[MLB Hot Stove] New York Mets Miss Out On Shortstop: Does Asdrubal Cabrera Signing With Rays Open Door For NY Trade?

If there is one thing every New Yorker can agree on, particularly in these tumultuous times, it's that the New York Mets need a shortstop. Troy Tulowitzki? Yes, please. But will it ever happen? It's looking unlikely. So it's time to look further down the list of potential candidates. Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang? Nope. Outbid by the Pirates, of all teams. The next veteran name on the list was former Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Time to cross him off too.

Cabrera signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays today, according to ESPN, in a move that will make Met fans initially scratch their heads. Cabrera is a cheap veteran who would serve as a serviceable stopgap at the position, where Ruben Tejada has stunk up for too long and Wilmer Flores may need more time to learn defensively. Cabrera was an All-Star as recently as 2012 and received MVP votes as recently as 2011, although his production has declined. But he's still just 28 and would provide decent plate production while excelling in the field.

He looked like a perfect fit. Now it looks like the Mets missed out. Or did they?

Yahoo Sports! is reporting that the Rays signed Cabrera with the intention of trading one of their two already established middle infielders, Yunel Escobar and/or Ben Zobrist. The Rays don't plan on competing in 2015, so the signing of Cabrera could actually be insurance in case they do flip those returning starters. Both would probably warrant a larger return in a trade than Cabrera would.

Escobar is a slick defensive shortstop who never developed into the hitter he was supposed to. While Zobrist is an average player who gets a lot of credit for being able to play many positions adequately. Shortstop is probably his least effective position, but he can play it. He was an All-Star as recently as 2013 and has hit double-digit home runs in each of the past seven seasons while swiping double-digit bases in each of the last six.

Both would be an upgrade for the Mets in the middle infield. But are you willing to give up prized pitching prospects for them? That's what the Rays will want.