Rays to sign Asdrubal Cabrera, could deal Zobrist

The Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera have agreed to terms to a one-year deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman notes that the deal is worth around $8 million. Cabrera also had received interest from the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Royals. 

Cabrera, 28, hit a slash line of .241/.307/.387 last season over 616 plate appearances with the Indians and Nationals. He had 133 hits, 31 doubles, four triples, and 14 home runs, while driving in 61 runs. His offensive contribution was just below-average, as Cabrera posted a 98 weighted runs created plus last season, which takes into account park and league factors (100 is considered "average"). 

Defensively, Cabrera was below average at both shortstop and second base. Cabrera has spent time at both middle infield positions over his career, but was mainly a shortstop with Cleveland. Last year, Cabrera was worth -7 defensive runs saved in 823.2 innings out at short, while he was worth -10 defensive runs saved in 432 innings, all with Washington. Overall, he was worth -1.0 dWAR (B-R).

Cabrera adds to an already-crowded second base position in Tampa Bay, with Ben Zobrist, Logan Forsythe, and Nick Franklin manning the position prior to Cabrera's arrival. The signing of Cabrera could lead to a trade of Ben Zobrist. With the 33-year-old Zobrist being older than Cabrera, and coming off a year where he posted a 5.7 fWAR and a 119 wRC+, the Rays could get some serious trade offers for him.

Zobrist could be coveted by Cabrera's old team, the Nationals, as their main weak point is out at second base. They will likely lead the charge in a trade for him.

Overall, Rays' second baseman hit .244/.314/.384 last season, as they posted a just above-average 102 wRC+. They posted the fifth-highest fWAR in baseball, as they were worth a 5.0 mark. 

Over his career, the Venezuelan Cabrera has a .268/.330/.409 line with 87 home runs and 451 runs batted in over eight big league seasons with the Indians and Nationals. He has been worth 14.6 fWAR over his career, while being a good offensive player at times, but never being great defensively.

--Devan Fink

---