Two Potential Trade Candidates For Asdrubal Cabrera

Image from CBS

   We all know that this season is down in the tubes for the Mets. Thats why the best thing the team can do is get the most they can for the assets they have that don't fit within their timeline.

   In terms of players that fit this bill, Asdrubal Cabrera is one of those guys. The fact that he's swung a great bat so far this season (on top of his affordable contract in which teams would only be on the hook for less than 5 of the 8.2 million he's owed this year) makes him a nice trade candidate for contending teams. Of these contending teams, there are two in particular that come to mind.

The Boston Red Sox

  

  The Red Sox are a team in need of a productive Second Baseman, and that help will unfortunately not be internal, as Dustin Pedroia will be missing the rest of the year with a knee injury. On top of that, Eduardo Nunez, their free agent acquisition this past winter, has been awful (71 wRC+ and a -0.6 WAR). 

   There's a chance the Sox entrust Brock Holt with the starting Second Base spot, but Cabrera would clearly represent an upgrade (something the Sox will need to make a push for a deep postseason run). 

   In terms of coming up with a trade package, here is my take on who the Mets can ask for.

   The Red Sox Acquire Asdrubal Cabrera

The Mets Acquire Bobby Dalbec/Danny Diaz and Jalen Beeks

   Between Dalbec and Diaz, it's a tough call since Dalbec has great stats, but he's also older (turned 23 last month) and is doing this in high A (while also striking out over 30% of the time). However, he's walked a ton the past few seasons with walk rates well above 10% (and 13.8 this year). It's basically a battle of upside vs. great stats. 

   On top of being able to walk a lot, Dalbec's power is ridiculous, as he has a .317 ISO and 163 wRC+. MLB.com also projects him to be an above average fielding Third Baseman in their scouting report of him. 

   Diaz has performed well in the Dominican Summer League for a 17 year old that won't be 18 until January of next year. Diaz has also already shown a lot of power with a .238 ISO, and according to MLB.com, he has a good approach at the plate, as well as nice makeup and a great work ethic. Plus, he is young, and the Mets can take their time with him knowing he is a project with very nice upside. 

   Then comes Jalen Beeks. Beeks was briefly in the majors for 2 appearances, and did not have a good time in those. Despite this, the 25 year old has a very nice arsenal where his best pitches are arguably his curveball and cutter. 

   His cutter gets nice late break that will surely break plenty of right handed bats if he locates it like he did in that clip.

   The curve that Beeks features, meanwhile, is a highly intriguing pitch. At an average of 75 MPH (per Fangraphs), its a bit too slow for my liking, but features impressive movement (9 inches of drop and 6.6 inches of run) and an average spin rate of 2637 RPM is nice, and among pitchers who threw at least 25 curves, Beeks' ranks among the 71st percentile. He has also allowed a 54 wRC+ on the pitch.

   What's nice is that these were Beeks' numbers off the curveball in just his stint in the Majors, which shows that if he continues to make adjustments, his results with the curve can be even better (as his spin and movement would indicate). The Mets would just have to make sure he throws his curve more than the 18.3% he threw beforehand.

   Beeks hides the ball well in his delivery, and has the makings of a bat missing 4th starter or reliable swingman.

The Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have proven that the hype they received for their big offseason push to contention was warranted. Despite this, the team is in the bottom five in second base production.

Cabrera can be of great use for a team that is looking to get a quality Second Baseman, and not have to make an interdivisional trade for the breakout Red in Scooter Gennett.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what I think would be a nice package to ask in return from the Brewers:

Brewers Receive Asdrubal Cabrera

Mets Receive Jacob Nottingham and Kodi Medeiros

It was definitely tough when coming up with my ideal package from the Brewers for Cabrera.

I'd love to add either Corbin Burnes or Freddy Peralta, but it appears as if Burnes will be a vital bullpen arm for them for the foreseeable future, and the organization is high on Peralta. As much as Cabrera has been very productive, he is only a half year rental.

In fact, with that in mind, I can see the team being reluctant to trade Nottingham away, but considering as to how the team already has a nice defensive catcher in Manny Pina who will be under team control until 2021.

   With that (and the likely feeling of desperation Milwaukee will feel come the deadline to make a nice acquisition) in mind, it appears that the team can afford to part with Nottingham, a guy who turned his career around this year. He is an above average runner at the position with a 27 ft/sec sprint speed, and at least average defense (2 seconds exactly on his pop time, and registered at 1.80 per game in terms of framing).

   Nottingham of course though can hit (.267 ISO and 141 wRC+ in Triple A), and combining that with average defense and above average running for his position make him into at least, a Major League backup at Catcher, with the upside of becoming a very useful everyday starter.

   Kodi Medeiros is a former first rounder that has made a breakthrough in what was a make or break season for him. The Hawaii native has had a great season at Double A, where he is sporting a 3.38 ERA. Despite a FIP of 4.31, he has shown some signs of being a big league contributor. He has struck out nearly 24% of the batters he's faced, and over 9 per nine innings.

His control hasn't been very good (3.86 walks per 9, and a 9.9 walk%), but he has been incredible since June 1st.

	ERA	FIP	K/9	K%	BB/9	BB%	HR/9
Before 6/1	3.99	4.78	7.99	20.1	4.15	10.4	0.96
Since	2.30	3.38	11.09	29.1	3.35	8.8	0.63

Info Courtesy of Fangraphs

   Medeiros seems to be putting it together, and to be doing that in Double A is encouraging, as he is facing tougher competition than he would in the low minors. With the potential to have two above average pitches in the fastballl and slider (graded as future values of 55 and 60, respectively by MLB.com), all he needs is to show consistency in his changeup. If he can do that, Medeiros can get closer to unlocking his potential to being a solid #4 starter rather than being relegated to the bullpen.

   Knowing the team can get both a potential starting Catcher and a solid back of the rotation starter would make for a really nice return considering the fact that like I mentioned before, Cabrera is a rental.

In Conclusion

   It's tough to say whose trade package would be better here, and of course fans will want to see the players their team trades to be for the best talent possible. There's no doubt Cabrera is a great talent, and there's a chance that he could get better talent in return than what I proposed. 

   However, with players like Brian Dozier possibly on the trade market (who it appears that Brewers may now be after), it will be tough for the team to trade a rental in Asdrubal for a teams top 5 prospects.

   Overall, the Mets can ask for this trade package from the Brewers, and ensure them that he is more affordable than Dozier.

   That's why as much as I like the Red Sox trade package, I believe the one from the Brewers would be the better one. On top of it also being a group of two players the Brew Crew can afford to part with, this trade would be beneficial for both sides. 

   All Stats and Information are accurate as of July 19th, and are courtesy of Fangraphs, Baseball Savant and Brooks Baseball, MLB.com and Statcorner