O. Cabrera Trade Improves White Sox

November 20, 2007 @ 16:40:51

By Eliott Wolbrom
Edited by Ryan Dodson

In a trade that initially seems suspect on the part of the Los Angeles Angels; the Angels moved Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Jon Garland. Cabrera put forth an outstanding offensive and defensive 2007 season, batting .301, with eight home runs, 86 RBI and 20 stolen bases. His production catapulted him into elite standing with the best of the shortstops in league.

Garland was 10-13, with a 4.23 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 208.1 innings for the White Sox in 2007, but is viewed as a workhorse, pitching over 200 innings in each of his last four seasons. Garland will join an already stacked Angels rotation that includes pitchers John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver. This move undoubtedly gives the Angels the best pitching staff in the league but considerably thins them out in their lineup. Many speculate the Angels moved Cabrera as a conduit to pushing for the other household Cabrera on the market: Florida Marlins third baseman and fantasy stud, Miguel Cabrera. This is only speculation as while Cabrera is said to be a favorite to land in Los Angeles, it looks like it may be for the National League Los Angeles Dodgers.

With this move, Orlando Cabrera's fantasy value instantly tanks as he will no longer sport the lineup protection of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, or any of the explosive, offensively sound Angels for that matter. The Angels were fifth or better in most offensive categories last year. Instead, Cabrera will be injected into a putrid White Sox lineup that in 2007 sat last in the league in batting average (.246), runs scored (693), hits (1,341) and on-base percentage (.318). This will have an enormous negative impact on Cabrera's worth as he'll essentially be going from an upper echelon offensive club to a lethargic one. The result of this trade causes Cabrera to dip from a top-five shortstop, to a top 10.

Not all is wet and damper for future Cabrera fantasy owners though. In 2008, Cabrera will likely bat second in a White Sox lineup that must yield better production than it did in 2007 as it can't possibly get any worse. For starters, the White Sox will have a projected lineup containing the likes of outfielder Jermaine Dye, who underperformed tremendously from his 2006 and 2005 and should see a bounce-back year after performing most of the season under the pressure of an expiring contract. Cabrera and Dye, coupled with White Sox sluggers like first baseman Paul Konerko, who belted 31 home runs and 90 RBI and designated hitter Jim Thome, who smacked 35 home runs and 96 RBI, are certainly going to provide good punch for the White Sox. The Sox should see a categorical improvement across the board.

The change of scenery shouldn't scare fantasy owners as for his career, Cabrera has played very well at U.S. Cellular field in Chicago, batting .302. He hit .284 in Los Angeles. His move to the American League Central won't change much either as he completely owns the Minnesota Twins (career .374 batting average). He has played on par with the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals too.

Going forward, the White Sox seem to get the sweet end of the deal, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim could suffer from the trade. Look for Cabrera in the middle rounds if you miss out on a stud shortstop in the draft.

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Eliott Wolbrom
Eliott has been with KFFL since 2007.

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