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          New York Mets

          Asdrubal Cabrera departs Mets game with sore left knee

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterMar 10, 2016, 07:12 PM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera departed Thursday's game in the first inning with what was announced as a sore left knee.

          General manager Sandy Alderson indicated that Cabrera will undergo an MRI on Thursday evening. Cabrera described the knee as "sore," but did not believe the injury was serious. Cabrera said he had not previously had a problem with that knee.

          "I'm walking fine," he said. "I've got to go to my [MRI] and see what we've got."

          Cabrera had produced a first-inning single against St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia. On a subsequent flyout by Yoenis Cespedes, Cabrera took advantage of center fielder Thomas Pham nonchalantly returning the baseball to the infield and alertly took second base. However, as Cabrera approached the bag, he pulled up lame.

          "I was running -- with the fly ball -- to second, and thinking slide," Cabrera said. "I saw the bad throw, so I tried to stay up. I felt something in my knee. It's sore right now."

          Cabrera was replaced by Ruben Tejada, who subsequently produced a game-tying two-run homer in the fifth in what became a 7-2 win.

          Cabrera's injury -- even if it turns out to be mild -- arguably makes it more likely the Mets keep Tejada for the Opening Day roster.

          Tejada's role is unclear if everyone in the infield is healthy, and he is due to make $3 million this season. So the Mets have been willing to entertain trading Tejada before the April 3 opener against the Kansas City Royals, although team officials are not outright shopping him.

          The Cardinals could be a serious suitor for Tejada if the Mets proceed with trading him. St. Louis will be without Jhonny Peralta potentially until the All-Star break. Peralta underwent surgery on Thursday morning to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

          "That's what made us good last year -- we had some depth," manager Terry Collins said regarding Tejada. "We've still got that depth. It's nice to have it. But we certainly need to get Asdrubal back as soon as we can. And Ruben, he came in like Juan [Lagares]. He's got something to prove. He saw the deal. He knew what was going on in the wintertime. ... A lot of people are talking about, 'You're not going to be here. You're going to get traded.' He's going out there with a little chip on his shoulder."