The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an agreement with free-agent middle infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. The deal is contingent on Cabrera passing a physical.
Cabrera, 29, spent time in 2014 with the Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals in 2014 hitting .241/.307/.387 with 14 home runs. He has a career .268/.330/.409/.740 slash line over eight MLB seasons.
The deal is reportedly for one year at $8 million. Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist immediately become the subject of trade rumors as a result of the signing.
Zobrist’s $7.5 million option for 2015 was picked up in October. Zobrist hit .272 this year with 10 homers and 52 RBIs in 2014.
The San Francisco Giants and a number of other teams reportedly have more than a passing interest in acquiring Zobrist for a package of prospects. The interest by the Giants dates back to the trade deadline last summer.
Additionally, the Rays have Nick Franklin who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners as part of the the David Price deal last summer with the Detroit Tigers, and Logan Forsythe on the roster.
Providing there are no issues with the Cabrera physical, the Rays will have $20 million committed to middle infielders in 2014.
Stay tuned.
