Chicago White Sox expecting a better star from Cabrera
Every spring, any major-league team can rattle off a few promising young players who are poised for breakout seasons.
The Chicago White Sox can roll out starting pitcher Carlos Rodon, top prospect/shortstop Tim Anderson and starter Carson Fulmer, the No. 8 overall draft pick last year.
The Sox also believe a veteran outfielder - 31-year-old Melky Cabrera - will play better than he did in 2015.
"I think he's a wild-card in there," manager Robin Ventura said during the first week of training camp. "He can hit from both sides of the plate. He has a great arm, sense of the game and is good inside that clubhouse. He comes to play every day."
A career .286 hitter over 10 major-league seasons before joining the White Sox, Cabrera wasn't a total flop last year. He posted a .273/.314/.394 hitting line with 12 home runs and 77 RBI while playing 150 games in left field and 8 at designated hitter.
More was expected from the Sox and Cabrera, especially in the first half of the season.
"I have to be 100 percent ready for the season," Cabrera said through a translator when spring training opened. "And also to help the other guys. I'm here to win. I want to win, and that's our goal this year."
The White Sox need to get off to a better start if they hope to snap a slide of three straight losing seasons.
Cabrera also needs to get off to a better start with the bat. He posted a hitting line of .261/.304/.339 with 4 home runs and 34 RBI in 85 games over the first half before bouncing back with a .287/.326/.456 line, 8 homers and 43 RBI in 73 games after the all-star break.
A switch hitter, Cabrera was awful batting right against left-handed pitchers over the first two months of last season, going 4-for-46.
Considering he was batting .226 overall on June 7, it's remarkable Cabrera was able to finish the season at .273.
"The start he had last year and the right-handed stuff and where he ended up, it's impressive, when you really look at it, how far he came once you saw where those numbers were when he started," Ventura said. "He had a pretty good second half for us, being able to put the ball in play and be consistent.
"I like having Melky in our lineup."
With the addition of Austin Jackson in center field and the return of Cabrera, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia, the White Sox head into the season with four outfielders for three starting spots.
Eaton could play right if Garcia fails to hit again, or he could play left field. Cabrera could move from left to right, where he has made 108 career starts.
Any of the four outfielders also can move to designated hitter, especially if Adam LaRoche struggles again or is slow to recover from a back injury he suffered this spring.
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Top AL left fielders
Scot Gregor ranks the top American League left fielders:
1. Justin Upton, Tigers
2. Alex Gordon, Royals
3. Michael Brantley, Indians
6. Melky Cabrera, WHITE SOX