According to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, the Mets remain interested in free agent shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, possibly as a fallback option if they don’t land Ben Zobrist.
On Monday, sources told Cotillo that the Angels, White Sox, and Yankees have also expressed interest in signing Cabrera. He is expected to make a decision by the end of the Winter Meetings on Thursday.
Cabrera, 30, can play both shortstop and second base, and he has been linked to the Mets many times in the past. He batted .265 with 28 doubles, 15 home runs, and 58 RBIs in 551 plate appearances this year for the Rays, and he also posted a 104 wRC+ and 2.2 WAR in 143 games.
As his career .267/.329/.412 triple slash line shows, he provides solid production and power from his position. Since 2011, he’s produced double digit home runs in every season.
Cabrera started 136 games at shortstop this season, where he posted a -6.0 UZR, -10.4 UZR/150 and -7 Defensive Runs Saved. Those marks were almost identical to 2014. At this point in his career, a move to second base is long overdue. He’s played 1773 innings at second base throughout his career, posting a -2.5 UZR/150.
Cabrera will not be as costly as Ben Zobrist, Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick, and Ian Desmond, and he’s projected to fetch a two years deal between $15-20 million.
