Former NY Mets player cut from the roster last month signs with weekend opponent

Any of y’all actually had literal salt rubbed into a wound? If so, a familiar physical feeling may befall you this weekend if the worst imaginable scenario takes place. Well, we’re not really on worst-cases at the moment with the New York Mets managing to win their last two against the Atlanta Braves. A trip home already ends with the team set to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

One of the league’s worst teams yet again, Pirates pitching has the ability to give the Mets some fits. And if he has it his way, Genesis Cabrera will want to be a part of the action.

After two disastrous outings in a row for the Chicago Cubs following some other not so clean innings of work, Cabrera is now a member of the Pirates just in time to maybe remind the Mets how quickly they brushed him aside. Or, maybe if we’re lucky, he confirms what they already knew.

What could have been, but never was, with Genesis Cabrera

Cabrera didn’t deserve to get cut by the Mets. It was a matter of needing a fresh arm and the choice was between him and Jose Castillo. The latter had just been acquired via trade for cash considerations. With a 3.52 ERA in limited action, Cabrera wasn’t bad but there were red flags. He wasn’t doing anything at an elite level in Triple-A prior to his promotion. The absence of a lefty reliever in the bullpen is what ultimately led to his promotion.

Alas, it lasted 6 games and 7.2 innings before Cabrera was cut then landed with the Cubs only to implode on the mound. He departed Chicago with 9.1 innings pitched, 9 earned runs, and 4 home runs allowed. The Mets have since parted ways with Castillo and even said farewell to Richard Lovelady whose leash lasted one game. Like Cabrera, neither southpaw had much leeway. Castillo had a 2.38 ERA at the time of his DFA but with a WHIP of 1.94 it felt like a ticking time bomb. Lovelady’s execution without a trial had to do with many of those same reasons. He didn’t get results and the Mets needed someone in the bullpen.

Onto his third team already this season, Cabrera feels bound to bounce around the league for the rest of 2025. As a hard-throwing 28-year-old lefty there is always going to be a suitor. The Mets saw him chew with his mouth open. The Cubs experienced him eat pizza with a fork. Can the Pirates get him back on track? They’ll have more patience for sure.

The Mets are bound to see him this weekend. Does he make the team eat their hearts out or will he come into the game and make things messy for his team much like Phil Maton did earlier this year when the Mets faced him?