Entering the year, Asdrubal Cabrera seemed rather likely to stay with New York through the 2018 season. His $8.5MM option comes with a reasonably hefty $2MM buyout, making it a $6.5MM decision. It’s hard to find a solid veteran at that sort of price tag on a one-year term, after all, and Cabrera was coming off of a 2016 campaign in which he was worth 2.7 rWAR and 3.0 fWAR as the Mets’ everyday shortstop.
Quite a bit has changed in the meantime, of course. The Mets collapsed, with injuries and performance issues leaving the anticipated contender outpacing only the Phillies in a dreadful NL East. Cabrera lost his job at short, with the Mets taking advantage of their nosedive to give a look to much-ballyhooed shortstop prospect Amed Rosario, who is not giving the position back.
On the other hand, there’s another interpretation of recent events under which not much has changed at all. While the dreadful season hurts the club’s outlook for 2018, every indication is that the organization will (quite reasonably) attempt to rebound back into contention. Cabrera was never likely to remain at shortstop over the life of his contract anyway; the Mets always thought Rosario would claim the position. If Rosario has answered any uncertainty about who’s playing short, then there’s also more uncertainty than ever at third, where David Wright has shown no signs of being able to make it back. Second base also lays unclaimed. Players such as Wilmer Flores and T.J. Rivera (both righty hitters) seemed like possible options at third and second base already, and remain so, but the switch-hitting Cabrera still brings a different element.
While Cabrera hasn’t been as productive as he was last year, he has posted another above-average year with the bat, running a .274/.344/.425 batting line with a dozen home runs through 484 plate appearances. His baserunning has graded out terribly, though one can’t help but think that the long-time infielder, who long graded as a roughly average performer on the bases, won’t repeat quite that poor a performance. Defensively, Cabrera is a palatable performer at second and now also at third; he also would represent a fill-in and backup plan at short.
All said, from a value standpoint, it seems the $6.5MM commitment would be justifiable. New York certainly has the capacity to add that kind of money to the payroll; while there are other needs, too, the club will surely like the idea of checking a box with a one-year commitment. In the end, the decision will likely come down to whether the Mets really want to build their roster with Cabrera. Should they? (Link for app users.)
Yes I would like to keep him
6.5 million for maybe the most average player in the MLB? Can’t go wrong either way I guess.
It’s a no brainer, he’s getting more than that, maybe a lot more, if he was a free agent.
As of now the Mets have absolutely no sure things in the IF, bring him back
What do they have to lose. I would imagine there’d be some level of trade interest.
He was a -8.2 BsR in 2017 according to Fangraphs. He’s already 31 and has reached his peak with nowhere to go but down.
i mean, hes still an average hitter and decent insurance for their younger guys like Smith and Rosario.
True. But he’s dirt cheap for what he brings to the team.
Why not? At worst he’s a veteran backup/mentor for a relatively cheap price tag. Even if the Mets don’t want him, he can be traded for a prospect return albeit rather minimal should the Mets want to shed salary or start the season off poorly. The salary won’t be a moot point in negotiations
They won’t Trade him. He’s worthless with the
Bloated contract that they will sign him to.
Logic never prevails in mets fantasy camp, which operates flawlessly from early April to early August. The rest of the summer, fans
Become resigned to reality; the Mets suck
8.5 million is hardly bloated.
I guess I would exercise the option but only to put him on the trade block. The Mets have several options at utility IF and if the can trade him for something then I would look at that. With all the injuries the Mets are not realistically going to compete with the Nationals for the East, and he should not be in a long term plan. Side and trade and use the money somewhere else
Meant to say that the Mets would not realistically compete in 2018. Too many questions in regards to the health of the pitching staff.
The 2018 Mets could win anywhere between 75 and 95 games with their current 40-man + DL. It’s 100% wrong to suggest they won’t compete at all, especially considering ~88 wins is almost a lock for a wild card spot.
I say yes. If he bounces back offensively he is a quality depth piece and he’s acceptable at third base if other options don’t work out.
If he doesn’t bounce back then it was only 6.5 mil in avoidable losses. Not a huge deal.
Of course trading him would be the best case scenario.
He can play alongside captain David. He will field ground balls, hand them to Cabrera who will throw to first. Mets “planned” defense.
He’d be a nice player to have around as a backup, and, at that price, most big market teams wouldn’t blink at bringing him back on that basis. But these are Wilpon’s Mets …. and Fred isn’t going to part with 650 million pennies from his stash (always traumatic for him) for a backup.
So, NO. With the balance of their likely starters, Cabrera can’t be the starter at 2b, and most certainly not at 3b (a joke). Unless the idea is to go after a top 10 pick in the 2019 draft, you don’t field a team where more than half the starters are glorified backups and/or unproven young players. Names like Flores, Rivera and Cabrera are part of a bench discussion, or maybe, at a weak spot, a platoon discussion.
There are no ideas, reflect. Only wishful muses as the Wilpon’s chase their 1950’s Dodgers’ dream.
They care less about the Mets; only the cash that fans put into their pockets which allows them to piss away copius amounts in dodgers memorabilia.
Why is Cabrera at 3B a joke? He is a +1 DRS in 245 innings at third this year and his OPS is just below that of Frazier and Nunez, the second and third best FA options at 3B this offseason.
Unless the Mets pony up huge bucks for Moustakas, it makes sense to just go with Cabrera.
No ponys in the Mets plans.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present- THE LEAST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD.
Nothing like a Friday night eating Ding Dongs and trolling the internet.
Nice Jake!!
No one cares about anything with your comments attached to it. You have not figured that out yet, yanker?
And Moustakas is still a pretty weak hitter over his career, and even during his “career year” right now, his offense is barely above average.
His bat doesn’t play at 3b as a starter or close. The fact that there may some other guys playing 3b this year that are just as bad this year doesn’t change that. Winning requires more players near the top of their position group than toward the bottom. If you wind up off that mark, then you do, but the Mets plan it that way, and Met fans have been conditioned to it.
I would bring him back and sign boston’s nuez because u would have three players including wilmer Flores that can play multiple infield positions and u roate all three between ss second and 3b and spell each other and give Rosario a break or in the case he has to go back down.
Flores is more than adequate at 2B.
As long as he’s a bench player. They need to upgrade their starters at 2B and 3B.
No. How does this help their long-term plans? He’ll regress mightily next year.
He’s a stop gap on a one year deal. In FA, a player with similar skills would command a multiyear deal. And there’s a need.
He doesn’t hurt the bank or clog the roster. That fits in mightily with any teams long term plans.
keep him is a good choice