orlando Cabrera.

Manny was great.  Ortiz was great.  Pedro and Schilling, both great.  But Orlando Cabrera is the best, and is the only reason why they won.

Okay, I am exaggerating…obviously.  But Cabrera did serve an important role in the Red Sox final destination; World Champions.  He shored up the defense, and hit a little too.

But those years have passed for O-Cab…Or have they?

Cabrera has posted consecutive “WARP1’s” that rival any of his past seasons except for one: 2001.  The declining power will probably continue, and it will appear even worse playing in Oakland, I would imagine. 

But Cabrera can still play defense.  He plays an up-the-middle position, and Billy Beane values up-the-middle defenders a lot. 

I am among those who are skeptical about how well “O-Cab” can swing the bat nowadays.  I mean, he slugged .371 playing in Chicago!  First, understand that he is ****, and they aren’t exactly power-hitting by nature, so that slugging is less important, relative to position.  But .371, in a hitters park, isn’t exactly enticing to Gm’s.

But the defense is where its at.  Cabrera isn’t the best defender at the position, but even if he is average on D, and not terrible with the bat, he is an upgrade over Bobby Crosby. 

Why?  Because “B-Cros” doesn’t play.  And when he does actually get on the field, and away from his re-occuring injury problems, he doesn’t play well. 

Crosby’s OPS+’s the last three seasons:  67, 68, 76

That is why Cabrera was brought in.  He is a serious upgrade over Crosby, and he costs a very reasonable price.

Oh, and he gives the A’s an even better shot to make a run at the Angels.