With a lengthy list of roster issues to address and a labor lockout looming, the Cincinnati Redsmade a small but potentially important move this week.
Versatile-fielding Oswaldo Cabrera, the once-promising Yankees prospect acquired by the Reds on waivers last month, has avoided arbitration with the Reds by signing a one-year, $1 million contract.
Cabrera, a popular and respected teammate throughout his career, missed much of the past two big-league seasons working back from a severe ankle injury but said he was at full health when joining the Reds for the final week of the season.
The Reds, who finished 75-87 and in last place in the NL Central, aren't expected to do much in free agency during the month or so between the World Series and the anticipated
Dec. 1 lockout, leaving them to try to secure a handful of smaller, mostly internal movessuch as this one before then.
The switch-hitting infielder/outfielder went 4-for-13 (.308) with two doubles, a walk and a stolen base in four games for the Reds.
The contract included a $200,000 incentives package.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds secure early $1m signing of Oswaldo Cabrera to avoid arbitration
