Tuesday morning, Mets general manager addressed matters throughout the organization.
The Mets general manager spoke widely of the coaching staff, but also added that the team hasn’t yet made a decision on whether or not infielder Asdrubal Cabrera will be back next year.
The 31-year-old has a $6.5 million club option for next year with a $2 million buyout.
Alderson concluded by saying they still have time to make a decision on the veteran.
Original post – Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m.
The Mets and Phillies were locked in a standstill during the second-to-last game of the 2017 season in a crisp, fall like night at Citizen’s Bank Park.
With the scored knotted up at 4-4 in the 11th inning, Asdrubal Cabrera stepped to the dish and parked a three-run bomb into the seats in left field. It would be enough to propel the Mets to victory.
Many balls were knocked down by the wind Saturday, including a Rhys Hoskins fly out the inning prior that nearly ended the game in favor of Philadelphia.
“I haven’t hit many home runs like last year, but my other numbers are still there,” said Cabrera, who is expected to have his option picked up for 2018. “It’s not about how you start, it’s how you finish.”
Seth Lugo started this one for the Mets and handed in a solid four innings to end his season on a positive note. For Lugo, who has endured a series of injuries in 2017 including a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, reaching the 100 inning plateau is no small feat.
“He’s a just a good pitcher. Now you know you’re healthy and it’s time to rest up,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. ” Keep your strength up in your arm and shoulder and next year have a big year.”
In fact, Lugo’s opposition Henderson Alvarez put six runners on base via the base-on-balls. Altogether, the Phillies surrendered 10 walks against the Mets three.
“I think you saw it from both sides, it was a little tougher to command the strike zone tonight,” Lugo said about the windy weather in Philadelphia. “But I was fortunate enough to not walk anybody.”
Both teams held two-run leads at different points throughout the game before Cabrera gave the Mets an edge with his 14th long ball of the season.
Besides an early home run from Maikel Franco, Paul Sewald surrendered two runs but the rest of the relief corps held the Phillies at bay. Jacob Rhame pitched two scoreless frames while Jeurys Familia picked up his sixth save of the year.
“Just to go out there and know I am healthy, that’s all I needed,” Familia said. “I know if I go into the winter healthy, I will be fine for next season.”
On the offensive side, Brandon Nimmo ripped his first career triple while Kevin Plawecki reached base five times to boost his OPS to .772.
Noah Syndergaard is expected to get the ball for the season finale Sunday and throw 25 pitches. Collins says after what projects to be two innings, “a lot of guys” will be used.
With his strong finish, it’s almost a certainty that the Mets will pick up Cabrera’s $8.5 million option for 2018 which includes a $2 million dollar buyout.
Since September 1, Cabrera is batting .397 with a .628 slugging percentage and a 1.078 OPS in 89 plate appearances.
Bringing Cabrera back however, could spell the end of Jose Reyes’ time with the Mets. It’s unlikely the Mets will bring back both infielders next season.
