Melky Cabrera Reportedly Signs 2-Year Deal with Toronto Blue Jays | Bleacher Report
It's been a wild week for MLB north of the border.
The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly struck a two-year, $16 million deal with free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera on Friday, capping a wild week of roster changes for the franchise.
Enrique Rojas first broke the story on ESPNDeportes.com.
The deal is still pending a physical and league approval, but if it holds up, it would likely make Toronto one of the American League favorites heading into 2013.
The signing comes on the heels of one of the biggest trades in franchise history.
After agreeing to a blockbuster deal to bring Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson and John Buck to Toronto earlier in the week, the Blue Jays added another piece to build around current stars Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. That trade is also awaiting approval from commissioner Bud Selig.
Cabrera was having a career year with the San Francisco Giants in 2012 before the league suspended him 50 games for elevated levels of testosterone.
He was hitting .346 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs at the time of his suspension, while leading the NL in hits with 159. In addition to being named the MLB All-Star game MVP, Cabrera was a contender for the National League MVP award.
To make matters worse, reports have leaked that Cabrera created a fake website in an attempt to avoid suspension. That ploy was quickly detected and dismissed.
Speculation about Cabrera's ability to bounce back from suspension will be one of MLB's hot topics in 2013. Many feel that his big season stemmed from the very substance that he was suspended for.
The Blue Jays are apparently not worried about his checkered past, and are focused solely on becoming a contender. As reported by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, the Blue Jays made Cabrera an offer well beyond of what the reported market was for the outfielder.
It's been a wild week for MLB north of the border.
The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly struck a two-year, $16 million deal with free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera on Friday, capping a wild week of roster changes for the franchise.
Enrique Rojas first broke the story on ESPNDeportes.com.
The deal is still pending a physical and league approval, but if it holds up, it would likely make Toronto one of the American League favorites heading into 2013.
The signing comes on the heels of one of the biggest trades in franchise history.
After agreeing to a blockbuster deal to bring Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson and John Buck to Toronto earlier in the week, the Blue Jays added another piece to build around current stars Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. That trade is also awaiting approval from commissioner Bud Selig.
Cabrera was having a career year with the San Francisco Giants in 2012 before the league suspended him 50 games for elevated levels of testosterone.
He was hitting .346 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs at the time of his suspension, while leading the NL in hits with 159. In addition to being named the MLB All-Star game MVP, Cabrera was a contender for the National League MVP award.
To make matters worse, reports have leaked that Cabrera created a fake website in an attempt to avoid suspension. That ploy was quickly detected and dismissed.
Speculation about Cabrera's ability to bounce back from suspension will be one of MLB's hot topics in 2013. Many feel that his big season stemmed from the very substance that he was suspended for.
The Blue Jays are apparently not worried about his checkered past, and are focused solely on becoming a contender. As reported by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, the Blue Jays made Cabrera an offer well beyond of what the reported market was for the outfielder.
