Mets release former All-Star Melky Cabrera, Gordon Beckham

The Mets released veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera and infielder Gordon Beckham, per a team announcement. Both signed minor league pacts with the organization shortly after MLB’s transaction freeze was lifted. The Mets also confirmed their recently reported minor league deals with center fielder Juan Lagares and second baseman Brian Dozier. The team’s 60-man player pool stands at 57 players.

Cabrera, 35, initially drew interest from the Mets back in spring training but didn’t get a deal with the team done until after the designated hitter was announced in the NL for the 2020 season. The switch-hitter hasn’t batted lower than .273 in the past decade and routinely posts average or better on-base percentages as a result of those contact skills — even though he rarely walks. Cabrera’s power has dipped in his mid-30s, however, and his defensive skills have deteriorated even more greatly. Last year’s .280/.313/.399 may look passable on the surface, but it checked in well south of the league average in last year’s supercharged offensive environment (85 wRC+, 88 OPS+).

Beckham, meanwhile, hoped to make the club as a bench option. The 33-year-old spent the 2019 campaign with the Tigers, hitting .215/.271/.372 with six homers, a dozen doubles and a pair of triples in 240 trips to the plate. The former No. 8 overall pick has never replicated his strong rookie season with the White Sox, hitting at a combined .233/.294/.355 in 10 years since that time.