It took a little longer than expected, but a 15-year MLB veteran has finally found a new home.
On Monday, the New York Mets signed outfielder Melky Cabrera to a player pool contract. As part of the contract, Cabrera will not be included on the initial 40-man roster that will be trimmed to 26 by Opening Day, but will rather join the team's taxi squad.
During his decade-and-a-half career, Cabrera has spent time with the New York Yankees (2005-2009), Atlanta Braves (2010), Kansas City Royals (2011, 2017), San Francisco Giants (2012), Toronto Blue Jays (2013-2014), Chicago White Sox (2015-2017), Cleveland Indians (2018) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2019).
Cabrera was a World Series champion in 2009 with the Yankees and a National League All-Star in 2012 with the Giants. Cabrera was suspended in August of 2012 for use of a banned substance, forcing him to miss the 2012 postseason in which the Giants would win the World Series.
Cabrera signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates just prior to Spring Training in 2019, and he was eventually added to the Opening Day roster. Cabrera appeared in 133 games, batting .280 with seven home runs and 47 runs batted in while holding down right field due to the injury of Gregory Polanco.
Cabrera elected free agency in October, and will now potentially join his ninth Major League team, heading back to the city where his career started.
The Mets also signed a handful of additional players to player pool contracts, including former Giants reliever Hunter Strickland and former White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham.
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