EVERTH CABRERA

Relatively unknown, Everth Cabrera, the 27 year old San Diego SS was having a career year until a 50 game PED suspension ended his season.  The only Nicaraguan position player in MLB made the All Star game and was the team's MVP before his problem.

Featuring small-ball skills, Cabrera is at least an improving  defensive player and his bread and butter is his excellent speed and base running skills that make him a major stolen base threat with 81 SB in 97 attempts the last two years (83.5%).

Everth Cabrera stealing a base  (Cbs sports.com)

               DEF/IN    DEF/CH       ER       FIELD %       LEA F % SS
2009         896             467            23          .951                 .974
2012         915             471            16          .966                 .970
2013         877             447             6           .987                 .975
As his defensive innings and chances have remained constant his error totals and fielding % have improved.  
                    AB      K%       CON%       wOBA         fWAR
2012           449      24.5       79.9           .291              1.5
2013           435      15.9       86.5           .325              3.1

His K rate decreased and his contact rate improved making him an above average offensive player.

If Cabrera can log 600 AB he'll surely steal 50+ bases and be a 3-4 WAR player from the leadoff slot.   The next few years (2014-16) are important to maintain a high level of play entering free agency in 2017.  A very good value player on a small budget team (2.45 million for 2014).

According to Fangraphs, Cabrera is a Top 5 NL SS behind Troy Tulowitzki (5.6), Ian Desmond (5.0), Andrelton Simmons (4.7) and Jean Segura (3.1) and a Top 10 in MLB tied with Alexei Ramirez of the Chisox who made 7.0 million while Everth made 1.275 in 2013 .

An area of improvement can be his number of infield hits.  He had 24 in 2009, 11 in 2012 and 13 in 2013.  Ichiro Suzuki had 40-50 per year during his great years.  Cabrera hit .365 avg from the right side (115 AB) and .248 from the left side in 266 AB last year. 

                            Pull Avg         Center Avg       Opp Avg
Career                  .278                  .351                .361
2013                     .238                  .420                .363 

More infield hits (bunting and ground balls), improving his left-handed split and going up the middle and the opposite field more could really polish his offensive game.

Everth Cabrera turning a double play   (zimbio.com)