Chicago Cubs press release:
"CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today claimed infielder Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. In a corresponding 40-man roster move, infielder Blake DeWitt was designated for assignment.
Cardenas, 24, batted .314 (154-for-491) with 28 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 70 runs scored, 51 RBI and a .374 on-base percentage in 127 games with Triple-A Sacramento last year. The left-handed batter and right-handed thrower ranked eighth in the Pacific Coast League with 154 hits and posted his highest batting average in his five full professional campaigns.
In 2011, Cardenas saw action at second base (35 games), shortstop (three games), third base (13 games) and left field (44 games), his first professional experience in the outfield. He has primarily played second base (361 games) in his professional career.
Cardenas was originally selected by Philadelphia in the supplemental round (37th overall) of the 2006 Draft and acquired by Oakland as part of the trade that sent Joe Blanton to the Phillies on July 17, 2008. In 643 minor league games, Cardenas is a career .303 hitter (749-for-2,475) with 143 doubles, 21 triples, 29 home runs, 77 stolen bases and a .368 on-base percentage.
DeWitt, 26, batted .265 (61-for-230) with 11 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI in 121 games with the Cubs last year, his first full season with the club after being acquired from the Dodgers on July 31, 2010. He is a career .260 hitter (283-for-1,087) in 404 major league games with the Dodgers (2008-10) and the Cubs (2010-present)."
Cardenas defense at AAA:
SS 3 games, 1.000 percent
2B 35 games, .978
3B 13 games, .886
LF 44 games, .974
Cardenas is 2 years younger, and will make the league minimum vs. DeWitt's $1.1 million. If Cardenas is signed to be a utility bench player, then this move is a salary dump if DeWitt is claimed on waivers. The Cubs have 10 days in which to decide to put DeWitt back on the 40 man roster (moving another player off), or put him on waivers or release him (and pay his salary less what another team will pay, the minimum). If the move is to try to unseat Barney at second base (or platoon lefty-righty), then we will have to see what happens in spring training.
