Mets pending free-agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera is enjoying one of his best seasons, and contending teams have taken notice. The Indians, Brewers and Phillies are among the clubs with interest in Cabrera, Buster Olney of ESPN tweets.
The switch-hitting Cabrera has already been a member of the Indians, with whom he played from 2007-14. Cabrera was primarily a shortstop during that span, but the Indians certainly don’t need help there with Francisco Lindor in the fold. Second base is another story, though, as Jason Kipnis is enduring his second straight subpar offensive season. The 32-year-old Cabrera has shifted to the keystone on a full-time basis and would seemingly be a significant offensive upgrade over Kipnis, having slashed .280/.332/.487 with 17 home runs in 388 plate appearances this season. At the same time, Cabrera has been a disaster in the field, as he has accounted for minus-17 Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-6.0 Ultimate Zone Rating this season.
Despite Cabrera’s defensive woes, the Brewers would welcome his presence at the plate. Their second basemen own the majors’ second-worst wRC+ (66), after all, with the Jonathan Villar-led group has having combined for a .227/.285/.340 line in 702 PAs. The Phillies, with on-base machine Cesar Hernandez at second, are in fine shape at the position. But they need help along the left side of their infield, where they’ve received underwhelming production from Maikel Franco, J.P. Crawford and Scott Kingery, among others. Cabrera has been dreadful at short in recent seasons, however, meaning he’d likely overtake Franco as Philly’s starting third baseman if acquired. One potential problem: Cabrera has made it known he’d prefer to play second.
Brewers are interested if they can get him for 1 single A player and 12 pounds of brats. Look for him to go elsewhere, Milwaukee is cheap
It’s the Mets. They’ll trade him for 8 pounds.
You mean the Mets will add 8 pounds of Brats!
The Mets fans have nothing to stand behind. It’s their own support of Abbott and Costello (aka the Coupons) who’s own card game depends on fans
continuing to buy tickets and watch SNY.
If they join the boycott and publicize it on social media Jeff (one half of Mutt and Jeff will lose his cool. With his wig
sliding off head (faster than Jose Reyes runs) he will scream, “Daddy let’s givenup!”
I agree. Mets fans shouldn’t put up with this.
You along with a bunch of Mets fans on here should all argue with each other on which owner is the cheapest. That way everyone else will avoid your ignorant comments
If you throw in a conjugal vist with Bernie Brewer for Ms. Met then we have a framework of a deal. I know she was born in the 60’s but he’s definitely rocking beer googles so it might just work out.
LOL fantastic
Jimmy Romans for Meta GM!
No no no. The Mets would scoop that offer up if you pick up the money In the contract. In fact they’ll take your assistant bullpen coach and you pay Jeff Wilpons college tuition.
:nod: Boorish and uninteresting posts about shallow pockets.
You made some decent points about the farm system yesterday, but the Familia trade was a straight out (salary) dump. Anyone legitimately paying attention since Madoff knows that the entire reason the Mets exist is for the Wilpons to vulture enough cash from a New York baseball franchise in order to pay off their enormous debts. Winning baseball games is not part of that equation. If they weren’t cronies with Buddy Boy Selig they would have been forced to sell in Jan 2009. Forget about shallow pockets; the Wilpons are the creepy dude by the playground fence with no pants.
Hey Jimmy. Enough with the Maddoff excuse. They paid off that mess during the last decade.
The dilemma is that there lifestyle is not conducive to winning. Would you like to know how many patronage jobs are given to their family and friends? It starts with brother in law Sol Katz who’s “expertise” is testing major league hot dogs.
Their kids, grand kids, neighbors and mailmen have their hands out twice monthly. Combined with the Wilpon’s “job for life program” which is dedicated to Bobby Bo and extends to all of the free loaders including the newest members, former managers “TC” and Bobby V (who just started to collect last month in a hushed up secret plea to mumbling Fred).
Are the Brewers cheap or just smart about not overpaying for anyone?
Smart
Smart. Why overpay for guys when you’re not yet one of the best teams in MLB? Can’t throw away prospect capital on rentals and players that don’t make you that much better
Don’t let this distract you from the fact that ray_derek murdered 4 handicapped children in the 90s. He also hates music.
The Mets will trade then back out after he cries
What about Eduardo Escobar for Mario Feliciano and Kodi Medeiros?
Done
Probably about right
Mets are hoping to get a 28 year old converted cricket player with an Low-A ops of 600 or so. Also, some cyan toner because ink aint cheap bro and the printer keeps making that beeping sound.
Tim Tebow is bringing a trove supply of
Chan with him for goofy team T-shirt day next Month.
This is crazy that the Indians are in on him. He solves no problems…Kipnis has been much better lately and the true upgrade need is outfield. Bad idea, bad.
Droobs would make the lineup much better when a lefty is on the mound. He is an upgrade at DH, with EE playing 1st. His numbers are better than Alonso. He wouldn’t play everyday, but for those games he would be an upgrade for the bench.
