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The Cleveland Indians are reportedly showing interest in New York Mets infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.
The #Indians have expressed interest in #Mets Asdrubal Cabrera. They've talked about adding a utility guy if they can't swing a bigger deal.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 21, 2017
Asdrubal spent the first seven-and-a-half years of his career with the Indians before being dealt midway through 2014 for prospect Zach Walters. Walters didn’t pan out for the Indians, and Cabrera left the Nationals at the end of the season to join the Tampa Bay Rays, and later the New York Mets where he as been since last season.
Even in his prime, Cabrera was not the rangiest shortstop to put it nicely, but he has put up 134 home runs in his career with a .268/.330/.418 slash for an above-average wRC+ of 104. Last year with the Mets was maybe one of his best ever when he hit .280/.336/.474 in 141 games as the Mets’ full-time shortstop.
Cabrera requested a trade last month, shortly after the Mets shifted him to second base to make room for Jose Reyes. Unfortunately for Cabrera, if he returns to the Indians it will likely be as a part-time second basemen to fill in for Jason Kipnis, and maybe some time at shortstop if Francisco Lindor’s legs stop working for a couple days.
Maybe if we’re lucky he can re-enact this famous play that was eventually recreated in an anime.