San Francisco Giants sign former All-Star SS Everth Cabrera to minor league deal

The Giants have officially made their first post-All-Star break personnel move, bringing in former All-Star shortstop Everth Cabrera on a minor league deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

The signing represents a low-risk, high-reward move for the Giants given the veteran’s impressive credentials—namely, speed, stolen bags, and did I mention speed?

Still, the deal will undoubtedly draw some outcry due to Cabrera’s past involved with the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drugs scandal, not to mention some other off-field issues including a domestic assault case and resisted arrest.

The roster fit isn’t black and white either:

Sherwood brings up a decent point given that Ehire Adrianza is currently with the team, but as I penned in a post last week , it wouldn’t be unrealistic to swap the two given that Cabrera is the more proven commodity. Joaquin Arias could be in the mix for a DFA as well, but given his years served and ability to cover the corners, I’d lean toward Adrianza being sent down if Cabrera tears it up in Sacramento.

That’s a big if, though. Cabrera’s career has been on the downturn since his drug bust in 2013, and he hit just above the Mendoza line for the Orioles in 29 games this season.

Overall, for a pinch runner extraordinaire at worst and solid middle-infield backup at best, I think the Giants made out pretty well in this deal.

Let’s just ignore the shady past.