Mets reportedly interested in Asdrubal Cabrera

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Mets are among the teams who are interested in signing free agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera.

Aside from the Mets, Heyman lists the Athletics, Cardinals, Giants, and Twins, though Athletics beat reporter Susan Slusser responded to the reported interest by saying she’d be surprised if Oakland was interested.

Cabrera, 29, just finished a two-year deal that paid him $8.25 million annually.

Cabrera was dealt from Cleveland to the Nationals during the 2014 season, and played primarily second base for Washington after the trade.

Overall in 2014, Cabrera hit .241/.307/.387 with 14 home runs while rating as a negative defender.

Thoughts:

Aside from the fact that Cabrera’s offensive game has deteriorated over the last two seasons, and arguably more important, is the fact that he’s rated as one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball during that span.

Between 2012 and 2014, Cabrera has been worth a combined -28 DRS (defensive runs saved), and has rated as a negative defender every year of his career except for 2009.

Cabrera’s inability to be an adequate defender at shortstop is why most teams who are reportedly interested in him would likely put him at either third base or second base.

For the Mets, it’s not clear why they would have any interest at all in Cabrera.

Even if the Mets feel Cabrera will rebound offensively, it makes little sense to pay a premium for him when Wilmer Flores‘ offensive potential is about equal to what Cabrera was during his most productive years.

When you take defense into account, the Mets’ reported interest in Cabrera becomes almost comical.

When you insert the fact that Cabrera is reportedly seeking a four-year deal, the Mets’ reported interest in Cabrera goes from merely comical to completely hysterical.

Regardless of Heyman’s report, I find it very difficult to believe that the Mets have serious interest in Asdrubal Cabrera.