A’s Designate Adrian Cardenas For Assignment

The A’s designated Adrian Cardenas for assignment on Thursday after the team signed free agent outfielder Jonny Gomes. Cardenas, 24, appeared in 127 games last year with Oakland’s Triple-A team the Sacramento River Cats. In 545 at-bats, Cardenas hit .314/.374/.418 with five home runs and 51 RBIs.

The decision to designate Cardenas for assignment seems to make sense on the surface. The A’s had him playing all over the place last season, with Cardenas splitting time between left field, short stop, third base, and second base. It is obvious, to anyone following the organization, that the A’s just didn’t have a clear idea as to where Cardenas “fit” in at.

Cardenas has spent his entire career in the minor leagues, but a team other than the A’s could give Cardenas a chance. He doesn’t bring a whole lot of power to the table and power is something you would expect from your everyday third-baseman. Then again, Cardenas, at this point anyway, is more of a utility guy more than anything.

For Cardenas, the A’s may not be a good fit. The team, as they illustrated last year, don’t know where exactly Cardenas belongs. He played 44 games last year in left, but given Oakland’s current outfield situation, it’s difficult to imagine Cardenas wedging himself into the crowded outfield picture.

Given Jemile Weeks had some success last season, it’s likely Cardenas would see very little playing time at second base. He appeared in 35 games last year over at second for the River Cats. Weeks is Oakland’s second-baseman, not Cardenas.

So, as you can see, Cardenas’ future in Oakland is looking gloomier by the minute. Still, Billy Beane & Co. contend that they would like to hold on to Cardenas if they could.

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