Asdrubal Cabrera didn’t sign a contract this offseason, but that doesn’t mean there was a lack of interest from major league teams. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Cabrera is open to returning under the right circumstances but has declined one MLB offer.
The offer was probably fairly modest, as the 36-year-old didn’t have a strong year in 2021. He was signed by the Diamondbacks to a one-year, $1.75MM deal that also came with incentives. Through 90 games with Arizona, he hit .244/.324/.392, amounting to a wRC+ of 92. In late August, he went to the Reds on a waiver claim but scuffled down the stretch. In 20 games for Cincy, he hit just .077/.194/.077. That’s a very small sample size, of course and was likely due to a lot of bad luck, as he had a .301 BABIP with the Snakes but just .100 with the Reds. Nonetheless, it dragged his overall season line down to .230/.313/.366, 82 wRC+.
That’s the lowest wRC+ of Cabrera’s career so far and, combined with his age, meant he was likely not going to be able to match the $1.75MM guarantee that he got a year ago. Still, as a switch-hitter with the ability to play multiple positions, he has enough versatility that he could find a way into a team’s plans. He hasn’t seen significant time in the middle infield since 2019 but played most of his games at third base last year, while also getting decent reps at first.
Heyman doesn’t provide any details about the offer Cabrera received, why it was turned down or what kind of offer he would be more inclined to accept. It’s possible that Cabrera wants to play full-time and was only offered a part-time role, or perhaps he wants to be on a competitor and isn’t interested in playing for a rebuilding club. He’s already banked over $64MM in career earnings, according to Baseball Reference, after many successful seasons with the Indians, Rays, Mets and others. Since the offers he’s likely to receive won’t significantly change his finances, he can afford to be selective about the opportunities that do and don’t tempt him.
One offer doesn’t mean squat if it’s not the right one.
When it comes to washed up players, they should be self aware (if they want 1 more year in the sun) that it is likely a rebuild club that will extend the final opportunity. The better teams silence is telling him now as he lobbies through the press.
Depends how motivated the player is on playing again. If they’re very much willing to play another season or two, they’re probably self-aware of their value. If the player just makes the decision on what offers are on the table, it’s going to take what they’re looking for to essentially drive them out of retirement.
I hope he finds a deal somewhere for this year.
He could probably be a good fit as a pinch hitter for a team that needs one but his starting days are over, I would think
Considering the way Escobar has been playing lately, he may not be a bad fit for the Mets. I think either JD or Dom could be dealt for pitching and they could option Katoh so there could be a spot for him.
Stop with the Dom trade value. If Smith was as good as Mets fans believe he is than he would start for your team.
Over whom? He’s the better fielding first baseman, but there’s no way he’d take time away from Alonso. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have talent.
Cabrera’s fielding doesn’t cut it for me. He’s really only good as a bench bat at this point. I still wouldn’t trade either Davis or Smith.
Sometimes guys do that. Jermaine Dye was offered 1 mil. by the Cubs, and didn’t feel it was worth it, so he just retired.
Sooo, the Reds ruined him?
I don’t know if the Phillies would want him back, but I liked envisioning the introduction to one of his teammates after the Mets traded him to the Phillies: “Odubel Herrera, Asdrubal Cabrera… Asdrubal Cabrera, Odubel Herrera.”
Would be a nice pickup for the Orioles as a utility player.
I see him catching on with a contender late season due to someone ending up on the DL.
The Tigers could use him, but, he’d probably just get hurt anyway….
He’s Willi Castro without the position flexibility.
Asdrubal was a divisive player with Cleveland. I remember it being some of my first exposure to commonly available analytics, where people would show again and again that Cabrera wasn’t actually a good fielder at SS. He created some highlight reel plays and was regularly featured on “Web Gems”, but various metrics agreed that he was making those plays because he lacked range. Diving stops look great but actually if you just have good range the same ball might look routine to someone else. So to more traditional fans the guy looked like the second coming of Omar Vizquel (who was his idol growing up). But the SABR crowd all basically said “overrated”.
Oh, Assdribble, how much I’ve missed you.
I think it’s safe to assume the offer was a non-guarenteed minor league contract. As for the rest, Heyman then reported 30 mystery teams were interested…