MLB Executives believe the Mets will try for Melky Cabrera

By Steven Inman

The Mets are looking for cheap outfielders who could be in line for big rebound seasons. Melky Cabrera certainly fills that description. Joel Sherman of the New York Post spoke with several major league executives who guessed that the Mets and Phillies will be major players for Cabrera. The all-star game MVP in free agency should be one of the more interesting free agents this winter.

Let’s start with the negative. Cabrera got busted for PED use and then tried to dupe MLB authorities by creating a fake website that said Cabrera took a different unbanned substance that would have caused him to fail the drug test. Cabrera was caught and the whole thing looks really ugly now that we have all the information on it. Despite having a great first half Cabrera will likely have to settle for a one year deal for around $4-5 million.

Believe it or not $4-5 million is actually in the Mets price range for an outfielder. Cabrera was playing way over his head this season 346/.390/.516 slash line with 11 homers and 60 RBI in 113 games this season for the Giants. That being said, he has been a solid player over the past few seasons and is now entering his prime at age 28. Cabrera owns a .284/.338/.414 career batting line.

Cabrera has played mostly centerfield over his career but is definitely a below average centerfielder according to fangraphs. He probably would best fit the Mets in a corner spot. At this point most executives believe the Mets or the Phillies are the favorites to sign Cabrera.  The Mets shouldn’t frown upon Melky’s PED controversy they should attempt to take advantage of it.

Melky Cabrera has been really good and really bad over his career before having the best season of his career cut short by a 50 game suspension. Who is the real Cabrera? Only time will tell but if the Mets are getting anything close to the player he has been over the past two seasons in Kansas City and San Francisco, a one year deal to the Mets will be a huge bargain.