White Sox offer arbitration to shortstop Cabrera

The Chicago White Sox have offered salary arbitration to free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

Cabrera, 34, batted .281 (186-661) with 8 home runs and 57 RBI in 161 games with the White Sox in 2008, his first season with the club after being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on Nov. 19, 2007 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jon Garland.

Cabrera, a Type A free agent, has until Sunday to accept the offer, or the White Sox will receive two picks as compensation in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

With the White Sox expected to hand shortstop duties over to 27-year-old Alexei Ramirez, Cabrera likely will pursue free agency with another club and decline the arbitration offer.