Asdrubal Cabrera Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star INF
Free agent Asdrubal Cabrera has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Rays Reportedly Agree to Deal with Cabrera
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that Tampa Bay has agreed to a deal with Cabrera:
More Teams Reportedly Interested in Cabrera
Monday, Dec. 29
Jon Morosi of Fox Sports added some new teams to the list of clubs reportedly interested in signing Cabrera:
Phillies Could be in Mix for Cabrera
Sunday, Dec. 20
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports the Phillies could pursue Cabrera:
Up to Five Teams Still in Pursuit of Cabrera
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports provides the latest update on teams showing interest in free agent Asdrubal Cabrera:
Multiple Teams Interested in Cabrera
Thursday, Dec. 11
After spending most of his first eight MLB seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Asdrubal Cabrera isn't lacking for suitors for what could be his third team in six months. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports the San Francisco Giants, among others, are looking at the middle infielder:
The Giants' interest in moving Cabrera to third base would make sense after the World Series champs lost Pablo Sandoval to the Boston Red Sox earlier this winter. Cabrera would fill a major hole there with his defense, at the least.
Cabrera, 29, split the 2014 season with the Indians and Washington Nationals. Cleveland traded the two-time All-Star to Washington at the trade deadline for infield prospect Zach Walters. A shortstop for most of his latter years with the Indians, the Nationals moved Cabrera back to second base—where he played for the early part of his career.
Cabrera struggled to get acclimated to his new surroundings, batting .229/.312/.389 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 49 games in the nation's capital. He also managed just three hits in 15 at-bats during the Nationals' four-game series loss to the Giants in the National League Division Series.
While Cabrera indicated he'd be open to staying in Washington, moving back to shortstop appears to be near the top of his priority list, according to James Wagner of The Washington Post:
"I don't know. It depends. A team like this team, a winning team, I would love to play second and love to stay here. I just want to win. I've got eight seasons already. I want to be in the World Series one day.
"
The Nationals have incumbent shortstop Ian Desmond on the roster, who is signed through the 2015 season. Desmond is a homegrown talent who has emerged among the most offensively gifted shortstops in baseball. Keeping him around to play short long term will obviously take priority over Cabrera, who may be without a spot on the roster with Ryan Zimmerman returning from injury and Anthony Rendon needing a spot in the infield.
Cabrera was a disappointment in Washington, and his offensive numbers have been trending in the wrong direction, but he shouldn't lack for suitors. Shortstop is among MLB's most shallow positions, and teams may be willing to bank on the Venezuelan returning to his All-Star form. In 2011, Cabrera set career highs in home runs (25) and RBI (92) and matched a best in steals (17) to earn his first Midsummer Classic honor.
Teams like the Yankees and Blue Jays, both in need of more consistent production in their middle infield, could start the bidding out of Washington's range. Cabrera isn't an elite fielder at either defensive position—he's not come away with a positive defensive rating since 2008, per FanGraphs—but he's not an eyesore, either. There is something to be said for semi-reliability, especially when it comes packaged with above-average offensive talent.
It'll nonetheless be interesting to see how high he can push his market value. It's awfully hard for a middle infield trending downward to suddenly hit a second peak even if Cabrera is yet to turn 30. He won't lack for suitors, but the contract he receives will be instructive.
Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.
