Everth Cabrera Jury Trial Set

Disgraced and unemployed, the legal saga of Everth Cabrera took one step forward as his readiness hearing for his resisting arrest charges was postponed until March 23rd as reported by Dennis Lin of the San Diego UT. A jury trial is currently set for April 14th, but of course that depends on how the readiness hearing goes so in reality this could drag out even longer.

Cabrera enjoyed an All-Star nomination just back in 2013 en route to stealing 37 bases in 95 games after leading the league in stolen bases in 2012 with 44. Then he missed the last 50 games due to his involvement in the BioGenesis scandal. He started out 2014 with a strong April before fading fast and then some nagging injury issues.

On September 3rd last year he was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana. Later he was charged with resisting arrest after missing his arraignment in court. Not the best impression to make with your new general manager in AJ Preller, who non-tendered the shortstop on December 2nd making him a free agent. Preller had this to say at the time:

"“From our standpoint, we’re probably looking at moving forward and looking at going in a different direction.”"

While when healthy and productive Cabrera was the prototypical leadoff hitter and offensive catalyst, those moments seemed fewer and farther between over the last few seasons. He played over 100 games in a season only twice, his rookie season in 2009 and in 2012. His career BA stands at .248 with an OBP of .319. The Padres have yet to find a suitable replacement but will patch things together apparently with a mix of Alexi Amarista and recently acquired Clint Barmes.

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While we certainly hope the best for Cabrera on a personal level, I believe Preller showing his distaste of his off-the-field actions makes a strong statement to the organization. The envisioned succession plan had been 2014 #1 draft pick Trea Turner, but then he was traded to the Nationals as part of the overhaul this off-season. This suggests either Preller has a different idea moving forward or is biding his time until he finds the right deal. What it also suggests is that he will not hold on to players who displease him just because he doesn’t have an immediate succession plan. Admittedly Cabrera’s poor 2014 did make any moral decision easier to justify.

If convicted, Everth could face up to a year in prison for the resisting arrest charge. Cabrera is still just 28, but missing a season of baseball could be a tough lesson to learn. How he bounces back from this lesson remains to be seen, but certainly those who hoped his tearful apology for his involvement with BioGenesis would be the catalyst for his growing up were sorely disappointed.

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