Cabrera cleared waivers and opted for free agency Monday.
Cabrera served as one of Toronto's more reliable bullpen arms during the 2024 season, cruising to a 3.00 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with a 48:29 K:BB in his first 66 appearances (60.0 innings) before surrendering five runs in his final three outings of the year to inflate his ERA to 3.59. He shouldn't have much trouble latching on elsewhere heading into his age-28 season.
Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Comes off paternity list
Rotowire
The Blue Jays activated Cabrera (personal) from the paternity list Sunday.
Right-hander Yerry Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room on the 26-man active roster and in the bullpen for Cabrera. Before he was away from the team over the past three days welcoming a new addition into his family, Cabrera had compiled a 3.50 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:23 K:BB across 46.1 innings over 50 appearances for Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Placed on paternity list
Rotowire
The Blue Jays placed Cabrera on the paternity list Thursday.
Cabrera will be allowed to miss up to three games as he spends time with his expanding family. Tommy Nance was selected from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move to replenish Toronto's bullpen depth.
Cabrera gave up a hit and a walk while striking out one in the 10th inning Sunday to record his second save of the season in a win over the Mariners.
Chad Green worked the ninth in a tie game, leaving Cabrera to handle the save situation when the team took the lead in the top of the 10th. The southpaw got the job done, continuing a hot streak that has seen him get scored upon only once in his last 12 appearances. Cabrera sports a 0.75 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB in 12 innings over that stretch, but he hasn't seen consistent high-leverage usage -- he has two extra-inning saves during that time, but zero wins or holds. With Tim Mayza no longer on the roster, however, Cabrera is the top left-handed option in the Toronto bullpen, which should lead to more holds in the second half of the season.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Snags first save
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Cabrera allowed an unearned run and picked up a save during Sunday's win over the Athletics.
Cabrera pitched the bottom of the 10th inning and let one run come home but still preserved the 6-4 win. It was his first save since the 2022 season when he was with St. Louis. Cabrera owns a 5.25 ERA through 24 innings this season. Yimi Garcia worked a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win Sunday.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Stuck with loss Tuesday
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Cabrera (2-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Orioles, getting charged with three runs on a hit and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.
Trevor Richards gave Toronto two perfect innings as the opener, but Cabrera hit Colton Cowser with a pitch to begin the third and things went downhill from there. Cabrera has been tagged for runs in three of his last six appearances, and on the season he carries a 5.48 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 13:15 K:BB through 23 innings as he slips into a low-leverage role.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Nabs win Monday
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Cabrera (1-0) was credited with the win Monday against the Royals, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless 1.1 innings of relief.
The southpaw entered the game in the fourth inning with two on and two out to protect a 4-3 lead, and he got Vinnie Pasquantino to ground out before dispatching Kansas City without too much trouble in the fifth. That was enough to get him named the winning pitcher by the official scorer. Cabrera had a bumpy beginning to the season, but over his last seven appearances he's posted a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB through seven innings.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Suspension reduced to two games
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Cabrera's three-game suspension has been reduced to two games, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Cabrera was given the suspension for shoving the Rays' Jose Caballero in Saturday's game, which resulted in the benches clearing. The reliever will begin serving the suspension Tuesday and will be available for the weekend series against the Yankees.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Appeals three-game suspension
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Cabrera has been suspended three games and fined by MLB on Sunday for his role in an altercation Saturday against the Rays, though he'll remain available as he appeals the suspension, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Cabrera got in an altercation with Rays' Jose Caballero in Saturday's game that resulted in the benches clearing, and he's now facing a suspension.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Pounds strike zone Friday
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Cabrera gave up one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings of relief in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
The southpaw fired 19 of 25 pitches for strikes and looks just about ready for Opening Day. Cabrera has been sharp overall this spring, posting a 2.70 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings, and he's ticketed for a key role in the Blue Jays bullpen as the second lefty behind Tim Mayza. In 23.2 innings last season for Toronto after being acquired from St. Louis, Cabrera delivered a win and six holds with a 2.66 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Agrees to terms
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Cabrera and the Blue Jays agreed to a one-year, $1,512,500 deal Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
The 27-year-old southpaw had a career-best 10 percent walk rate while splitting time between St. Louis and Toronto, but he still lacks the control necessary to pitch regularly in high-leverage situations. Cabrera has a career 1.31 WHIP and has three saves in 203 appearances.
Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Collects first hold as Jay
Rotowire
Cabrera gave up one hit and struck out three across two scoreless innings Tuesday to record his sixth hold of the season in a loss to the Dodgers.
The southpaw has come out blazing to begin his tenure in Toronto's bullpen, posting a 4:0 K:BB over three shutout innings in his first two appearances. Cabrera had a 5.05 ERA in 32 innings for the Cardinals prior to getting DFA'd last week, but perhaps the Jays' coaching staff spotted a mechanical issue that they were able to fix quickly -- his fastball topped out at 97.5 mph on Tuesday, on a called strike three to Will Smith on his final pitch of the night. Cabrera could prove to be a huge addition to the setup corps in front of Jordan Romano if he's able to maintain this form.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Could join bullpen Sunday
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Cabrera will join the Blue Jays in Seattle and could be added to the 26-man active roster Sunday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Cabrera was acquired from the Cardinals via trade Friday, and he appears on track to head directly to the big-league club rather than going to the minors first. The left-hander holds a 5.06 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB over 32 innings in the majors in 2023.
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Blue Jays' Genesis Cabrera: Acquired by Blue Jays
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The Blue Jays acquired Cabrera from the Cardinals in exchange for Sammy Hernandez on Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Cabrera had been designated for assignment after posting a disappointing 5.06 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB over 32 innings out of the St. Louis bullpen this season. The left-hander has a big arm and has posted better results in the past, so perhaps Toronto will be able to get more out of him. He'll report to Triple-A Buffalo.
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Cardinals' Genesis Cabrera: Removed from 40-man roster
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The Cardinals designated Cabrera for assignment Monday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Woo relays that the Cardinals had been receiving trade inquiries for Cabrera, but St. Louis' decision to remove him from the 40-man roster perhaps suggests that the lefty reliever's market wasn't as robust as anticipated. The Cardinals will still have the ability to trade Cabrera over the next week, but he'll otherwise get exposed to waivers if no deal is reached. The 26-year-old posted a 5.06 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB over 32 innings out of the St. Louis bullpen this season.
