ANGELS SIGN CABRERA, CUT ECKSTEIN.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

In a startling two-tiered move to upgrade their shortstop situation, the Angels on Monday signed free agent Orlando Cabrera to a four-year, $32 million contract and let go ofarbitration-eligible incumbent David Eckstein, waving goodbye to the popular but physically limited sparkplug of their 2002 World Series champions.

Angels general manager Bill Stoneman rescued Eckstein from baseball oblivion in 2000, when he claimed the 5-foot-7 then-second baseman off waivers from the Boston Red Sox's Triple-A Pawtucket club. With the Angels, Eckstein grew into a four-year starter and indispensable leadoff man for the `02 champs, when he hit .293 and scored 107 runs.

Stoneman also is familiar with Cabrera, whom he helped develop as an assistant GM with Montreal. Traded by the Expos to the Red Sox at the July 31 trading deadline, Cabrera's defense keyed a massive second half resurgence by Boston, culminating in the Sox's first World Series title since 1918.

Come Monday's deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players, Stoneman acknowledged he had extra money, about $8 million, to play with after free-agent pitcher Matt Clement agreed on Friday to sign with Boston.

That's how quickly the deal to land Cabrera came about, leaving Stoneman with the admittedly difficult task of letting Eckstein go. He chose the physical upside of Cabrera, 30, over the sentiment of keeping Eckstein, calling Monday, ``in a sense, a sad day.''

And after years of hearing how the Angels would upgrade at shortstop, Eckstein's exit finally came to fruition. He said he was stunned by the news, which he received after a cross-country flight from Los Angeles after visiting his girlfriend, TV actress Ashley Drane.

``You know they were definitely looking at shortstops,'' Eckstein said by telephone from his Florida home, ``but I was totally in the dark about it. We had no idea. All of a sudden, you hear that, it hurts. But it's a business.

``You hear it every year. This year, it came true.''

Eckstein, long a favorite of manager Mike Scioscia, figured his value with upper management might not be high after they took him to arbitration last winter rather than pay a relatively modest salary of $2.15 million. Eckstein won the higher salary, and would have commanded about $3 million this season.

Instead, the Angels gave that money to Cabrera, a good friend of Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero's. Cabrera, the 2001 NL Gold Glove winner, will make a $5 million base salary next year as well as part of a $4 million signing bonus that will be spread over the life of the contract.

The Angels also tendered contracts Monday to pitchers Jarrod Washburn and Scot Shields, outfielder Jeff DaVanon and catchers Jose Molina and Josh Paul. Barring further moves, their opening-day payroll will be about $91 million, well within owner Arte Moreno's comfort zone.

Stoneman acknowledged that before the Clement deal fell through, adding a shortstop was not a front-burner issue.

``It was simply the availability of a guy we think is an upgrade, both offensively and defensively,'' Stoneman said. ``It became evident we could fit (Cabrera) in. Defensively, he helps us, he should give us some more range than what Dave gave us.

``I'm not here to knock David, but we should get a little more range out of shortstop, and a better arm from there.''

Stoneman said the Angels are out of the free-agent pitcher market, but still will explore trade options to upgrade their rotation.

Cabrera, who was born and resides in Colombia, also brings power to the position. He hit a career-high 17 home runs in 2003, when he also hit a career-high .297 and stole 24 bases. He hit .264 with 10 homers and 62 RBI last season.

Letting Eckstein go will create a hole atop the lineup. Cabrera's career on-base percentage is a pedestrian .316, and when second baseman Adam Kennedy returns in May from a knee injury, Chone Figgins will return to a utility role.

The club then could move first baseman Darin Erstad atop the lineup. Cabrera's power and ability to make contact - he struck out just 54 times last year - make him an attractive option to hit as high as second or as low as sixth, between or behind power hitters Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson and Steve Finley.

Whether he can win over Eckstein loyalists is unknown.

``We have a lot of fans who may not care for this move until they get an opportunity to see Cabrera play,'' Stoneman said.

He was adamant that the club is better now, and even Eckstein admitted as much, noting how odd it felt referring to the Angels as ``they.''

``Mr. Stoneman was the first one to say, hey, we need to pick him up. They changed my life and my family's life,'' Eckstein said. ``I would've loved to be an Angel forever. I gave everybody my heart and soul and I'll definitely miss all involved.

``But the organization is always trying to improve and they feel they improved. The future is very bright for them.''

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) ECKSTEIN

(2 -- color) Orlando Cabrera signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Angels.

Winslow Townson/Associated Press