Who will play shortstop for Boston in 2009? The Red Sox declined the $6 million option on shortstop Alex Gonzalez, but haven't ruled out bringing him back as a free agent at a lower rate of compensation. Marco Scutaro, who blossomed for the Blue Jays in 2009, is the top shortstop on the free-agent market. Because of his Type A status, the Red Sox would have to compensate that signing with draft picks. Orlando Cabrera is also a Type A free agent, which makes a return stint to Boston highly unlikely for the '04 hero. "At this point, [Jed Lowrie] has to prove his health," Epstein said. "He's not someone we can depend on right now. I think, ultimately, he will be. But until he proves his health, we can't let the season hang in the balance."

Cabrera has delivered big down the stretch, with Tuesday's blast extended his hit streak to 16 games. During that span, he's put together a scorching-hot .397 average, including multiple hits in four of his last five games. Add it all up and you've got a solid all-around shortstop hitting .284 with nine homers, 77 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and 82 runs scored on the year.

The beat goes on for O-Cabs, who has now hit safely in 12 consecutive games. The veteran shortstop is batting .278 with 34 doubles and a rock-solid 73 RBIs. He should continue to enjoy life slotted in the two-hole in the Twins lineup.

Cabrera extended his hitting streak to eight contests with his first three-hit performance since Aug. 5. However, don't be surprised to see his streak end on Monday, when the Twins start a four-game series at Comerica Park. He holds just a .239 batting average in 134 career at-bats in Detroit, so don't expect hitting streak to continue much longer.

Cabrera’s found a groove since laboring through a 2-for-17 slump, putting together a modest four-game hitting streak and going 6-for-15 with three extra-base hits, four RBIs and seven runs. In 51 games since joining the Twins, the veteran shortstop is batting .251 with 24 RBIs, 28 runs and two of his 13 thefts.

A big night for Cabrera, who had knocked in only one run in the last six games combined. It’s been a rough final month for the veteran shortstop, who’s batting .235 with six extra-base hits in 18 games to drop his average to .271, the lowest it’s been since mid-July.

A quality night for Cabrera, who entered Tuesday’s tilt with just one hit in his last 15 at-bats. The veteran shortstop is batting .248 with 13 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs in 41 games since joining the Twins, numbers that have made him expendable in mixed formats.

The 11-game hitting streak that marked the beginning of Cabrera's tenure with the Twins has seemed like a distant memory for the scuffling shortstop who is hitting just .225 with three extra-base hits and no stolen bases in September. Perhaps Sunday's outburst was the spark needed to get the veteran going again.

Cabrera added to a cold streak which has seen him go .143 (.4-for-28) with one extra-base hit over his last nine games. Compare that to his 11-game hitting streak to begin his Twins career, and it's apparent the shortstop might be worth abandoning until he can find the sweet swing that signified the beginning of his tenure with the Twins.

Cabrera has cooled down some after a torrid July in which he hit .373, but he has been very solid for Minnesota since coming over from Oakland at the trade deadline. He has a .288-1-9 line in 73 August at-bats, and has made himself at home as the team's number two hitter. Pats on the back to all those who scooped up O-Cab as a waiver claim during his early season struggles -- he's just about back to his usual, solid self.

One night after his 22-game hitting streak ended an in an 0-for-4 effort, Cabrera got started on possibly a new extended hit streak. Bet on him racking up a couple more hits Sunday as he goes against Aaron Laffey, against whom he has a .545 batting average in 11 career at-bats.

The triple, Cabrera's first in '09, extended his hitting streak to 18 games. He's hitting .387 (12-for-31) with six extra-base hits in seven games as a Twin, fitting comfortably into the second spot in the order ahead of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cabrera is the first player in 79 years to switch teams with a double-digit hitting streak and then continue the streak for at least his first five games with the new team. Friday was his worst performance since joining the Twins before the July 31 Trade Deadline.

The 15-game streak ties a career high for Cabrera, who led the way with Minnesota's only multi-hit performance in an otherwise quiet night. During the streak, he's batting .400 with eight doubles and 10 RBIs, although only four of those games have been with the Twins.

Getting traded to Minnesota has done little to slow down Cabrera. Batting ahead of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, the veteran shortstop is 5-for-13 (.385) since joining the Twins, and sports a sizzling .377 average over the course of his streak.