San Francisco Giants outfielder tests positive for testosterone
Melky Cabrera, former New York Yankee and current San Francisco Giants outfielder, has been suspended 50 games without pay due to testing positive for excessive levels of testosterone.
Leading the National League with 159 hits, Cabrera is batting .346 with 11 homeruns and 60 RBIs in his first season with the Giants. His suspension comes just five hits short of 1,000 in his major league career.
Cabrera is making a mere $6 million with the Giants this season. However, this recent suspension will cost him in more ways than one. It is unlikely Cabrera will be offered any contracts lasting longer than one year. As if $6 million isn’t enough, he will also be losing any chance of making even more cash in endorsement deals which could potentially bring in several millions more.
Cabrera acknowledged that he was indeed using a banned substance. He spoke on the issue saying, “I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, the San Francisco Giants’ organization and to the fans for letting them down.”
The Giants still have 44 games remaining in their regular season. Cabrera’s suspension would indeed continue into the postseason, should the team advance. This unfortunate occurrence will certainly have a negative impact on the team’s image as well. In fact, Cabrera’s suspension may surpass Manny Ramirez’s 50 game suspension in 2009 with the Dodgers as one of the most detrimental to the team.
Cabrera, also known as the “Melk Man,” will join the list of other San Francisco Giant players associated with steroid use, some of which include Barry Bonds, Marvin Benard, Bobby Estalella, Benito Santiago, Armando Rios and Matt Herges.
