Last week I wrote an article listing the starting shortstops of other organizations and the more I thought about it, Asdrubal Cabrera is actually a clean-cut perfect fit for the Mets to contend for a postseason spot next season.
Cabrera, in 2011, was among the league leaders in almost every category for shortstops and was considered for four and a half months to be a legit MVP candidate. Unfortunately, as the Indians fell he, did too. Cabrera had a sub-par year in 2012 by leading the AL in errors, loss of power, and less stolen bases. This season he has dropped off even more with his low batting average and decreasing defensive skills. However, Cabrera has still been a big part of the Indians huge success this season and we will see how he does in the postseason.
A trade for this man wouldn’t really take that much considering his value is at an all-time low and the Indians have a huge shortstop prospect. The Indians, heading into the offseason, will need to acquire a DH or a first baseman and maybe a young pitching prospect. The potential trade that the Mets could offer for this would be Allan Dykstra and Domingo Tapia. In regards to trading Dykstra, he has reached his final season of being considered a prospect and the Indians will simply find more value in him than any person in the Mets front office. Tapia will probably make his debut in 2015 and the Indians will probably see a lot in a pitcher that can fire fastballs on a regular basis. I would definitely accepting this type of deal depending on Cabrera’s performance in the postseason.
Cabrera is a perfect fit in New York for many reasons. Let’s start out with the obvious- the Mets simply need a proven shortstop that can flat out hit. Cabrera is not the best hitting shortstop in the game, but he is certainly not near the bottom of the list. The biggest flaw in Cabrera’s game is that he really does often swing for the fences, but the bright side of this is that the Mets won’t tolerate it. If he were brought to New York he would be a doubles machine and his batting average would go back to his 2009 BA of .308. He is in the final year of his contract and if things really don’t work out with the Mets they can just let him go.
That being said, the Mets don’t really have an above average shortstop prospect besides Gavin Cecchini and, if Cecchini doesn’t perform, then the Mets could give Cabrera a contract extension. Now let’s turn the table and look at why this could benefit Cabrera. First, I already mentioned that it is his final contract year and he could be a free agent. If he can prove that he can perform on the biggest stage, then a lot more teams will be eager to sign him. He will realize this and most likely perform better than he previously did in Cleveland. Besides, 28 should be his peak year.
Landing Cabrera could lead the Mets to many possible positive scenarios and increase the hope of the Mets going to the postseason. The Indians and the Mets have many similarities in these recent years-this one being the exception because they are postseason bound in the first half and fall off a bridge in the second half. Due to Cabrera watching his team constantly fail in the second half, he knows what that feels like and now he has led his team to the postseason finishing strong, with meaning, for the first time since 2007. If we bring in this kind of experience to attempt a change if the 2nd half collapses it could potentially be the difference in a 2014 playoff berth.
There are of course many other options that would make sense, but literally everything that the Mets are looking for is in this guy. Picture a switch-hitting doubles machine batting .285 with a vacuum cleaner for a glove that has played in the postseason. Oh and did I mention he can swipe a few bags?
I don’t understand your logic. First you sat the Mets need a proven shortstop that can hit. Then you say he has a flaw in his swing because he’s always swinging for the fences. If he wont listen to Francona how the hell do you expect him to listen to Collins?
I think it’s flawed at this point to point to one person as the “Answer” to anything. There are plenty of options at each of the potential holes the Mets need to fill.
“This season he has dropped off even more with his low batting average and decreasing defensive skills.” That’s in your opening paragraph.
Then in your last paragraph: “Picture a switch-hitting doubles machine batting .285 with a vacuum cleaner for a glove that has played in the postseason.”
Very confusing. Why don’t you also mention what is talked about around baseball, that Cabrera’s stats fell off the same year they started testing for PEDs.
While he may have a big contract year, the Indians are selling that to teams also. I’d offer Logan Verrett, not Tapia.
I’d offer them no one and wait to see what else is out there this off season. As to the argument maybe the author should take one side of the argument that he feels strongest about and not choose both sides of the discussion.
I’ve never really seen him play, but fangraphs indicates he’s not very good in the field. And that’s being highly, highly generous.
So you’ve got basically a 3 WAR (and that’s generous too) SS that doesn’t field well, in his walk year?
The best part of this deal is that we shouldn’t have to give up much to get him. David Groveman’s right – it is not without merits, but there’s plenty enuf fleas on the deal too.
He’s a solid .250-.270 hitting shortstop with some power but not a great fielder.
I think he could be a good fit, but I don’t think that Dykstra/Tapia would be enough considering the Indians will probably fancy themselves as contenders next year and Lindor only has 91 PA’s at AA.
What may be the disconnect in valuation between the 2 clubs is the potential qualifying offer that he may receive if he has a good season. So if the Indians don’t get a good offer, they may just take the chance that he plays well (and helps them get another playoff berth) so that he will decline the offer and they would get the draft pick.
Good analysis of the total situation and an interesting take on a team taking advantage of the qualifying offer.
You forgot Rosario! He was just ranked the #1 prospect in his league. He is 4 years away but will end up being a better prospect than Cechinni!
Cabrera is a 1 year deal and going to get $10M in 2014. If the Mets didn’t give up much to pick up that salary then it is a plausable short term solution. I would prefer a longer term solution. I think there are better options than Cabrera as I stated in your last shortstop article. As fodder, would the Mets trade Davis even up and would the Indians accept? If so, then I would make the trade in a hearbeat.
I agree with metsense and have thought for awhile that the Indians and Mets matched well. I’d offer Davis and Lutz (Indians need a 1B/DH and could use help at 3B) to start and if the Indians ask for a pitching prospect, then I’m requesting one of their SS prospects not named Lindor that’s a year away from the majors (Ronny Rodriguez ). This deal is the perfect new environment deal, meets both teams needs and doesn’t prohibit the Mets from other moves.
Maybe wishful thinking, but Duda and Valdespin for Cabrera seems appealing as a Mets fan.