The Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles both won their divisions in 2014, but they had much work to do this offseason. Each club added a veteran to their roster just days before position players report to spring training.
Joba Chamberlain was garnering interest from the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers in recent weeks, but the reliever re-signed with the Detroit Tigers, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. The one-year, $1 million deal also includes incentives and is pending a physical.
Chamberlain signed a one-year deal with the Tigers prior to the 2014 season and had a decent year despite being embattled with family issues. He frequently traveled back to his home in Nebraska to tend to his sick mother. Nonetheless, the 29-year-old finished 2-5 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 69 games (63 innings).
The former longtime New York Yankee was seeking a two-year deal, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.46) and opponents' batting average (.249) indicated he might be a risky investment beyond one season. Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano and Phil Coke are some notable relievers still without a team.
In Baltimore, the Orioles and shortstop Everth Cabrera have agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million deal plus $600,000 in incentives, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The two sides were close to a deal last week but something apparently held up the finalizing process until Tuesday. Although Cabrera has played nearly all of his professional games at shortstop, the Orioles view him as a utility player due to the presence of J.J. Hardy.
Cabrera, 28, was non-tendered by the San Diego Padres earlier in the offseason likely because of his off-the-field issues. He was suspended for 50 games in 2013 for his association with the Biogenesis Scandal and was then arrested in September for driving under the influence of marijuana. He was also charged with domestic violence in 2012, but the charges were dropped.
In 481 career games with the Padres, Cabrera owns a stat line of .248/.319/.333 with 221 runs scored, 12 home runs, 128 RBIs and 136 stolen bases. His speed should be a good addition for the Orioles.
