#Melky Cabrera embracing Mets opportunity long after Yankees triumph

“#Melky Cabrera embracing Mets opportunity long after Yankees triumph”

July 12, 2020 | 11:50pm

A decade later, Melky Cabrera is back in New York City — under wildly different circumstances.

He’s 35, fighting for a job amid a global pandemic, hoping to prove to the Mets he warrants a spot on their 30-man roster. It’s far different than when he was here last, as a major part of the 2009 World Series champion Yankees.

“With the opportunity I have, I’m able to bring veteran leadership and also with the versatility I have of being a switch hitter, any position you put me in I think I can help the team,” he said on Sunday on a Zoom call at Citi Field.

If Cabrera does make the Mets, it would be as a reserve, barring something unforeseen. But the Mets have talked about trying to find a role for him, potentially as a part-time designed hitter and even as a backup first baseman, despite the abundance of such players on the roster. Cabrera, an outfielder his entire career, has never played first base in the major leagues, but he has seen time at the position in winter ball.

“I’m just here to give my all and help the team any way that I can,” he said.

The Mets are Cabrera’s ninth team. Last season, he hit .280/.330/.399 with seven home runs and 47 RBIs in 133 games with the Pirates. He was a free agent until the Mets picked him up June 29, reuniting him with close friend and former Yankees teammate Robinson Cano.

Manager Luis Rojas was encouraged by what he saw from Dellin Betances in Saturday’s intrasquad game. The right-handed reliever, coming off a torn Achilles’ tendon that ended his 2019 season, retired all three batters he faced, and his fastball got up to the mid-90s, an improvement from where he was last clocked, in the 92-93 mph range.

“The zip on his fastball is there. His breaking balls, they’re nasty,” Rojas said.

Amed Rosario played with the Mets regulars for the first time in camp in Sunday’s intrasquad game. He singled, walked and stole a base.

Cano and Brad Brach remained out of camp. The Mets have declined to comment on their status. Rojas said there is no timetable for the duo’s return. … The Mets will be off Monday. … Rojas isn’t sure when hitting coach Chili Davis will join the team or he will be back before the start of the regular season. So far, the 60-year-old Davis has been working remotely due to concerns of the novel coronavirus, meeting with hitters and coaches over Zoom.