FLASH: Mets sign Batista, Cabrera, and Kazmar

Anthony DiComo

@AnthonyDiComo view full profile →

New York, NYMets

sign RHPs Miguel Batista and Fernando Cabrera to minor league contracts -

 
Batista, 41 in February, posted a 3.60 ERA, 4.7 K/9, 5.0 BB/9, 0.30 HR/9, and 44.9% groundball rate in 60 innings for the Mets and Cardinals last year. He ended the Mets' season on a high note with a shutout against the Reds. - http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/mets-re-sign-miguel-batista.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Batista you know: He’ll be 41 by Opening Day, he writes poetry and mystery novels, he somehow manages to guile his way to a reasonable ERA every year despite lousy peripherals, and he pitched that two-hit shutout in Game 162 in 2011 that was entirely overshadowed by a first-inning bunt single. On a Minor League deal, he’s a hedge for the five starters penciled in to the Mets’ Opening Day rotation. The Mets  - be in the mix for early-season starts with Chris Schwinden and… I don’t know, D.J. Carrasco? Pedro Beato?  http://www.tedquarters.net/2012/01/10/fear-not-miguel-batista-returning/

Fernando Cabrera 38 | P

Status: Active

Leones de Ponce
Offseason Leagues Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico

Stats ERA: 5.87 W-L: 0-2 SV: 2 SO: 6

Bookmark Player Full Name: Fernando Jose Cabrera Born: 11/16/1981 Birthplace: Toa Baja, Puerto Rico Height: 6' 4" Weight: 225 Bats: R Throws: R

2011 Season
Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
SAC	PCL	4	3	2.71	53	0	0	0	9	63.0	49	22	19	6	26	73	0.53	.216
Minors		4	3	2.71	53	0	0	0	9	63.0	49	22	19	6	26	73	0.53	.216

2011 Offseason Leagues
Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
PON	PWL	0	2	5.87	7	0	0	0	2	7.2	8	5	5	0	3	6	0.42	.258

Cabrera is more interesting. He has thrown 175 1/3 mostly poor innings across parts of seven seasons in the Majors, nearly all of them marked by lots of walks, lots of home runs, and lots of strikeouts. But for the past three years he has mostly pitched in Triple-A in Pawtucket and Sacramende* and mostly been pretty good, striking out over 10 batters per nine in that stretch and maintaining a 2.77 K:BB ratio. Given the Mets’ 40-man roster crunch it seems unlikely Cabrera will crack the club out of Spring Training, but if he continues to pitch like he has since 2009, he’ll probably wind up in Flushing for a stretch if and when anyone in the Mets’ bullpen gets injured or proves ineffective.  http://www.tedquarters.net/2012/01/10/fear-not-miguel-batista-returning/

AdamRubinESPNAdam Rubin

The #Mets also signed shortstop Sean Kazmar, who will go directly to minor league camp.

Sean Kazmar 4 | SS Status: Free Agent Tacoma Rainiers Triple-A Pacific Coast League MLB Parent Club: Seattle

Stats AVG: .253 HR: 3 RBI: 45 SB: 7

Bookmark Player Full Name: Sean Frank Kazmar Born: 08/05/1984 Birthplace: Valdosta, GA College: Southern Nevada CC Height: 5' 9" Weight: 180 Bats: R Throws: R

2011 Season
Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
TAC	PCL	.253	127	462	50	117	29	3	3	45	161	36	68	7	6	.311	.348	.660
Minors		.253	127	462	50	117	29	3	3	45	161	36	68	7	6	.311	.348	.660

official press release:



Mets Sign Former Bisons RHP Fernando Cabrera,
RHP Miguel Batista to Minor League Contracts
Cabrera a Member of Bisons’ 2004 IL Governors’ Cup Championship Team


January 10, 2012-The New York Mets today announced the club has signed RHPFERNANDO CABRERA and RHP MIGUEL BATISTA to minor league contracts. Both former Bisons pitchers have also been given an invite to major league Spring Training.

Cabrera, 30, pitched in 79 games over parts of three seasons with the Bisons from 2004-2006 and amassed an 11-4 record, a 2.65ERA and 173 strikeouts in only 135.2 innings of work. He also earned eight saves with Buffalo and was a member of the 2004 Governors’ Cup Championship team.

Cabrera’s 173 strikeouts are the most among fulltime relievers in the Bisons modern era. His 2.19ERA in 43 career games at Coca-Cola Field is the 5th lowest ERA in the ballpark’s history.

Cabrera spent last season with Triple-A Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League, finishing   4-3 with a 2.71ERA in 53 games.  The 6-4, 225-pound righthander has major league time with Boston (2009-2010), Baltimore (2007-2008) and Cleveland (2004-2007), compiling an 8-7 record, one save and a 5.24ERA in 132 games out of the bullpen.  

Batista, 40, pitched in 10 games and made eight starts with the Bisons in 2011. Overall, he was 3-0 with a 4.24ERA and 36 strikeouts in 46.2 innings of work. He began the season with the St. Louis Cardinals before being signed by the Mets on July 5. He was promoted to New York for Buffalo on August 26 and spent the rest of the year with the Mets.

Overall, Batista was 5-2 with a 3.60ERA in 35 games at the major league level last season.

The Mets also announced the signing of shortstop Sean Kazmar, who will report to minor league camp.  Kazmar, 27, hit .253 (117-462) with three home runs and 45RBI in 127 games for Triple-A Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League last season.