Everth Cabrera's time in San Diego has come to an end.
Everth Cabrera, the Padres All-Star shortstop, has not been given a contract tonight while the remainder of the players on the 40-man roster were either tendered contracts or are already signed through 2015.
This is quite the fall.
The precipitous fall of shortstop Everth Cabrera; An All-Star in 2013 to being non-tendered today by the #Padres.
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) December 3, 2014Precipitous. Quick and sudden. Like rain. The rain that is falling throughout San Diego as I type and you read. That's Everth's fall. What once was in the sky above us all has now fallen to the ground.
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, 2014Cabrera spent his 6 seasons since making his debut in 2009 with the Padres. His speed on the basepaths led to a MLB-leading 44 SBs in 2012 and another 27 SBs before his season was cut short by the suspension.
The last two years for Everth have been a whirlwind. From being charged with domestic abuse in March of 2012 to being named an All-Star in 2013 to the PED suspension from the Biogenesis scandal that ended his 2013 season. His return in 2014 would only result in 90 games for the shortstop who recently turned 28. But, on September 3rd of this year, his DUI citation would be what looks to be the final strike for Cabrera as a San Diego Padre.
And it's unfortunate. But, if ever there was a time to break ties with Cabrera, it's now.
The Padres are not pursuing a new deal with Everth Cabrera. GM AJ Preller: "We're looking at going in a different direction."
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) December 3, 2014Just spoke w/Everth Cabrera: "I love the Padres organization. I made a lot of mistakes, and I know it's a business." http://t.co/jgxIKp6pFk
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) December 3, 2014Spots on the 40 man roster are at a premium in the first Padres offseason for GM A.J. Preller. Space is needed to make changes and Cabrera's former spot now opens the door for an addition whether it be in-house or on the free agent market.
Decision to non-tender Cabrera, Preller said, was made easier by Amarista's play the last six weeks. He'll be given a chance to win job.
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) December 3, 2014Pitchers Joaquin Benoit, Cory Luebke, second baseman Jedd Gyorko and outfielders Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, Seth Smith and Will Venable are under contract for 2015. The remaining players, 32 in all, were tendered a contract.
The Padres' arb-eligible players should cost about $27 million, according to @mlbtraderumors. Looking at roughly $68 million in commitments.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) December 3, 2014With 39 players currently on the roster, a move will soon be made to take over the spot left by Cabrera not only on the 40-man roster, but on the Opening Day roster as well.