Giants trade for Orlando Cabrera

Published by on July 30, 2011 | 16 Responses

And just like that, all our problems were solved.

Still intent on shoring up their infield, the Giants obtained 15-year veteran Orlando Cabrera from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night for Minor League outfielder Thomas Neal.

Cabrera, 36, has played 83 games this season at second base for Cleveland, which has Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop. But moving back to short, where he has played 1,807 games, shouldn’t be a problem for Cabrera, who’s hitting .244 with four home runs and 38 RBIs.

For those of you keeping score at home, check these numbers out:

Tejada Cabrera
fWAR -0.1 -0.6
wRC+ 59 66
BB% 3.7 3.8
K% 9.6 11.6
UZR 1.5 -7.2

Meh. Nothing like acquiring sub-replacement level players to ‘shore’ things up. The first rule of improving your team is to get guys who are better than Miguel Tejada.

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rxmeister
rxmeister

I'm no Sabean fan, but he said the pickings were weak at SS and C, and he waited as long as he could to do something. I think he decided that weak was better than crap, and that's what he's been getting at SS all season. I think his logic is if he tries enough different players, someone is bound to get hot. Probably won't be Orlando Cabrera though.

GiantTorture
GiantTorture

While I am not, nor have I ever been, the biggest Thomas Neal fan he still had value. Basically Sabes wasted that value moving deck chairs. He wasted the return that Thomas Neal could have brought acquiring someone who is basically the same player that Migsucky is. And why oh why is Cabrera hitting in front of Belt? This season is beginning to make me believe that every single concern and fear we had about Sabes and Bochy last year was correct and they just got lucky. Still glad they got lucky, but it doesn't bode well for the future.

Josh
Josh

It's a minor deal. Doesn't really seem worth getting worked up over. Worst case, he stinks and barely plays. Best case, he's a mild upgrade. I'm much more concerned with how they address Catcher, although I'm assuming I'll have to wait until after the trade deadline to see results there.

bitterpaul
bitterpaul

Trade a 23 y.o. prospect hitting .295 in AAA for a washed up 36 y.o.? Really? Sabean is going back to being he same GM who got us Jose Cruz Jr., Edgardo Alphonso, Armando Benitez, etc. etc. WHY?

marc
marc

What bigboneded said... whaaaaaaa?!? This feels like Sabean being trade-happy. It isn't bad, it isn't good, it's a move towards mediocrity... the lack of upside is truly confounding. I'd rather have Tejada 'cause he used to be great or Crawford 'cause he has a fantastic glove and someday... he's gotta hit at least .240, right? At best, Cabrera is pointless, at worst, he's... worse. Let's hope it's the former.

LeviDavis
LeviDavis

What's bad about it is it signals the end of the search. If there were better options out there, once the trade was made, any attempts to get them were over.

guest
guest

Doesn't really matter if he's got better numbers then Tejada or not. Tejada isn't playing right now. He's got better numbers then Crawford and Fontenot....If Tejada wasn't injured, this trade would not be made.

oldjacket
oldjacket

His numbers aren't better than Fontenot's.

Rory Paap
Rory Paap

There's an argument his numbers are no better than Crawford's, too, when you factor in defense.

GiantTorture
GiantTorture

Yes, there is an argument and that argument is correct.

oldjacket
oldjacket

I do not understand this trade.

LeviDavis
LeviDavis

I understand it. Rather than looking at performance, Sabean goes by a player's reputation, and a player's reputation among those who don't look up the numbers always lags 2-3 years behind their performance.

oldjacket
oldjacket

I both like and hate this comment

Rory Paap
Rory Paap

Sabean just popping back in to remind us who he is.