GLENDALE, Ariz. _ White Sox infielder Yolmer Sanchez took a page out of Melky Cabrera's book Monday morning in the clubhouse at Camelback Ranch.
As Cabrera spoke about maintaining focus in the final season of his three-year, $42 million deal with the Sox, Sanchez, whose locker is only feet away, began to nuzzle team interpreter Billy Russo to draw a laugh.
Usually it's Cabrera standing in the back of the prospects' interviews, staring at the young players with a smirk to lighten the mood.
"It is just a way to have fun with them, for them to be relaxed and enjoy the game," Cabrera said through Russo. "The interviews are part of the game too, and I'm trying to have fun with them and give them confidence they can (represent) their teams in a good way."
Cabrera said he's "always happy," and he expects to continue his role in the clubhouse in what likely is his last season on the South Side.
The 32-year-old left fielder has been traded twice and gone through free agency four times in his career _ once as an amateur _ so he knows how to handle either situation.
His name has largely stayed out of trade rumors this winter and spring. But he hit .296 with 42 doubles, 14 home runs and 86 RBIs in 2016, and if he can continue that production this year, it would make sense for the Sox to try to move him for whatever they can get. The fact that his $15 million salary would be cut down at the trade deadline might help, though defense that FanGraphs ranked last among 11 qualifying left fielders last year could be a hindrance.
"I'm just trying not to think about it because it's something I can't control," Cabrera said. "The only thing I can control is to play my game and try to do my best every day. I'm not concerned about it. My only concern is to help this team win games and to be in the best position to perform every day at my best. What's going to happen next, we don't know."
Cabrera entered Monday hitting .245 with three doubles and six RBIs, and he then added his first home run of the spring Monday against Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu. He said he feels good about his work, and his main focus is to stay healthy for the season _ and to lighten the mood when needed.
"I just try to spread that happiness and to make the atmosphere loose and to help them," Cabrera said. "Like (manager Rick Renteria) says, you have to play hard, but this is a game too, so you have to enjoy it. You can't play hard and do the things you are supposed to do if you are tense."
