Orioles sign free agent INF Everth Cabrera to a one-year contract

The Orioles today announced that they have signed free agent INF EVERTH CABRERA to a one-year contract. Cabrera, 28, was a National League All-Star in 2013, becoming the first Nicaraguan-born position player to be named to an All-Star team.

Cabrera batted .232/.272/.300 with three home runs and 20 RBI in 90 games with the Padres in 2014. In 481 career games, he has hit .248/.319/.333 with 12 home runs, 128 RBI, and 136 stolen bases.

In 2013, he set career-highs in batting average (.283), hits (108), and home runs (four), while tying his career-high in RBI (31) before having his season cut short due to a 50-game suspension. He finished ninth in the majors and fifth in the National League with 37 steals, while his .283 batting average ranked third among NL shortstops. He earned his first career All-Star Game selection after collecting 34 steals prior to the break, but did not appear in the game. 

He became the first Padre in team history to lead the NL in steals after a career-high 44 stolen bases in 2012, which ranked third in Major League Baseball. Since 2012, Cabrera ranks eighth in MLB with 99 stolen bases.

Originally signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent in 2004, Cabrera was selected by San Diego from the Rockies in the first round of the 2008 Rule 5 Draft.

To make room for Cabrera on the 40-man roster, OF ALEX HASSAN has been designated for assignment.