Rays sign Assdribble Cabrera

[Moonlight J]

Now teams will start lining up throwing their best offers at the Rays for Zobrist (who is a FA after this season).

[BuckyBuckner]

I was really hoping the Yankees would sign him. He would have been a great player to have as insurance for either second or short. We know Didi is a great fielder but who knows if he can hit enough. Adding to that two rookies competing for second base could be another offensive black hole. Cabrera would have been great insurance for either position. Oh well.

[joncarlos]

Rosenthal is reporting it's only a 1 year deal. Wow. He's 29. Thought there was actual interest in him (Yankees, Nats, among others)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2297746-asdrubal-cabrera-to-rays-latest-contract-details-comments-reaction

[BuckyBuckner]

Rosenthal is reporting it's only a 1 year deal. Wow. He's 29. Thought there was actual interest in him (Yankees, Nats, among others)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...ments-reaction

And that makes me even more frustrated that the Yankees didn't sign him. I guess he only wanted a one year deal in the hopes of having a good year and getting a much better multi-year deal next off season.

[Bodhizefa]

So Nick Franklin goes to Triple-A to start the season? It seems like he's had enough time on the farm at this stage, but maybe they want to eke out another year of control on him, too.

Also, what's the outfield shaping up to be in Tampa at the moment? Souza, an injury prone Desmond Jennings, and who else? Zobrist is still easily their best outfielder, so I don't think the Cabrera signing blocks him as much as it does Franklin. Just a thought. My guess is that the Rays will deal Zobrist, but they may not end up getting offers as enticing as his draft pick compensation will be the next year. You never know.

[Bodhizefa]

And that makes me even more frustrated that the Yankees didn't sign him. I guess he only wanted a one year deal in the hopes of having a good year and getting a much better multi-year deal next off season.

Seems like Yankee Stadium would have been a better place to improve your stock than Tampa's stadium (which is a pitcher's park). There's no way I would've gone to the Rays on a 1-year deal as an offensive-minded middle infielder unless that was literally the only offer I could get.

[BuckyBuckner]

Cabrera has been really awful for a couple years now. I wouldn't lament not landing him too greatly.

That's a good point. When you consider the Yanks options currently at second and short he's a good upgrade. On the other hand I do like how the Yankees do seem committed to getting younger when they can.

[Moonlight J]

So Nick Franklin goes to Triple-A to start the season? It seems like he's had enough time on the farm at this stage, but maybe they want to eke out another year of control on him, too.

Also, what's the outfield shaping up to be in Tampa at the moment? Souza, an injury prone Desmond Jennings, and who else? Zobrist is still easily their best outfielder, so I don't think the Cabrera signing blocks him as much as it does Franklin. Just a thought. My guess is that the Rays will deal Zobrist, but they may not end up getting offers as enticing as his draft pick compensation will be the next year. You never know.

Franklin goes into the Sean Rodriguez role now.

OF right now would be Souza, Jennings, and Zobrist, but the odds of Zobrist being on the roster opening day are about the same as me making the roster. His market value is rather large right now when you consider Kendrick netted a guy like Heaney. Giants, Nats, and Rangers are just a few clubs that would come to mind for Zobrist.

I'm for getting Cabrera on a pillow deal, but I have no idea why his agent picked Tropicana Field for him to rebuild value.

[mgwiz22]

Seems like Yankee Stadium would have been a better place to improve your stock than Tampa's stadium (which is a pitcher's park). There's no way I would've gone to the Rays on a 1-year deal as an offensive-minded middle infielder unless that was literally the only offer I could get.

There might be non-baseball related reasons in play here.

[Bodhizefa]

Franklin goes into the Sean Rodriguez role now.

OF right now would be Souza, Jennings, and Zobrist, but the odds of Zobrist being on the roster opening day are about the same as me making the roster. His market value is rather large right now when you consider Kendrick netted a guy like Heaney. Giants, Nats, and Rangers are just a few clubs that would come to mind for Zobrist.

I'm for getting Cabrera on a pillow deal, but I have no idea why his agent picked Tropicana Field for him to rebuild value.

Thanks for putting some home team perspective on it for me, Jason. That makes a lot of sense.

If/When Zobrist is dealt, who slots into the outfield at this point? Do the Rays have anyone of merit in the minors who's close?

[Moonlight J]

Thanks for putting some home team perspective on it for me, Jason. That makes a lot of sense.

If/When Zobrist is dealt, who slots into the outfield at this point? Do the Rays have anyone of merit in the minors who's close?

Nobody in minors close

If Zobrist is dealt, OD OF would be Kiermaier, Jennings, Souza with Guyer platooning with Kiermaier struggles vs LH