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He was in the midst of a breakout season with the San Diego Padres, hitting .291/.373/.396 with 34 stolen bases and providing solid defense at shortstop. The Padres thought Cabrera was a foundation piece for their future.
It didn't take long for things to turn for the worse.
Less than a month after the All-Star game, Cabrera was among the players suspended 50 games for their involvement with the Biogenesis clinic. At the time he was leading the National League in stolen bases with 37. He also led the NL in stolen bases in 2012 with 44.
When Cabrera returned to the Padres lineup in 2014 he looked nothing like the player from before the suspension. In 90 games this past year his batting average dropped to .232 and his OBP was a measly .272. He missed much of July, most of August and all of September with a hamstring injury.
While on the DL, Cabrera ran into some legal trouble. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Sept. 3 and later charged with resisting arrest.
The latest blow came on Tuesday when the Padres non-tendered Cabrera, making him a free agent. San Diego simply decided to cut ties with a player that didn't produce last season and wasn't worth the headache any longer.
Following the decision Cabrera took to Twitter, pledging to improve his reputation on and off the field:
Thank you @Padres and fans for my first years in the big leagues. I am going to keep working hard to be a better person and player.
— Everth Cabrera (@CabreraEverth) December 3, 2014
There are plenty of teams around the league looking for a shortstop, the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets to name a few. Still only 28, Cabrera might draw interest as an upside signing if those teams are willing to overlook the obvious issues he brings along with him. There's a chance, however small, that he could regain the All-Star form he displayed in 2013.— Everth Cabrera (@CabreraEverth) December 3, 2014
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