Now it’s official, as the 28-year-old lefthanded Génesis Cabrera has indeed signed a major-league deal with the Cubs, announced by the team late Thursday. To make room on both the 40-man and 26-man rosters, righthander Brooks Kriske has been designated for assignment.
Cabrera had several decent years with the Cardinals from 2019-23 until he was sent to the Blue Jays for a minor leaguer in July 2023. In Toronto he also threw reasonably well, but was projected to receive an arbitration salary of $2.5 million this year and instead of that, the Jays non-tendered him.
Cabrera signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in November and appeared in seven games for them covering 7⅔ innings. He allowed seven hits, three walks and three runs, with seven strikeouts. That included facing two Cubs in this game at Citi Field earlier this month. He retired Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker on fly balls.
The Mets DFA’d Cabrera last week and he cleared waivers. The Mets wanted to outright him to Triple-A Syracuse, but he elected free agency and signed with the Cubs instead. Overall in 278 MLB games, Cabrera has a 3.88 ERA, 1.348 WHIP and 275 strikeouts in 283⅓ innings.
Kriske appeared in one game for the Cubs, last Saturday in Cincinnati, with two scoreless innings keeping the game close, though the Cubs ultimately lost. He’ll likely clear waivers and return to Triple-A Iowa, though, like Cabrera, he has the right to elect free agency if he so chooses.
As always, we await developments.