Also, the same Everth Cabrera who was suspended for 50 games due to his involvement with Biogenesis (PEDs).
And the same Everth Cabrera who was arrested in 2012 due to misdemeanor spousal abuse (the charges were dropped).
He also has a career .652 OPS. That's a grand total of seven points higher than the guy Mets fans are sick of, Ruben Tejada.
The Mets also have Wilmer Flores, who they plan to start this year. He's probably going to be below average in the field (to the points where Tejada will probably play about 100 games as a defensive replacement, and start if a groundball pitcher is on the mound). Flores put up a .935 OPS last year at AAA Las Vegas, then .664 in the majors (.804 in September).
They also have in their minor league system shortstop Matt Reynolds, who put up an .859 OPS between AA and AAA. And longtime shortstop prospect Gavin Cecchini, who will start this year in AA. And Amed Rosario, one of the team's top 10 prospects, who will start the season in A ball. He's 19 years old, by the way.
But no, the Mets shouldn't wait on those guys, or use what they have now. They should take a guy who's probably going to be suspended again by MLB for drug use - assuming he doesn't go to jail.
In fact, this link (if it works - it was down as I write this) suggests not only the Mets should sign Cabrera, they should give him $3.5 million - which would be a 40 percent raise over last year.
Baseball teams shouldn't make panic moves. That's how they get untradeable players. Ask the Phillies, or Diamondbacks, or maybe even Detroit in a year or so.
Don't give in to the stupid.
