Following his 50-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug and word of an alleged cover-up attempt, the odds of the Giants re-signing Melky Cabrera this offseason seemed unlikely. However, there is now more openness within the Giants organization to retain the outfielder, according to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com.
Many people within the club's front office view Cabrera as a talented two-way player coming into his prime, despite concerns that his strong 2012 campaign was the product of PEDs. It also helps that Cabrera should now be a relative bargain on the free agent market, a significant selling point for a team that will be looking to maximize its payroll room this winter. Baggarly also writes that the Giants were pleased with his decision to take action and have himself removed from contention for the batting title.
The Giants made the formal move of re-instating Cabrera on to the 40-man roster, though he will not be used at any point during the postseason. The Giants' only other option would have been to release the slugger as he was coming off of the disabled list, but that would have also meant forfeiting their exclusive negotiating period after the World Series.
Would love to see the yankees trade Granderson for prospects and ponce on the opportunity to acquire the Melkman. Despite an unfortunate decision people cannot deny he is a talented player that can improve any lineup he is inserted into.
Except that he can’t improve a lineup and is simply yet another product of PEDs.
PEDs don’t fix your swing and its not like this guy was hitting dingers.
When he hits .275 with 15 HRs, 89 RBI’s and a OBP of .310 you’ll think differently.
Nothing too shabby about those stats. I’d take that any day on my roster.
Then again, I AM a Jays fan… so we’re used to crap players.
.310 OBP with 15 HRs from a corner OF? Thats pretty awful.
better than rajai davis
Yes and no. Better than Davis’ 2012 stats, but rajai’s career averages are about as useful as that batting line. PLUS Davis draws the bulk of his value from his great CENTERFIELD defense. Melky is a poor centerfielder and an average to above average corner OF defensively giving him a ton less value on that side. I don’t think he’d hit that poorly but if he did he’d be less useful than Davis.
great centerfield defense from rajai davis?
nope, never. his defense in left isnt even average
@Slopeboy well I’m a Braves fan so I would have taken those numbers when he was in Atlanta.
Hence why people are all up in arms confuse me because 29 other teams would take that in a heartbeat.
PEDs can help you hit the ball harder. Harder hit balls go for hits more often. Cabrera’s batting average on balls in play spiked tremendously this year.
Melky Cabrera wasn’t exactly a player who did too well in his early years. The Giants really hold all of the cards…and I suspect that his next contract will be a 1- or 2-year deal.
Why do the Giants hold “all the cards”?
Because Melky Cabrera got suspended for PEDs in what would have been a career year for him, and before that, he was not exactly a spectacular outfielder at the plate.
There’s gotta be a good Barry Bonds joke in here somewhere…
But moving on, not really all the surprised. The simply fact is teams have a decisive advantage in negotiating with Cabrera. While at one point he was in line for a major salary bump he’ll have to accept a one-year deal for a couple of million with few or no incentive bonuses.
Giants open to signing PED user? 😐
What else is new?The Giants have no problem benefiting from PED users. Just look at the Bonds years and all they didn’t do when PEDs were flowing free in their clubhouse.
what team didnt benefit from a PED user’s performance?
Royals?
You think Melky was clean last year when he first broke out while on the Royals?
Yeah, otherwise he would’ve been suspended back then
haha, Seriously? You think there aren’t players who aren’t getting caught when they are using?
I think resigning him is a great idea. He’s certainly not the only major league player to use PEDs. He simply got caught. With the vast and ridiculous amounts of money involved in professional sports I can see why players would turn to PEDs to maximize performance. His decision to remove himself from the batting title indicates some degree of remorse. And, he didn’t commit violent crimes,domestic violence or DUI, which some players have.
Am I the only one that is really surprised by their decision NOT to add him to the playoff roster? Think about all the uproar over the Nats not using Strasburg! He has an injury they are working through and people are screaming at the Nats for not using him. Melky can come in an contribute to a team that needs offense, there’s nothing wrong with him, and they choose NOT to?
I thought so too, then I spoke with a Giants fan who made a really good point. Sure he has been producing this season, but he is also had roughly a third of a season without performing against MLB talent. He very well could need a week or two to get back to game shape. That and given that the Giants have played well in his absence, why risk it?
It’s called being responsible and not rewarding bad behavior. Cabrera’s actions hurt not only him but the Giants as well. That they had a good enough team to overcome his departure and still make the post season says a lot about the team.
That they chose not to add him to the roster and make him a spectator for the
play-offs says that Giants have a great understanding of what is fair play.
CoughMOTA!
COUGHBondsBernardCOUGHAtonofotherguysCOUGHEstallela
1) He’s had a huge layoff, and doesn’t have the opportunity to “rehab” in actual minor league games.
2) it would be a little tough to know what to expect from him, both because of the layoff and just generally not knowing what kind of player non-PED Melky is.
3) It would be a massive distraction and be the main focus of the media for the next series at least.
4) Blanco is quite a bit better defensively in LF, and has been swinging a hot bat down the stretch and in the first playoff series. Adding Melky doesn’t necessarily upgrade LF, especially in one or two short series. Of course it adds depth to the team by putting a better bat, more speed and another capable defensive OF on th bench whether Melky starts or sits. But can you really blame Bochy for wanting to go with the team that has been playing so well since Melky left?
I suspect a lot of teams will be thinking the same thing about buying low on Melky and he’ll end up getting a deal that is a lot bigger than expected, Maybe only one or two years but I bet it’ll be 8 million or more per season.
It’s not much big of a risk if you have money to spend…on the chance that his talent/production is somewhere between what his career numbers were and what he did this season.
Seems like there is a lot of money available and not much talent to throw it at this upcoming off season.
I’m convinced that the Rangers put a low bid in on him to replace Hamilton.
I’m shocked, shocked! To find steroids here!
Here’s your division title sir.
Oh, thank you.
Personally I am really surprised by this. Brian Sabean made it really clear that Melky is not welcome back. The Giants are really pushing it, and Sabean could get in big trouble with the Commissioners office considering he’s allowed so many PED users to continue playing on the Giants. Starting with Bonds, but especially letting Mota stay on the playoff roster and now Cabrera potentially coming back. I would not be surprised to see Selig force Sabean out of the GM seat….