Orlando Cabrera

2013

There was no outlook written for Orlando Cabrera.

2012

After posting a .598 OPS with the Indians last season, Cabrera was even worse after getting traded to San Francisco, where he recorded a .510 OPS. He’s now 37 and no longer a plus defender, so he’ll struggle to find an everyday job. Cabrera still makes contact at an acceptable clip (87 percent), but he draws few walks and is unable to get on base consistently. He’s unsigned as of press time, but he’ll latch on somewhere in a utility role.

2011

Cabrera spent way too much of the 2010 season batting either leadoff or second for the Reds, despite an OBP that was below .300 most of the season. While he had a few clutch hits, Cabrera regularly set up Joey Votto with too many nobody-on, two-out situations in the first inning. The Reds chose not to pick up his option and at press time he was still a free agent. He'll hook on somewhere, but it might end up being in a part-time role. His range at shortstop no longer is strong enough to put up with his poor on-base skills.

2010

Cabrera continues to help fantasy players in multiple categories with moderate power, decent speed and a high contact rate that usually results in a beneficial batting average. He did display some troubling signs as his walk rate reached the lowest point in the last five years and he had his fewest steals since 2000. He also slipped in the field with a negative ultimate zone rating. However, his stats have been fairly consistent the past five seasons despite playing for four different teams, so even if he slips a bit he'll still likely remain the low-profile, unsexy player who provides value beyond his typical price.

2009

Cabrera is the unsexy version of Derek Jeter, good for 90 runs, a .280 BA, eight homers and 20 steals a year, and available eight rounds after the more famous edition. His durability and broad skill set should make him a safe bet even at 34. He was a free agent at the time we went to press - his classification as a Type A free agent slowed the market for him.

2008

Cabrera had the best season of his career in 2007, and the Angels responded by trading him to the White Sox over the winter. Cabrera set career highs in average (.301) and runs scored (101), batting .301 while also stealing 20 bases. Thus far, he's showing no signs of slowing down and will again be among the best fantasy options at shortstop, especially with the potential for added power with the switch to U.S. Cellular Field. On top of this, the White Sox will benefit from having his Gold Glove-caliber defense in the middle of their infield.

2007

Cabrera returns as the starting shortstop in 2006. He is exactly the kind of low-profile, unsexy player who provides value beyond his typical price. He's durable and fast, so he'll put up counting stats and steals, and his BA is usually good enough to not hurt you in his 600 at-bats.

2006

Cabrera returns as the starting shortstop in 2006. He's one of many Angels who displayed a disturbing drop in power last year. Cabrera's 2003 .807 OPS increasingly looks like an aberration. As long as he keeps running, however, he'll at least remain among the second tier of fantasy shortstops.

2005

Cabrera will start at shortstop for the Angels after helping Boston to a World Series title. Cabrera's numbers declined last season but his stats improved once he was traded to Boston from Montreal. He should rebound and be a top AL shortstop this season.

2004

Cabrera had a career year in 2003, setting new highs in BA, OBP, SLG, home runs and doubles. His defense didn't return to its 2001 level, but was still pretty good, and his success rate on the basepaths (92%, or 24-for-26) was a definite plus. If the Expos had anything in their desolate farm system to replace him with, now would be the perfect time to deal him.

2003

The RBIs in 2001 were a mirage, of course, but the surprise was the defensive drop-off. Back problems could be to blame (not that they held him back on the basepaths). Should be dealt while he still has some value, but with Brandon Phillips gone, the Expos have no one else at SS, so Cabrera's days as an Expo might not be over quite yet.