The Mets have been scouting Diamondbacks infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports. Cabrera would be a pure rental pickup for New York, as the veteran signed a one-year, $1.75MM contract with the D’Backs last winter.
This lack of long-term control makes Cabrera one of the likelier players to be dealt prior to the July 30 trade deadline, as the Diamondbacks are clearly in seller mode and are willing to move (almost) anyone on the roster. Cabrera is also a known quantity for the Mets, having played in Queens from 2016 until July 2018, when he was sent to the Phillies as part of another deadline swap.
Cabrera enjoyed a lot of success in his previous stint in a Mets uniform, and he has continued to be an above-average player even in his age-35 season, despite missing three weeks due to a hamstring strain. Entering today’s action, Cabrera has hit .251/.348/.402 with five homers over 210 plate appearances, good for a 106 wRC+ and OPS+.
However, the Statcast numbers are less appealing, as Cabrera isn’t making much hard contact and he has only a .304 xwOBA, well below his .322 wOBA. Cabrera’s 12.4% walk rate is the largest of his 15-year MLB career, though that might have more to do with pitchers avoiding Cabrera within a lackluster D’Backs lineup than any particular newfound patience at the plate.
The Mets wouldn’t necessarily need Cabrera to be an everyday contributor, as their troubled third base picture will eventually start to get more clarity once Jonathan Villar and J.D. Davis return from the injured list. Villar is expected to be activated tonight and Davis is on a minor league rehab assignment, though since Davis is a defensive question mark at best at third base, the Mets could prefer to deploy him in the outfield. This would open the door for Cabrera and Villar to share time as a switch-hitting platoon at third base, and provide depth all over the infield. A shortstop for much of his career, Cabrera has played all three other infield spots almost exclusively since the start of the 2019 season.
Laughable
Another Nightengale exclusive.
As the BBWAA Arizona chapter chairman, it actually makes sense to have the “exclusive” scoops on D-Back related moves.
Just go out and trade for Kris Bryant.The Cubs are a 500 team now and in 3ed place 9 games out
What do we give up for half a year of Bryant? Do we wanna mortgage the future?
You trade for him to sign him. He played 3B 1B RF CF LF . Other than First Base and shortstop he plays the other positions better than the players playing them now for the Mets.
I’d rather just sign him (although not really. How many stupid huge contracts do we need?) Don’t let folks fool you, the budget may be higher than it’s been but it’s not unlimited and we’re already about brushing up against the ceiling.
metzfan it’s up to Bryant if he wants to sign after being traded to the Mets. Also he is not a better right fielder or center fielder then Conforto and Nimmo. the Mets aren’t going to give up the few prospects they have for Bryant if the price is too high
His agent is Boras. 99% chance he’s hitting the market and will use it to drive up whatever your offer is.
I’d prefer Gallo.
Like to see him on the south side. Would fit in well. 600k for his remaining salary at deadline plus a mid tier prospect that’s not in future plans. Get it done. Obviously rather see Story but the price coupled with uncertainty of the return of the necessary players to make a run at the pennant make this a better move.
Cubs would rather have Draft compensation than some shoddy prospect.
I don’t normally deal in absolutes but Bob Nightengale has never been right about anything and in fact is often laughingly off-base with his ‘exclusives.’
Or, as Chris Russo would say, Cabroodle.
Ass dribble Cabroodle
Meh hitter, bad fielder… sure why not? If we can’t get better we can at least have like 7 of the same guy.
Meh hitters may improve the lineup. Although they’re hitting in Yankee Stadium, this offense has been pretty stagnant otherwise. Buttdribble isn’t an exciting player, but I guess it’s cheap depth off the bench. Maybe a bit more pop than the struggling middle infield. It does seem like a lateral move.
I enjoyed my imagined introductions when he was traded to the Phillies a few years ago: “Asdrubal Cabrera, Odubel Herrera. Odubel Herrera, Asdrubal Cabrera.”
