Asdrubal Cabrera will not need surgery on his knee

Asdrubal Cabrera, who dealt with a strained patella tendon in his left knee for much of the 2016 season, learned that the tendon would not require an operation, according to his representatives today.

It was a turbulent season for Cabrera and his knee. He initially strained the tendon in a spring training game on March 11. He was subsequently shut down for two weeks, but was able to return by Opening Day. After playing through the first half of the season without issue, he re-strained the tendon on July 31 while rounding third base and needed to be carried off the field. He was placed on the disabled list and returned on August 19. He then appeared to aggravate the same injury once again in a collision with Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph on August 28, and played through the pain for the rest of the season.

Despite the pain, the 30-year-old was still able to put up a stellar season for the Mets. Cabrera hit .280/.336/.474, which is the best OPS mark of his career at .810. His 23 home runs are the most he’s hit in a season since 2011, when he hit 25.

Cabrera signed a two-year, $18.5 million contract with the Mets last offseason. He was well worth the price in 2016, and his health is vital going forward as he figures to be a huge part of the Mets’ lineup in 2017.