Orioles part ways with RHP Cabrera

Dec 13, 2008 - 3:54 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) - The Baltimore Orioles have finally given up on pitcher Daniel Cabrera.

The club on Saturday declined to tender a contract to the righthander, allowing him to become a free agent.

Baltimore saw great potential in Cabrera when the club signed the 6-9 Dominican as a non-drafted free agent in 1999.

After 10 years of inconstancy, however, the team apparently is through waiting for the hard-throwing hurler to harness his ability.

While Cabrera's velocity - in the upper-90s at its best - was never an issue, he has been plagued by control problems his entire career.

Last season, in going 8-10 with a 5.25 ERA in 30 starts, he finished first in the American League in wild pitches (15) and hit batters (18), and second in walks (90).

The Orioles reportedly attempted to trade Cabrera at the winter meetings but were unable to, prompting Saturday's decision to cut ties.

Cabrera, 27, went 48-59 with a 5.05 ERA in 147 career games over five major league seasons for Baltimore.

His departure leaves an already feeble Baltimore rotation with just one legitimate starter - Jeremy Guthrie.

Baltimore also did not offer a contract to pitcher Lance Cormier, who went 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 45 games with the Orioles last season.