The Texas Rangers have signed veteran infielder Asdrubal Cabrera to a one-year contract worth $3.5MM for the upcoming season. The deal does not have any club options or incentives known at the moment.
Cabrera, 33, has appeared in 12 major league season with the Indians, Nationals, Rays, Mets, and Phillies. He has spent most of his time at shortstop but has also appeared at second and third base as well. Cabrera is a two-time All Star making appearances at the midsummer classic in 2011 and 2012 as well as winning a Silver Slugger award in 2011. A switch-hitter, Cabrera provides the ability to play multiple infield positions as well as offering good power which included a 23 home run campaign last season. He is a career .269 hitter and has hit well from both sides of the plate fairly equally over his career. Although Cabreras numbers are not overwhelming, he has been nothing short of solid, consistent, and reliable over the course of his career.
It would appear that the Rangers signed Cabrera to primarily play third base for the club as they already have a solid middle infield duo in the form of shortstop Elvis Andrus and second baseman Rougned Odor. As well as third, Cabrera could also give either Andrus or Odor a day off and fill in nicely up the middle without downgrading the teams defense at all. It is a nice acquisition for a club who lost their Hall of Fame third baseman, Adrian Beltre, to retirement at the end of the season as well as trading away once promising prospect Jurickson Profar earlier this off season. The price is right for Texas as you can never go wrong with a one-year contract and the low cost of $3.5MM is a fraction of what other players, that fill the same type of roll, have signed for this off season.
MLB News & Notes 