The New York Mets have signed utility infielder Asdrubal Cabrera to a two-year deal, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo.
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Cabrera, who is represented by Wil Polidore, Scott Pucino and Jose Mijares at Octagon, spent last season with the Tampa Bay Rays, batting. The 30-year-old shortstop provides some offense from both sides of the plate.
Once he passes his physical and his signing becomes official, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will very likely be slotted in as the Mets’ new starting shortstop. The addition of Cabrera may have been more important as the Mets really didn’t have a shortstop they had much confidence in. Cabrera can also play second base and third base. Even with some diminished range, he is expected to take over the shortstop position from Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores. Wright missed significant time previous year with spinal stenosis and it is unknown how many days in a row he will be able to play in the future.
“We’re looking for ways to give [manager] Terry [Collins] some options to mix and match and we do have some options from the right side to mix and match that would be complements to him”, Ricco said to reporters. Get me 1-2 decent relievers and we have the makings of a championship team.
It is a win for the Mets who only had a role for Niese the first half of the season until Zack Wheeler returned from his Tommy John Surgery rehab.
“I think we have the ability to do all three if the pieces that we like are there”, Ricco said.
– They didn’t get much better and we all know it.
NOTE: The Mets lost right-hander Matthew Bowman to St. Louis in the winter meetings draft.
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A poor defender for the majority of his career, Cabrera’s UZR last season of -6.0 was actually the best it’s been since 2010, but rated worse than Flores’ -2.5.