Asdrubal isn’t really that great against LHP. And if you want to improve platoon splits vs lefties the outfield is more ripe for improvement. Kipnis has been decent vs LHP. A guy like Yandy Diaz is a fine platooner if we’re just talking DHing vs lefties
Exactly. He has some value but shouldn’t be priority #1 for Cleveland. An OF that bats righty should be their focus not a switch hitting middle infielder when they already have a handful of halfassed IF like Gonzalaz and Diaz.
I actually want Asdrubal back. I highly doubt he’ll cost much, and Kipnis is on fire lately but at this point you still can’t really rely on him. If he keeps hitting then great, and maybe he could get a few ABs at DH when Edwin plays first, or he could even go back to being a subpar outfielder like he was last season. Or he could just be a bench bat. Either way though, Cabrera would give more depth to the lineup because it’s been a little top heavy this year.
I’m all about just getting good players and figuring out where to play them later.
Also, Cabrera isn’t a great defender but it’s not like Kipnis is a gold glover out there either. The defense would likely be about the same, but you can rely on Asdrubal’s bat a little more.
He’ll be fine enough at 2nd in limited action but his range is not pretty. Amy Winehouse corpse not pretty. He’s pretty much a DH now. Dude is a gamer though and if you need a late inning hit against a tough righty he’s your guy.
Oh yeah for sure, I was younger when Asdrubal was in Cleveland the first time (I’m 20 now so I guess I still am) but he was one of my favorite players when I was a kid. He made a few amazing plays at short but overall was pretty mediocre there, so I’ll just take the bat and worry about the rest later.
Yeah the lineup is top heavy but Kipnis’ last 28 days = .258/.378/.452
The rotating cast of middling outfielders who aren’t Michael Brantley are more to blame. And since the Tribe dealt Mejia seems they’re not planning on upgrading at C
Kipnis has been incredible lately, but I can’t bring myself to expect that from him consistently so I just want more options just in case. You’re right about the outfield though, it’s been terrible other than Brantley.
Mets need someone to absorb Bobby Bonilla’s salary. What a deal!
Dozier, Escobar and Lynn for Hiura
There’s so much no there it’s not even funny….
Talk about quantity over quality.
We’d need Rodney too
Lol. Ya give us two okay rentals and an overpaid #4 for our top prospect. They wouldn’t even want Lynn and the other two don’t bring back much.
Why would the Twins want Hiura? We already got Polanco and Gordon.
Because prospects are glorified lottery tickets and it’s a bad idea to not want one just because of the position he plays. Hiura can rake.
Seriously? Umm because Hiura is a real prospect and Polanco and Gordon are just “ehh whatever” players.
If the brewers want Cabrera they will probably get him. Only the brewers and the Redsox need a 2b upgrade. Cabrera’s glove really limits his value. So Mets fans should expect a low level lottery ticket type prospect that fans will say they got taken.
I haven’t heard any complaints about his fielding. Have you watched any Mets games recently?
Read the bottom of the 2nd paragraph. Wow people on here are really bad at reading.
Just bite the bullet Brewers.
Brewers get Degrom, Cabrera,
Mets get Hiura, Burnes, Ortiz, Diplan, and Nottingham.
Brewers have a replacement for Hiura in Dubon who was tearing it up in AAA before his injury to play 2B long term.
Pick up Degrom
go get Tyson Ross and Stammen from the Padres for Cody Ponce
Solidify your rotation
Padres will throw in Freddy Galvis as well.
Mets could get more than that from Oakland, Padres would never make that move either.
Lol… the Brewers aren’t making any upgrades to their rotation.
I doubt the Mets are trading deGrom, but you never know with that organization.
What about Josh Harrison? Will Pittsburgh ever trade him?
Francona won’t sit Kipnis for ACab.
Never happen.
Kip will be on OF
702 plate appearances for Brewers second basemen? You sure you don’t want to check on that?
baseball reference WAR actually shows 2018 as one of his worst seasons ha
He’s a downgrade to what the brewers have now. Lol. Cabrera for Orf and 2 minor league players.
Can see the Phillies surprise everybody and snatch Bryce Harper up if the Nats think they can’t make a move up the standings
I was actually saying the other day that the Nats should think about moving Scherzer for a haul and then re-sign Harper. But they won’t do it either. Too big of moves for a team that still sees itself as contending
If a team misses out on Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM), perhaps they can look to Jose Iglesias (DET).
Ya, there’s a handful of these same okay middle IFs that can be had cheap.
Asdrubal and Iglesias would probably appeal to different teams though since Asdrubal is a good hitter and poor defender while Iglesias is a good defender and mediocre hitter
Are you paying the slightest bit of attention? Maikel Franco has been off the charts the last 5 weeks. Do some research before putting up this garbage. Kapler wouldn’t sit him for anyone right now.