Who is Your Veteran Infielder?

[Edgy MD]

You're the GM of the Mets, but your autonomy is limited. You have a lot of young infielders, and your owners tell you to re-sign one of the Mets' two veterans, Asdrubal Cabrera or José Reyes, to fill in the experience gap, for whatever that's worth.

Cabrera gives you Venezuelan gravity; and Reyes gives you Dominican fire.

Cabrera is locked in with an $8.5 million option; but Reyes presumably costs you whatever the market will bear, plus $2 million more to buy out Cabrera's option.

Cabrera is a steadier, more consistent presence; Reyes provides a more dynamic one.

Cabrera (generally) gives you good hands and headier play; Reyes gives you good wheels and a strong arm.

Reyes may arguably be the better candidate to hit the DL; but Cabrera is creaky even when actively playing.

Cabrera plays second, third, and short; Reyes would seemingly have the skills to do all that and play the outfield, though evidence of this ability has not yet been brought to light.

Asdrubal ceremonially removes the helmets of homerun hitters; while José leads the dugout dancing.

Reyes has an ongoing and friendly relationship with Amed Rosario; Cabrera has never been arrested for domestic assault.

Both like to bleach their hair and get a little pissy if they think they aren't being respected.

[fimg=300:23cag7ot]https://sep.yimg.com/ay/collecting-sports-cards/2017-topps-86-asdrubal-cabrera-baseball-card-new-york-mets-2.gif[/fimg:23cag7ot] [fimg=300:23cag7ot]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51QGC4%2BXM5L._SY445_.jpg[/fimg:23cag7ot]

[RealityChuck]

It's really a tossup. I lean toward Reyes, especially since he probably can't command $6.5 million.

[Edgy MD]

But remember, whatever he costs, you have to add $2 million more. It's a complicator!

[G-Fafif]

The Cabrera buyout essentially makes him a $6.5 million player. He's getting $2 million no matter what.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I voted Cabrera, but I could easily have voted Reyes. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Maybe both will return, although I doubt it. It's probably more likely that we'll see neither than that we'll see both.

[MFS62]

My heart says "Reyes".
My head says "Cabrera".

I voted logic over emotion.
And I'll probably hate myself for doing it.

Later

Edited September 14, 2017 by Guest

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I feel like Reyes more likely only because there's a better chance we trade Cabrera over the offseason.

If AC wants to be a reserve he's the better hitter.

I dunno. There are the tough calls GMs gotta make.

[Edgy MD]

And that's assuming this is real and the 2018 Mets don't reshuffle all the cards.

[smg58]

Cabrera is going to start at either second or third (most likely third, as he's performed respectably there). For $6.5M (not including the buyout), we can do much worse. He's a better hitter and fielder at this point than Reyes.

There might still be some room on the bench for Reyes, though.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't know. I figure they'll go north with five infielders on their roster. If Reyes and Cabrera are two of them, then that only leaves room for three others. As things stand now, but of course can change, that would probably be Rosario, Flores, and Smith. That means at least one of the two veterans would be counted on to be a regular starter.

[Edgy MD]

Six infielders in my world. Any more than 12 men on the pitching staff is self-defeating.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree, but I think they'll have a 13-man staff. But if they do go with 12, then yes, there will be six infielders, which makes the Two Veteran scenario much more possible.

[Frayed Knot]

Who is you veteran infielder? -- Depends on whether you prefer pop-ups or off-the-wall singles.

[Guest d'Kong76]

If 'Neither' were an option in the poll I would have taken that. I'm not so
sure that's a prediction but rather a hope because that it's one of many things
about 2017 I'd rather not revisit in 2018. Get rid of that Aoki dude too, please.

[G-Fafif]

Reyes will probably come cheaper and with more versatility, though it's hard to picture him not deteriorating further from age. I admire the heck out of Cabrera for continuing to stand upright, but if he's here, he's demonstrated the capacity to evince unhappiness without a role he can buy into. I don't want to see Asdrubal starting at third next year, and if he's here, I picture the Mets settling for just that. Depending on how much stock they put in Cecchini (shame they don't have a slew of games to try him out during right now...oh wait), I can see Jose at second, continuing to shepherd Amed and using what's left of his legs and such.

I'd lean a little to Jose relishing being a Met versus Asdrubal ultimately being a journeyman. I'm glad his journey took him through here in 2016, but I don't know if he's the right man at the right time, particularly at the Wright spot.

To be fair, I'm not particularly attached to most of the roster at present.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'd prefer neither. But if forced to choose, I choose Reyes. I think Cabrera is one awkward slide away from a wheelchair with those knees.

And I want a real third baseman, dammit.

[Zvon]

MFS62 wrote: My heart says "Reyes". My head says "Cabrera". I voted logic over emotion. And I'll probably hate myself for doing it. Later

I voted with my heart.

Everything I do in regards to baseball is done with my heart.

[Edgy MD]

Cabrera is, reportedly, looking like the winner.

Reyes' next destination will be interesting.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I guess it's still possible that Jose will be back, but it does seem very unlikely.

[Lefty Specialist]

Yeah, looks like they're leaning toward exercising the option on Cabrera. Have to think that's the end of Reyes.

So that's Smith, Rosario, Cabrera, Flores and TJ, I guess. No Wright, I assume, as he's on the 1000-day disabled list.

[Edgy MD]

A good chance TJ-squared opens the season on a rehab assignment also. Mets Roster Central is projecting an infield of Cabrera, Cecchini, Flores, Reynolds, Rosario, and Smith.

[nymr83]

Cabrera, if forced to choose. I would prefer neither of them be on the team.

[Edgy MD]

Well, the brain beat the heart, anywhoop.

[Frayed Knot]

I'd prefer neither one as a starter, but have no problem with either/or as a backup/fill-in.

[Edgy MD]

Well, until some other transactions take place, the opening day infield is something like Smith-Cabrera-Rosario-Flores.

[ashie62]

Reyes could be the starting 3B.

[Frayed Knot]

I certainly wouldn't plan on going into the season with that in mind.
If either was going to be the full-time 3B (even for part of the season) then I'd go with Asdrubal.

[Valadius]

I'd get the temperature of the other players on whether they want him back before picking up Cabrera's option. It sounded like he was making everyone miserable with his mid-season antics.

[Gwreck]

I'd rather use Rivera, Flores and/or Cecchini than bring back either Cabrera or Reyes.