San Francisco Giants Acquire Everth Cabrera
The San Francisco Giants first move as the trade deadline nears was far from the big splash that every team’s fan base hopes for. Thursday afternoon, the Giants reportedly signed seven-year veteran shortstop Everth Cabrera to a minor league deal, reported by CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
It definitely is not an eye-popping acquisition, and it may even have some scratching their heads considering the Giants’ roster, what they need and what they lack.
A solid shortstop definitely doesn’t come to mind when thinking of the Giants’ needs. For me personally, it seems like one All-Star shortstop is good enough.
After becoming an All-Star in 2013, Cabrera is now just a shell of what he once was and hasn’t exactly made a great image for himself since then either. In 2012, he was arrested on charges of domestic assault, although they were later dropped.
He served a 50-game suspension in 2013 for involvement in MLB’s Biogenesis investigation, which was related to performance-enhancing drugs. In 2014, he was arrested on two separate occasions, for driving under the influence of marijuana in September, and resisting resist two months later in November. Earlier this year he reached a plea deal with the San Diego County and received three years probation, a $655 fine, and required to complete 80 hours of volunteer work by the end of the year.
More from San Francisco Giants
- Thank you SF Giants for a fun, wild, surprising 2020 season
- SF Giants lose in heartbreaking fashion and miss 2020 MLB playoffs
- SF Giants: Mike Yastrzemski named 2020 Willie Mac Award recipient
- SF Giants: Chadwick Tromp placed on IL with shoulder strain
- SF Giants: Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners postponed
So all summed up, it doesn’t sound like Cabrera is the best veteran clubhouse presence a team could add. In fact it couldn’t get much worse.
His performance on the field isn’t any better. He was batting just .208 this season in 29 games played with the Baltimore Orioles before he was released in June.
However, the Giants don’t really lose much if this doesn’t work out. Since it is a minor league deal, they won’t be paying that much for someone who has shown they can be a big part of a team.
He also offers something the Giants don’t have much of, and that’s speed.
In 2012, Cabrera went on to steal a league-leading 44 bases, while only being caught 4 times. He then stole 37 bases during the 2013 season. He has seen a huge drop off in the past two seasons, which may be primarily because of his off the field problems, but also possibly from a decline in speed now that he is 29.
Despite his decline in stolen bases, the Giants could still use some help, with only 39 stolen bases through 89 games this season, making them tied as the fourth-worst in the National League.
Cabrera could possibly improve that department and could play a pivotal role if the Giants are in need of a pinch-runner in a close game. The Giants haven’t fared to well in close games this year either, going 11-12 in one-run games.
Whether the Giants decide to use him down the stretch or as a piece of a possible trade, fans shouldn’t be too worried that this was the first move made by the team as the trade deadline approaches. Brian Sabean and company are usually pretty good at making the right moves at the right time.