My son’s a Family Guy fan, so he called him Shpubal Cabrera. It’d be a decent move for the Mets’ purposes now. Toddfather’s with the Olympic team so he’s not an option now.
Yea Cabrera is good I just feel like we already have his skill set covered three times over.
That guy would rather retire then play for the Mets again.
weren’t the Mets the 1st team to try and move him off SS?
Yup. This team has loved putting players out of position. They moved reyes who at the time was young stud shortstop for kaz matsui. Duda Also comes to mind. Piazza hundley mess.
Asdrubal was already out of position at SS so they moved him to third. Same as any team would do. I like Cabrera but his complaints were baseless.
Thought Cleveland moved him off SS to 2B when they brought up Lindor…?
New owner. I’m sure he doesn’t care as long as he’s getting paid.
Nah, there were some ridiculous issues, not really the team’s fault… don’t think there are too many hard feelings
Ok smart people, I’m not being sarcastic, do any of the sabremetric statistics take into account how many runners a player has LOB?
Doubt it. Runners left on base is exactly the type of stat that gives no indication of what type a hitter someone is (batters don’t control who is on base or when they get their hits) and gets filtered out in order to get a more accurate picture of player value.
Ok thanks.
metzfan all those Runners left on base is somewhat dependent on who’s on base it also has a way of telling what kind of hair do you are under pressure and what kind of hitting you are when a pitcher is bearing down and has to pitch to you
Modern analytics show us that things like pressure and who’s on base actually has less effect on hair do than previously thought. That’s why players don’t have cool sideburns anymore.
Runners left in scoring position is much more important to Saber-metrics stay geeks than runners left of base. Strand rate for bullpen pitchers is an important individual stat though. Runners left in scoring position (RISP) is looked more as a team (offensive) statistic rather than an individual accomplishment. If I had to bet, the Red Sox lead MLB knocking in RISP with two outs. They have been incredible with this so far this season and it’s one of the main reasons why they are in first place, along with their bullpen’s strand rate too.
Mutts love overrated trash
Mets are in first place while your Marlins had an epic fail today
When you’re a Marlins fan, there’s not much to do these days, except to troll articles on other NL East teams
To be fair Marlins have a better run differential. That’s something.
You could have the best run differential in the galaxy. If you’re in last place when the season ends, you’ll still be watching the playoffs on tv.
If Nightengale reports it then it ain’t true
I enjoyed watching Asdrubel “Harpo” Cabrera when he was with the Mets and wouldn’t mind seeing a return engagement.
Harpo is not a derisive nickname, by the way. The dude just resembles Harpo Marx.
Mets can do what they want, but I think they need to be aiming a little higher than Asdrubal Cabrera. If you’re gonna get one guy by the deadline it should be a difference maker, and AC just ain’t that guy.
metzfan so is the rule that a team is only allowed to pick up one player at the trade deadline? Getting Cabrera would have no impact on them getting major Talent at the deadline although I don’t think this move makes any sense since they have Guillorme, Villar and Peraza
metzfan so is the rule that a team is only allowed to pick up one player at the trade deadline? Getting Cabrera would have no impact on them getting major Talent at the deadline although I don’t think this move makes any sense since they have Guillorme, Villar and Peraza!
I agree. The Mets should make a move for Eduardo Escobar. Bryant would be nice but Escobar seems more realistic
Escobar is not an upgrade, though. He’s not even noticeably better than Cabrera right now.
This doesn’t make sense- Mets are flush with bench role players. They need a consistent performer at 3B
Why?
The Mets have Villar and GUillorme, with Brandon Druty at AAA. What possible need would they have for Cabrera?
Curious if he would even want to go back to NYM.
Nothing to see here. The Mets don’t need Cabrera & Cabrera doesn’t want to play for the Mets
Can’t believe the White Sox aren’t rumored to be interested.
Mets must realize Donaldson will cost money and players going back the other way instead of Cabrera who just cost money.
Caberra is not a 3rd base shortstop or second base.
NOOOOOOOOO!
Lol winner winner chicken dinner
This must be a joke by Nightengale.
That ship has sailed.