Cabrera contract tidbits (Plus Quentin info)

[joejoesox]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,7392800.story

 

The White Sox and the agent for Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera have agreed not to discuss a new contract until after the 2008 season.

 

"Orlando is fine with this," agent Dan Lozano said Tuesday, adding he spoke several times with general manager Ken Williams during spring training.

 

Cabrera, 33, can become a free agent after the season and is starting to warm up after a slow start. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games and has raised his batting average from .158 to .255 during that span. He also has reached base safely in 12 of his 13 games.

 

"It has been a long time since I played in so many games in cold weather," Cabrera said.

 

The veteran shortstop has spent most of his 11 seasons playing inside at Montreal's Olympic Stadium and for the Los Angeles Angels. "I'm from Cartagena (Colombia), where it's [82] degrees right now," he said. "The good thing is that I'm getting my hits on different pitches."

 

The Sox apparently won't address the status of free-agent third baseman Joe Crede until after the season. If the Sox don't re-sign Cabrera, Alexei Ramirez is a strong candidate to take over.

 

 

Quentin's crush

 

After going hitless in two games, left fielder Carlos Quentin resumed his production with a three-run home run off Dana Eveland in the fourth that broke a scoreless tie. Quentin increased his RBI total to 13.

 

"The one thing I felt, even though I wasn't getting the results I wanted, was to at least track the ball and attack strikes," Quentin said.

 

Quentin, who has struck out once in his last four games, knew Eveland well from their days last year as teammates at Triple-A Tucson.

 

"[Quentin] has a lot of power," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He has been great for us. He's playing a good outfield."