Melky Doesn’t Want To Talk About it

On Friday the Blue Jays new left fielder, Melky Cabrera released a statement through the club in an attempt to put his history of performance enhancing drugs to rest.  The release more or less said he would no longer discuss or answer questions about the past PED issue and that he is looking forward to the season.

Cabrera signed a two-year deal with Toronto in the off-season worth a reported $16 million.  Last season as a member of the San Fransisco Giants he served a 50 game suspension for a violation of the  MLB’s drug policy.  His name has recently been linked to a Miami clinic involved with performance enhancers but on the advice of his lawyers he would not elaborate on the accusations.

With all the optimism surrounding the Blue Jays (due in large part to an off-season facelift by General Manager Alex Anthopoulos), Cabrera’s drug issues needed to be put to behind them.  Both Cabrera and the club are confident the issue is no longer a problem and are looking to move forward with spring training.

Here is the Statement Cabrera released on the Blue Jays website

“Last season ended for me when I admitted taking a banned substance and accepted and served my punishment of a 50 game suspension. Since that day, my goals have been to serve my punishment and to put that mistake behind me, and to work hard to be the best baseball player I can be. At the end of last season, when it became clear that I would win the batting title despite my positive test, I asked the Players Association and MLB to make sure a more deserving player won, and I am very happy that my former teammate Buster Posey won that award instead of me.

I also accepted the Giants’ decision not to bring me back for the Playoffs after I served my punishment. Instead, I continued to work hard so I could be ready for the 2013 season. I hoped and expected that I would be allowed to put my mistake behind me and to start this season fresh.

I am aware that in the past weeks, there have been news articles written about so-called patient files from a Miami clinic, and the MLB and others are investigating those allegations. I have told MLB I will cooperate in their investigation the best I can, just as my legal counsel has told federal investigators.  I have been instructed by legal counsel not to answer questions relating to the pending investigations.  This statement will be the last comment I will make on the events of the 2012 season.  I have put my mistakes behind me, have learned my lesson, and have served my punishment.   I am here to play the best baseball I can to help the Toronto Blue Jays win a World Championship.”