Colombia-born baseball player Orlando Cabrera said he was misinterpreted on a Cartegena radio station and has no plans to retire after the 2011 Major League Baseball season .
“I couldn’t say that, I’m having good moment in my professional life and I don’t think that retirement would be a good option, especially if we consider that the Indians are a good team and we have the possibility of going to the World Series,” the two-time Gold Glove winner said in a report from newspaper El Espectador Wednesday.
“What I said in the interview is that at a given time, one of these years, I will not play.” The professional of 14 years went on to say, “I always say I’m going year to year. Now I feel I can play many more. I don’t feel old and am in full fitness.”
The World Series champ signed a one year, $1 million deal with the Cleveland Indians last week. Cabrera, a shortstop traditionally, will play second base, a position he hasn’t played in the majors since 1998.
“I’ve always seen second base as an offensive position… It’s not as difficult to play as shortstop or third, and I feel comfortable turning the double play. I’m not afraid of the runner coming at me. So playing second might even extend my career,” Cabrera said in a report from the Boston Herald.
The right-hander was born in Cartagena, Colombia and made his major-league debut with the Montreal Expos in 1997.