Add another former Brave to the pile. The Royals have signed outfielder Melky Cabrera to a one year $1.25 million major league contract. Cabrera, 26, has spent most of his career with the Yankees before heading to Atlanta in 2009.
He has a career line of .267/.328/,379/.707 and 40 career homers in 2660 plate appearances. He’s a switch hitter who throws from the left side. He’s not particularly good at any one thing, but compared to Francoeur, he can actually take a walk and doesn’t strike out much.
Cabrera’s signing is a bit confusing since the Royals aren’t even 24 hours removed from signing Jeff Francoeur, but he’ll be coming aboard in 2011 anyway. The move gives the Royals a large group of outfielders with major league experience on the 40 man roster. Along with Francoeur and now Cabrera, Alex Gordon, Gregor Blanco, Mitch Maier and Jarrod Dyson spent time in Kansas City in 2010. It appears one of them will have to go. Dyson can be optioned to Triple A at least, but Maier could be released or Gordon could be traded.
Otherwise, to make room, I’d expect Jesse Chavez or Kanekoa Texiera to be on the street once the ink is dry.
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