The Chicago Cubs have claimed INF Adrian Cardenas off of waivers from the Oakland A's, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
Drafted 37th overall by the Phillies in the 2006 draft out of a South Florida high school, Cardenas has always been able to hit. In fact, he holds a career .303 batting average in over 2800 minor league at-bats. The problem with Cardenas is that he's always been a "tweener."
Drafted as a shortstop, he never profiled to stay at the position. Some scouts envisioned a second baseman, while some saw him as a third baseman and some thought he'd have to end up in left field. The Phillies shifted him to second base in 2007 before trading him to Oakland in the Joe Blanton deal in 2008.
Cardenas continued to hit for average, but unfortunately never developed any power, making him a less than ideal fit for corner positions like third base and left field. His defense at second base was average at best, and his plate discipline remained below average, making him a less than desirable top-of-the-order hitter.
With hitting for average becoming his only plus tool, Cardenas has developed into something of a Placido Polanco-type player, but with below average defense, which means a player without a ton of value. In fact, in a search of players who played either second base, third base of left field and hit above .300 with an OBP below .370 and less than 10 home runs, Baseball-Reference.com came up with Polanco and Bobby Richardson as the players with the most similar seasons (8), but both of them were good defenders. After that it was Mark Grudzieanek (6), who played more SS than Cardenas ever will, but is the best example of what he could be once he moved to second base - a solid average hitter with good doubles power that doesn't walk enough or have quite enough power to be completely effective.
Cardenas could profile now as a versatile bench player, who could enter a game late as a pinch hitter and play a number of defensive positions, giving a team versatility, as long as none of those positions need to be played well.
It's not a great role, but if he continues to hit for average, teams will continue to give him a chance.

