Cabrera for Garland: An unusual trade

It’s rare that the Angels make a trade that I don’t feel strongly about one way or the other. Yesterday, they sent Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for Jon Garland.

I’m not jumping for joy or shaking my fist with anger about this one. I don’t really know what to make of it.

The Angels’ strength last year was their pitching, so you would think it wasn’t a huge need they needed to address. On the other hand, pitching depth is more important now than ever, and Garland is certainly better than most team’s 4th and 5th starters. And that’s what he’s going to be for the Angels, who already have John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and Jered Weaver as the first three guys in the rotation.

Orlando Cabrera had become a fan favorite of sorts, and while he was certainly good, I think he was often overrated by Angel fans. Cabrera was a slightly above-average shortstop, but far from an all-star.

I can’t think of too many statistics to compare pitchers and hitters, so I’ll use one pair that most baseball fans understand (ERA+ and OPS+), and another even I don’t fully grasp, but what I’ve read about sabermetrics, is a very good measure of what a player contributed to his team (Win Shares).

Garland, ERA+ last four years: 97, 128, 105, 112
Cabrera, OPS+ last four years: 74, 81, 85, 95

Garland, Win Shares last four years: 11, 21, 15, 13
Cabrera, Win Shares last four years: 11, 14, 19, 25

Garland will be 28 next season, Cabrera will be 33.

I’m hoping this trade helps the Angels set up another trade for a big bat. If it does, I like this trade. If it doesn’t happen, I’m OK with this trade. Not thrilled by it, not upset by it.