Nationals Park Postseason 2012
In a trade deadline day full of interesting and exciting trades, the Washington Nationals traded versatile infielder Zach Walters to Cleveland in exchange for veteran shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and cash considerations. After news broke earlier this week that Ryan Zimmerman’s injured hamstring will be a lengthy, if not season ending injury, the pressure was on the Nationals’ front office to make a trade to bolster their infield. Cabrera is expected to take over as the Nationals’ everyday second baseman, and returns Danny Espinosa to a role as a reserve infielder.
Asdrubal Cabrera, like several Cleveland hitters in 2014, is scuffling through an average season offensively, hitting only .246/.305/.386 with 9 home runs and 7 stolen bases in 97 games played. However, a two-time All-Star selection in 2011 and 2012, the 28-year-old Cabrera is a switch-hitter with a career batting line of .270/.331/.410, and specifically .282/.332/.421 right-handed and .265/.332/.407 left-handed.
Defensively Cabrera is considered an average or slightly below-average shortstop, mostly due to his subpar range. However, Cabrera’s strong arm will help him compensate for this weakness on the right side of the infield, and combined with his previous experience at the position early in his career, should allow him to be an above-average or better defensive second baseman. Cabrera is making $10 million this season, the balance of which will be paid by Cleveland, before reaching free agency this fall.
To acquire Cabrera from Cleveland, the Nationals were forced to part with 24-year-old Walters, whom the team acquired at the trade deadline in 2011 from Arizona for Jason Marquis. Arizona’s 9th round pick in 2010, Walters quietly climbed the Nationals organizational ladder before a true breakout season in AAA in 2013, hitting 29 home runs and slashing .253/.286/.517. A switch-hitter, Walters has legitimate home run power from both sides of the plate, but scouts question if his excessive strike out numbers (25.5% of his at-bats) will not allow it to translate against major league pitching.
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In the field Walters shows average speed, fringe-average athleticism, and a strong arm, making him profile best at third base. Overall I question if he settles in as a starting infielder or if his ultimate position rests as a super-utility multi-position reserve, but there is little doubt Walters should have a quality major league career.
While Cabrera is not a superstar like Adrian Beltre or Chase Utley or perhaps even a household name, he is a league-average or slightly better player, motivated with a change of scenery and his impending free agency this winter. Considering Espinosa’s struggles at the plate, especially left-handed, Cabrera should make the Nationals approximately 0.5 – 1.0 wins better the rest of this season, not an inconsequential sum with Atlanta only 1.5 games back in the division standings entering Thursday.
Walters should go on to have a lengthy career in Cleveland, likely in a reserve capacity for Lonnie Chisenhall, Francisco Lindor, and Jason Kipnis at third base, shortstop, and second base respectively. Quality reserves are difficult to develop or expensive to sign, as the past two seasons in Washington have proven, so parting with Walters stings – nevertheless the Nationals needed to upgrade their roster regardless of whether or not Zimmerman returns this year. The price to improve was steep but fair, and should not hinder the Nationals long-term. Although I like this trade for the Indians, I believe the Nationals made a shrewd deal with Cleveland and appreciably improved their team as they chase their 2nd NL East championship in 3 years.
NatsGM Official Grade -> Solid B