Lack of Pain Is a Big Relief For Right-Hander F. Cabrera

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 22 -- Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Fernando Cabrera faced a choice this offseason. He could go, as planned, and play winter baseball in the Dominican Republic or Venezuela. Or he could do something to address the sensation he felt in his right elbow, which was pronounced enough to create a hint of doubt in him.

"Mentally, I had that concern in my mind, so that's when I said okay, let's go and see what happened," said Cabrera, who opted to have the elbow examined by doctors.

Two months later, the Orioles right-hander is relieved he made the right decision. Instead of throwing winter innings that could have made matters worse, Cabrera had surgery that has alleviated the pain in his elbow. Though the decision means Cabrera won't be ready by Opening Day, he said he feels confident moving forward with his health issues resolved.

"I knew I would lose a little bit of the season but I wanted to be back at 100 percent," said Cabrera, who was hit hard in nine relief appearances [12.60 ERA] for the Orioles last season, all after Baltimore signed him to a minor league contract on Aug. 21. "Nobody wants to have surgery or anything like that. But at least I feel good that after this, maybe I'll come back in the shape that I was in the past and that's what I want to be."

Cabrera is in the early stages of a throwing program. He has been playing catch, with his elbow pain free, from 60 feet with hopes of extending to long toss.

"He's probably going to go to Sarasota [the team's minor league complex] when his throwing program progresses to the point where he can get up on a mound and do those types of things," said Orioles Manager Dave Trembley, who also indicated that Cabrera could be joined by closer Chris Ray, who is recovering from ligament-replacement surgery.

Roberts Returns

Second baseman Brian Roberts worked out with the rest of the team without any restrictions after he missed the last two days with sharp abdominal pains caused by what doctors believed could be kidney stones.