More from Buck Showalter on Everth Cabrera

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles went 2-for-3 last spring in signing players with baggage, striking it big with Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young and striking out on Alfredo Aceves.

They'll gladly take that average.

Cruz led the majors in home runs. Young batted .302, emerged as baseball's best pinch-hitter and delivered perhaps the most electrifying moment in Camden Yards history with his three-run double in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Aceves creeped out everyone, gave up five runs and 11 hits in 10 spring innings and exercised his opt-out clause after being told he didn't make the final roster.

The door opened again yesterday for another troubled player seeking a second (or is it third?) chance, infielder Everth Cabrera, who signed a one-year deal worth $2.4 million with another $600,000 possible in incentives. He made $2.45 million last season with the Padres.

Cruz and Young blended nicely in a clubhouse that won't tolerate disruptive forces, which made it easier for the Orioles to take a chance on Cabrera.

"I'd be less than frank or honest if I said I didn't think about it, which is as much a tribute to our guys, the clubhouse, the culture, whatever the catchphrase is nowadays," manager Buck Showalter said. "That's what we've worked very hard about establishing. If you have the right peer pressure, it's a beautiful thing. That part of it I feel real confident about. You already see a couple things (yesterday), guys running from field to field.

"You talk about a clean slate and an open mind, that's what's going on right now with him."

Do the Orioles sign Cabrera if Cruz or Young hadn't panned out?

"What comes first there?" Showalter asked. "One's the ability. This guy is a talented young man and he's still young. It's the whole chicken and egg. Which comes first? Probably would have a bearing on it, of course. We all learn. But you've got to take some chances now and then, especially in our situation. It's kind of who we are. We've got to stay true to it.

"There's a lot of upside here and especially when you bring somebody into a division that nobody in the division is very familiar with. That's kind of part of it, too. People talk about not knowing the pitching. The pitchers don't know him a whole lot.

"He could bring a dynamic that could help us in a lot of ways, but sure, you think about it. But that, to me, is a tribute to the clubhouse and the people and the environment and everything. We can out-opportunity people, whether it's Delmon, whether it's Nelson, whether it's Everth. Probably four or five more in there who aren't the sexy names. They came here for a reason. You may not be completely aware of some of the challenges they've had in the past."

Cabrera could allow Showalter to rest shortstop J.J. Hardy on occasion or use him as the designated hitter.

"Potentially. We'll see what we see," Showalter said.

"It's hard to take J.J. off the field. He means so much to us and he does a good job of pacing himself on certain things. It would be another potentially versatile piece - switch-hitter, runner, plays multiple positions.

"Going from short to second or short to third, it's not like you just go over there because it's the infield. Big difference between left field and right field. People think the outfield is the outfield and the infield is the infield."

Showalter said he may talk to Jonathan Schoop and Ryan Flaherty about the club's acquisition of Cabrera, who provides direct competition.

"It's something I'll probably delve into the next day or two if I see there's a need," he said. "I think Jon and Ryan trust that we're going to do what's best for the club."

Showalter noticed yesterday how hard Steve Pearce was working despite the security of a $3.7 million contract and a spot on the roster.

"You very quickly get little things answered, that this guy's not taking anything for granted," Showalter said. "You've been down some of the paths that he's been down..."

Showalter also noticed the improvement in infield defense while watching drills on Field 3. The Orioles weren't satisfied with the glove work at Triple-A Norfolk last summer and made upgrading it a priority.

"I didn't have that feeling last year after the first day or two," he said. "R.J. (Ron Johnson) was looking at me like, 'Are we going to catch the ball this year at all?' And they didn't do a very good job of catching the ball at Norfolk and I thought it hurt some of the development of our pitching. And we shouldn't have that issue this year."