Seattle Mariners: 5 Free Agents That Fit the Rebuild

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 31: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies has Powerade poured on him after his walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 31: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies has Powerade poured on him after his walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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INF ASDRÚBAL CABRERA

PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 31: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting a walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 31: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting a walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Asdrúbal Cabrera made a lot of sense for the Mariners at the trade deadline in a year of contention in 2018, but he may even make more sense for them in a rebuilding year. Not only does he have the potential to be valuable at the deadline, he also doesn’t really seem to fit the mold of a contending team right out of free agency. He’s just the type of player that gets added once a team is in the middle of its run and needs to get a bit richer throughout their roster.

The former Seattle farmhand is now 33-years-old and well past his prime, at least defensively. Despite significant regression at the plate after being traded to the Phillies this Summer, Cabrera managed to achieve a 111 wRC+ with 23 home runs and 75 RBI, both second best in his career. The Mariners have a need for a solid utility infielder, though Cabrera could be given a chance to start on the regular if they wind up trading Jean Segura and/or Robinson Canó.

Even if Cabrera balls out, don’t hold your breath for a relatively “sexy” return in a trade. He may land the M’s a nice lottery ticket prospect or two in the end, but no more. Still, that could be extremely valuable to a team starting to rebuild its once-ridiculed farm system.