Talk about kicking the tires on Asdrubal Cabrera

[Benjamin Grimm]

From the New York Post:

Mets kicking the tires on bringing back Asdrubal Cabrera

In their effort to find a player who can play second base — either as a starter or reserve — and give the team a backup shortstop, club officials have met with the representative for veteran Asdrubal Cabrera, an industry source told The Post on Wednesday.

From The Crane Pool Forum, December 2015:

Okay, now let's talk about Asdrubal Cabrera

[smg58]

Cabrera would be a great guy to have on the bench -- he switch hits and hits well, has experience at three infield positions, and would probably be a viable option at first base at least to open the season. But I'd be surprised if he doesn't get offered a starter's job with a starter's salary somewhere. If it's January and he's still on the market, I'd place a call.

[Centerfield]

He's also great insurance in case Jeff McNeil isn't all we are hoping he will be. But like smiggy says, I think he'll get a starter role somewhere.

Besides, I'm going out and predicting great things for Gavin Cecchini for the second straight year.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

smg58 wrote: Cabrera would be a great guy to have on the bench -- he switch hits and hits well, has experience at three infield positions, and would probably be a viable option at first base at least to open the season. But I'd be surprised if he doesn't get offered a starter's job with a starter's salary somewhere. If it's January and he's still on the market, I'd place a call.

what he said.

The danger I suppose is introducing the temptation to convert him back into a starter if McNeil and/or Rosario struggle. That might interfere with Brochacho's longer term plans, assuming he has any

[Vic Sage]

Gavin Cecchini?
Is that still a thing?

[Centerfield]

I'm president of his fan club.

The group is...small.

[smg58]

I'm not sure where we stand with Cecchini and TJ Rivera going into the season. I would imagine that that would have a huge impact on whether or not we tender Flores a contract, much less go out of the organization for infield depth.

[Centerfield]

Rivera had a setback, but from what I heard, he should be back and ready by spring.

What happened to Gavin remains a mystery. The last article I could find was from August.

https://metsmerizedonline.com/2018/08/mmo-prospect-profile-gavin-cecchinis-lost-opportunity.html/

Basically, Gavin rebuilt himself over last winter, and was off to a nice start before fouling a pitch off his foot on May 9. He was listed as day to day, but when things didn't get better, they suspected he had torn something. I don't know what became of him after that. I can only guess his entire leg has been amputated by now.

I have no explanation for my high hopes for Cecchini except that he looked like a hitter in the small samples we saw of him in 2017. I still hope that he can be a productive player, but understand that the chances of that happening, or of him even getting an opportunity, are slim. Still, if he's able to play in 2019, I'd rather try him for the Jose Reyes role (cheap with upside) than to bring back Jose again.

[Edgy MD]

smg58 wrote: I'm not sure where we stand with Cecchini and TJ Rivera going into the season.

I'm not sure whether Cecchini and Rivera will be able to stand going into the season. WOCKA WOCKA!

As for Cabrera, I'm not sure how much more his tires can take.