Second-rounder Cabrera dealt -- twice
A second-round pick by the A's in 2010, the 6-foot-4 Cabrera possesses raw power, but has had issues with pitch recognition and consistency. He's struggled at the plate during his first two full seasons, hitting .231/.297/.368 for Class A Burlington in 2011 and .232/.293/.332 in 60 games with Class A Advanced Stockton this year.
His talent, however raw, clearly made an impact on scouts in the Arizona Fall League. Cabrera slugged a two-run homer in his first at-bat against Salt River on Tuesday and added a double, a single and three RBIs on Friday. A day later, he changed organizations twice.
The first transaction sent Cabrera and shortstop Cliff Pennington to Arizona for D-backs outfielder Chris Young. Arizona then flipped the youngster to Miami in return for reliever Heath Bell and cash considerations.
"This should be a positive change for Heath and the Marlins," Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said in a statement. "After a disappointing 2012 season, Heath gets a fresh start and this move gives us clarity as we begin our offseason roster improvement."
Cabrera played exclusively at shortstop in his regular season games in the A's organization, but spent his first two AFL contests manning the hot corner for the Desert Dogs. While Cabrera will stay with the Phoenix club, which features both Oakland and Miami prospects, the Marlins may not stress the move to third base.
A native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Cabrera was selected 60th overall out of Lakeland Senior High School in Florida. He was the second pick of the A's in the Draft, behind outfield prospect Michael Choice, who went 10th overall.
Cabrera was among the infielders who had a chance to start 2012 in Stockton, but he missed the first six weeks of the season after being held back in Arizona.
He reported a back problem during Spring Training and was later diagnosed with a stress fracture in his spine. As a result, he stayed on for extended spring training once the Minor League season began.
The shortstop hit .196 with two extra-base hits during the remainder of the first half of the season. After the break -- and despite being sidelined almost all of July -- Cabrera batted .260 with three homers, 12 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs.
Currently slotted in as the Marlins' No. 20 prospect, Cabrera has the opportunity to immediately impress his new club with a strong showing in the AFL.
He currently ranks as Miami's No. 2 shortstop prospect in the organization behind 19-year-old Florida high school infielder Avery Romero, who could ultimately end up at second base. If the Marlins choose to move Cabrera to third base, Zack Cox -- originally a Cardinals prospect who was traded to Miami at this summer's deadline -- would be his immediate competition on the depth chart.