Former NY Mets player is the least valuable MLB free agent this offseason

MLB.com annually puts together the best list of free agents anywhere you’ll find. Gathering together players’ fWAR from the last two seasons combined separated by position, we get a better idea of how each man’s career has gone without having to do extensive early digging. It can help give us an early indication of who might be right for the New York Mets and who to steer clear of before their Baseball-Reference page even loads.

While this list does only include MLB free agents and not the numerous players who’d be considered minor league free agents, we can come away realizing the least valuable of all of the names listed here was actually a member of the 2025 Mets. Martin Maldonado with a -2.3 fWAR over the last two seasons had the title, but with his retirement, Genesis Cabrera takes the title with a -1.4 fWAR over the last two seasons.

Genesis Cabrera has the worst fWAR over the last 2 seasons of any available MLB free agent who hasn’t decided to retire

Cabrera felt like a steal for the Mets on a minor league contract. Coming off of a 2024 campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays where he pitched to a 3.59 ERA, it felt like a worthy addition to the Mets depth chart. The Mets called him up early in the year and had decent results. A 3.52 ERA in 7.2 innings of work didn’t have anyone kicking and screaming too hard when he was DFA’d in favor of keeping Jose Castillo. The Chicago Cubs claimed him and things went down hill quickly.

Cabrera had an 8.68 ERA for the Cubs, 4.91 ERA with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and finally a 7.98 ERA for the Minnesota Twins. A well-traveled lefty reliever this past season with a 6.54 ERA in 42.2 innings of work, a minor league deal is all Cabrera is worth this offseason.

Last offseason, one of the least valuable starting pitchers available in free agency also inked a deal with the Mets. Jose Urena, worth -0.5 fWAR, was tied with Brad Keller. Of course, Keller would go on to have an awesome season with the Cubs working out of the bullpen. Urena made one relief appearance for the Mets before getting cut.

We’re sure to see more of these types of players head to Syracuse and become projects for the Mets to tinker with in hopes of finding a fix.