Cubs reportedly sign lefty reliever Genesis Cabrera |
Dustin Riese
· · 1 day ago
Lost in the shuffle of an exciting walk-off win, capped off by Matt Shaw's first career walk-off hit, was another under-the-radar move from Jed Hoyer and this front office as he continues to search for pitching help anyway possible. This time, it comes in the form of former New York Mets left-handed reliever Genesis Cabrera, as the two sides have reportedly reached an agreement.
What stands out the most about this deal is that it was initially expected to be a Minor League Deal, but was later proven to be a Major League deal, as Cabrera could be joining the Cubs' pen as soon as Wednesday if this deal becomes official. The 28-year-old lefty spent the entire season with the Mets and appeared in 7 2/3 innings for them, posting a 3.58 ERA before ultimately being released. Instead of heading to the Minors, Cabrera opted for free agency and will now get another chance on an MLB roster, this time with the Cubs. Looking back at last season, when the Mets released Jorge Lopez following a strange outburst on the field, it makes you wonder if that is what the Cubs are hoping this deal will turn out to be, as Cabrera could be a nice addition to their bullpen. Throughout his MLB career, Cabrera has had his moments as a pitcher, posting a 3.88 ERA. That isn't what you would call elite, but it certainly isn't an ERA you look at and cringe when he takes the mound. Not to mention, he boasts a 95-96 MPH heater that serves as a natural sinker, and there is a lot to like about this deal and what the Cubs could gain from him. If the name sounds familiar, you may remember him as a St. Louis Cardinal, as his best days were in St. Louis, pitching in a middle relief role for several seasons. Given his long-term consistency and success on the mound, some may be wondering why he was a free agent as long as he was heading into this season. Well, look no further than his 20% strikeout rate over the last few years, as Cabrera wasn't able to put hitters away as easily as you would think with a fastball like that. He also walked close to 10% of the hitters he faced, while allowing plenty of hard contact, especially this season when he was in the minors, so there were plenty of concerns surrounding his overall performance this season. However, given the small sample size with the Mets and considering the success he had, the Cubs are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, similar to what they have achieved from Drew Pomeranz this season and Tyson Miller last year. While his sinker is going to be his go-to pitch, Cabrera has far more than that in his arsenal as he pairs that sinker with a curveball that he is now throwing close to 30% of the time. Cabrera also has a four-seamer, a cutter, and a splitter in his back pocket as he has plenty of pitches to play with at any point in the count. No one is going to argue with this signing, as it is a low-risk, high-reward pickup. However, seeing him sign straight to an MLB deal is a bit puzzling, as the question becomes whose place he will be taking over. The most likely option would be the recently added Brooks Kirske, who pitched well over the weekend in Cincinnati. If that is the case, Kirske would most likely be designated for assignment, as the Cubs would be risking losing him altogether at that point. Still, Cabrera will now give the Cubs three proven left-handed pitchers in the bullpen, as he will be joining Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar. Throw in Luke Little and Tom Cosgrove as AAA depth pieces, and the Cubs suddenly have an influx of left-handed relief options after entering the season with just Thielbar. This is just another instance of Hoyer finding value in a player and looking to capitalize on it.
