Cabrera can also throw: strong arm with many assists each year.  Basically, with our big RF we need a RF who can play like a CF, but also throw.  Kalish and Reddick can also do this, but Cabrera usually--though not in 2011--hits a little better vs. LHP.  For a team with many LHH and a big RF, he has many of the qualities you want in a 4th OF.  If he's cheap enough, it's not crazy to throw him in the mix and spend more chips and bucks on pitching. It's nice to think about Cuddyer in the lineup and filling in in the infield but he's not going to cover much ground in RF.

It would be foolish to be confident that Melky will repeat his 2011. And I'm sorry if people are depressed by the idea of getting a mediocre person to be the RHH RF. But the two things that seem unavoidable to me are that we have a big challenging RF, and that there are ZERO RF options who can reliably be expected to play RF well and perform at above replacement levels at a reasonable cost. Kalish could be be great, but hasn't played in a year, and even if he's good needs a RHH complement, esp. at first. Reddick could overcome his obvious weaknesses, and i have always been a fan, but he he might not. I've argued that he does not need a platoon partner, but many disagree. Cuddyer would be trouble in Fenway's RF--it's fitting that the Phillies, who need help at 3b, lf, and 1b, are talking to him. Beltran will cost an arm and a leg, then could lose an arm and a leg. Reed Johnson will be 35, and can be good, but can be as bad as Melky--though I would add him to the list of possible mediocre 5th OFs. Cody Ross has a 733 OPS the last two years. Juan Rivera and his 700 OPS just got $4.5M. Jason Kubel can't cover Fenway's RF. Magglio Ordonez and his physical therapist? Aviles could play a little more OF, but when a ball's hit towards the triangle, do you want yourself saying "Oh, great, Aviles is in RF"?

The observation that Melky's current GM probably overvalues him is a good one. But it's not like shopping for yarn on Black Friday (when there are so many good things for sale): it's not a good market for picking up a RHH RF with range.

Am I missing someone?
Anyone attractive here:
http://www.baseballameric...league-free-agents-2011/