Now that Oswaldo Cabrera has played for the New York Yankees in three separate seasons, he has made a distinct impression in each of them. When he stepped up as a rookie in August of 2022, he took the league by storm and produced a .740 OPS with six homers in 44 games, appearing like a youthful and affordable contributor for years to come.
Then, in 115 games in 2023, he collapsed to a.574 OPS and only five round-trippers. Fans began to wonder about his future with the Yankees as he slipped slightly out of favour. But in 2024, he was positioned halfway between a promising young talent and a total failure. Playing first, second, and third base, shortstop, left field, and right field in 109 games, he posted a.661 OPS, eight home runs, and four stolen bases. You might characterize him as a reliable, versatile performer. He even participated in a minor mop-up role.
Cabrera’s flexibility, ability to play first base, and .274/.322/.429 line (.751 OPS) since July 21 makes him a key factor for the Yankees in the postseason. He may start at first base and serve as a terrific utility player should the Yanks choose to start rookie slugger Ben Rice in that role. Either way, Cabrera is expected to contribute significantly to the Yankees’ World Series run and success. The team doesn’t need him to be a star or have a huge upside, even if he could not be either. He doesn’t need to be a hero; instead, he only needs to do his share to assist the team reach the main objective, as he stated in a recent interview.
Cabrera understands he will still play and have his time to contribute, so he doesn’t really care about the debate regarding who will start at first base right now. He will undoubtedly play shortstop if Anthony Volpe continues to struggle, first base (alternating with Rice), and other positions around the diamond as needed. Given his versatility and ability to play virtually anywhere, he is also an ideal player to have on hand to cover for any injuries. Even though Cabrera isn’t a particularly good offensive player, any club would be lucky to have him on the squad.
