Singleton: 32 LH Strengths: makes pitcher throw strikes and pitches. Will take walks. Good K rate for power hitter. Very good power. Weaknesses: limited to 1B. Does not run well. Has not been near average with the bat in Mlb. Cabbage: 27 LH Strengths: plays 1B and both corner OF as well as CF and 3B in emergency. Brings baserunning value. Very good power. Weaknesses: Very high K rate throughout minor leagues. BB rate is below average even at its best. Productive bat has not translated to MLB yet over small sample size. 2024 fangraphs projections K rate: Singleton 28.6, Cabbage 38.4 BB rate: Singleton 13.0%, Cabbage 6.8% wRC+: Singleton 90, Cabbage 79 Question is do the Astros want a guy who is significantly below average with the bat but who can play multiple positions and bring baserunning value, or do they want someone limited to 1B and can't run but is only slightly below average with the bat?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024...hange-in-james-paxtons-deal-with-dodgers.html ok that makes a little more sense.
The Astros did not give up a prospect assuming Cabbage is gonna be that guy. If he is that guy he won't be on the roster very long. I'm not at all a fan of Singleton, and would prefer almost anybody to him. He has at no point has ever shown an ability to hit MLB level pitching. Even last season all of his quality of contact sucked. Were just throwing darts right now and hoping they don't suck, projections mean almost nothing with guys who have such a small recent MLB track records. I would prefer we not throw the 32 year old dart.
I think Peña had a lot of issues going on last year and he will be MUCH better this year We shall see
Basically the description that Brown gave last week on what he was looking for. Lefty hitter with speed that plays OF. I thought that they would have gone after someone more proven but maybe not worth the cost to be their 4th OF.
What Cabbage brings to the table that Singleton does not is options. Two of them. Singleton is out of options. This simple fact makes Cabbage desirable from the Astros point of view.