Genesis Cabrera
Position: LHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 180 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 10/10/1996
Country: Dominican Republic
Signed: International Free Agent, 2013 (Rays)
How Acquired: Free Agent
Bonus: $34,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 0
Overview
Cabrera came up through the minors as a starter, a lefty with mid- to upper-90s velocity. Since reaching the majors he’s been strictly a reliever. He throws both a four-seam fastball and a sinker, typically around 96 mph. He also throws a curve, cutter and splitter, and occasionally a change. He has a violent delivery that hasn’t lent itself to consistent command. He’s had some trouble with walks, although usually not drastic trouble. Surprisingly, given his stuff, he hasn’t been a big strikeout pitcher, especially not in recent seasons. Cabrera’s had some problems with gopher balls and doesn’t have a meaningful platoon split. The Pirates signed Cabrera to a major league deal after he’d been outrighted by the Cubs and elected free agency.
2014-17
After signing with the Rays, Cabrera steadily made his way to AA as a starter. He was in rookie ball only briefly, the DSL in 2014 and 17 innings in advanced rookie ball in 2015. He had a solid season in the rotation in low A in 2016, then pitched very well in high A in the first half of 2017, earning a promotion to AA. He got hit a lot harder there.
2018-19
In 2018, the Rays sent Cabrera back to AA and he pitched just decently. He had more trouble with walks than before. At the trade deadline, the team sent him to St. Louis in a deal for Tommy Pham. The Cards sent him to AA for five starts and he continued to pitch just OK, with a 4.74 ERA. St. Louis added him to the 40-man roster in the off-season.
In 2019, Cabrera spent most of the year in AAA, where he got hit hard, allowing 20 home runs in 99 innings and posting a 5.91 ERA. The Cards called him up several times anyway and he got into 13 major league games, two as a starter. With them he had a 4.87 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.
2020-21
Cabrera spent the pandemic season in the Cards’ bullpen, appearing in 19 games. In 22.1 IP, he allowed just ten hits and fanned 32. He did walk 16. He spent the 2021 season in the majors and appeared in 71 games. He had a 3.73 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, although he had some control problems, walking 4.6 per nine innings.
2022-24
Cabrera spent most of 2022 in the majors, but wasn’t as effective. He had a 4.63 ERA, partly a result of allowing a home run every five and a half innings. His K rate dropped sharply, to 6.4 per nine innings. St. Louis sent him to AAA at the end of August and he had a 7.62 ERA there in ten games.
In 2023, Cabrera opened the season in AAA, but the Cards called him up after three games. He relieved in 32 games with them and wasn’t effective, posting a 5.06 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, and continuing to have gopher ball problems. In mid-July, the Cards traded Cabrera to Toronto. He was much better there, with a 2.66 ERA and 0.97 WHIP, and much-improved control.
Cabrera spent all of 2024 with the Jays, putting up a 3.59 ERA in 69 games. His other numbers, though, were less impressive: 1.47 WHIP, 4.2 BB/9 and 7.2 K/9. He became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league deal with the Mets.
2025
New York sent Cabrera to AAA and, after he appeared in seven games there, they called him up. He pitched reasonably well in six games, with a 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, but the Mets outrighted him in late May. He declined the assignment and became a free agent. The Cubs signed him to a major league deal two days later. In one month with the Cubs, Cabrera had an ERA of 8.68, although his numbers weren’t nearly that bad. The Cubs outrighted him in late June, he again elected free agency, and the Pirates signed him to a major league deal two days later.
Stats
Transactions
November 1, 2013: Signed as an international free agent by the Tampa Bay Rays.
July 31, 2018: Traded by the Tampa Bay Rays with Justin Williams and Roel Ramirez to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tommy Pham and $500,000 in international bonus pool money.
November 20, 2018: Contract purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals.
July 21, 2023: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Toronto Blue Jays for Sammy Hernandez.
November 4, 2024: Became a free agent.
November 27, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the New York Mets.
May 1, 2025: Called up by the New York Mets.
May 27, 2025: Outrighted to AAA by the New York Mets, elected free agency.
May 29, 2025: Signed as a free agent by the Chicago Cubs.
June 24, 2025: Outrighted to AAA by the Chicago Cubs, elected free agency.
June 26, 2025: Signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.