It’s not a Willy T type disaster in that Cabrera won’t be a huge negative. But Cabrera isn’t much of an upgrade. It’s just kind of not needed.

But it might make a few more idiot fans buy tickets because the Reds showing they are “serious about winning” by going out and getting a proven vet SS.

can just leave now….

I want this team to look like that good AZ team a few years ago.

If they sign Gomes to the minor league deal, I’ll be better with this,

but holy hell, that player option better be a team option

but there’s also a chance his offensive numbers get a boost from coming back to the NL.

Option is for 3 mil with a 1mil buyout. Doesn’t know what kind of option, but if there’s a buyout I assume it’s a team option

to the #2 hole.

CF Stubbs
SS Cabrera
1B Votto
2B BP
3B Rolen
RF Bruce
LF Gomes (if all goes well)
C Hernandez

Not terribly thrilling but a step up from having to use Jannish and Wlad and C-Dick (IF they sign Jonny)
Although I would love to see Frazier worked in this season. But Jannish now goes to the #2 spot on the depth chart
So prolly no Todd at SS this ST.

If it’s Taveras, this deal was worth every penny

                  Hit .381 with a man on 1st last year largely because he also hit .404 when going to the right side. That means our lead off hitter gets on, a good percentage of the time we’re going to have two men on when Votto comes up. That means quite a few more crooked numbers.

                 Steals some bases, will hit about 10 HRs and probably 30-40 2Bs, can SAC bunt if you like that sort of thing and has had a knack of hitting SFs (led the AL last year and a few other years). Rarely strikes out. Batted .315 in September/October for the Twins in their stretch run and added 23 RBIs in 31 games.

                  Those who keep insisting he’s very little of an upgrade or no upgrade at all over Janish are deluded.

              “About” 10 is an accurate statement for someone who hits 8-9 every year and is now going to a nice hitter’s park in an inferior league. I regard his “defensive problems” last year as an outlier, as was Janish’s +24 UZR/150.

                 OBP isn’t the beginning and end of offensive value; his situational stats are impressive.

kid probably won’t ever catch a break. time to jump on the cabrera bandwagon? might as well.

"I suck. I don’t even know how to describe it. … I suck. For real." Scouts at Dodger Stadium this week said that the A’s shortstop appears tired, and he agreed that might be the case, or, he said, "I’m getting old, maybe."

6/19/09 (HT to FanGraphs)

All that said, for a one-year deal I don’t mind this. We need depth if nothing else, and there’s probably not a significant net difference between Cabrera and Janish.

Cabrera’s UZR last year was awful, but unlike Tejada it was preceded by two very strong years. So while his age is a concern I think it’s a worthwhile risk (unless he was right about himself). He’s also probably our last chance to acquire a former Expo, so he’s got that going for him as well.

I’ll admit it, I really enjoyed the first couple of seasons.

I’m indifferent right now. I just don’t think Dusty will use him correctly. No SS on this team should be batting 2nd. Also, the player who is playing best should get the majority of the playing time even if only one of those players is considered a veteran leader.

Cabrera hit a lot better in the 2nd half last year (.643 OPS v. .776 OPS). Hopefully, his defense hasn’t declined to the extent that his 2009 UZR indicates.

Since Janish, Rosales and Sutton aren’t really that great, and not guaranteed to improve or not to worsen, it’s not a bad idea to sign a veteran like Cabrera if the team is close to contending. Also, $3 million isn’t bad for a starting SS. Some think that old players might be the big new market ineffciency.

Although it’s a decent signing, Dusty’s managing will negate any possible benefit of it. It’s a wash.

About 48 percent of the world is pissed off when the Reds don’t sign every single free agent out there, ranging from Fred Flintstone to Barney Schultz, including Cabrera, Nix, Gomes, Matt Holliday, Billie Holiday, Happy Holiday and of course — Valentine Day.

Of that 48 percent, the rest are confused.

The other 54 percent wants us to build from the system, except when the system produces guys who can’t pitch, can’t hit or aren’t very good in trade, even after they pass an MRI, MBA or CPA.

That leaves 19 percent who criticize nearly everything the team does based on statistics that applied in 2005, 2004 and 1974 when the kid was born.

If he’s a lefthander, all bets are off.

The underlined statement in the previous documentation said Janish can’t hit. The Reds needed a shortstop who could hit. Otherwise, they would have a shortstop who could not hit. So ……. Jocketty, in stating right up front (at the winter meetings for the history-challenged) that the team was going to address its left field and shortstop problems, has essentially done part of that. This comes as no surprise to the 34 percent who remember it.

Cabrera can hit better than Janish can. So, to the 25.7 percent of the puzzled, or half who said the Reds needed a better hitter at shortstop, well … ya got one.

Next?

Well, at least we didn’t sign Melvin Mora

I skimmed all the comments but didn’t ‘read’ them all. So if this has already been brought up, I’m sorry:

I don’t like this for one reason: We’re assuming Rolen will stay healthy for a good bulk of the season — something he hasn’t done for several years now.

I hate to be the person to shit in the punch bowl but: if Rolen goes down or left-side infield defense just went to shit — Rosales and OCab … ugh.

If that’s what I’m seeing and I’m a righty, I’m pulling EVERYTHING. And if I’m a lefty I’m going opposite way ALL DAY. Not to mention, lets say it’s late in the game and the opponent needs to bunt, could you imagine Rosales and Hernandez trying to field the ball with OCab covering somewhere? Fuck. Not to mention guys that would want to just try to bunt to get on base.

This trade, defensively, is beneficial only if Rolen stays healthy. I just can’t see that happening.

Snare drum please ….
I am not pro-OC or anti-Janish.
But I see this signing as a risk that the team should be taking if it plans to get off the dime and out of the rut.

Most FA signings are like this.

I don’t dislike this deal, short-term.

Actor Rip Torn Arrested for Allegedly Breaking Into Connecticut Bank

with a loaded weapon no less.