In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last 24 hours, former Yankee Melky Cabrera has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for synthetic testosterone. The implications are disastrous for the Giants, who are currently a game behind the Dodgers in the NL West race, and a half game behind the NL Wild Card. Cabrera’s .346/.390/.516 triple slash will be sorely missed by a team in the middle of a playoff race. The test results won’t help the outfielder either. As Cabrera approaches free agency this offseason, the suspension could decimate his value as team’s will be wary of taking on a player with questionable makeup.
During the allstar break, I mused on a reunion between the Melkman and the Yankees. One of the underlying aspects of such a move would be consideration of his maturity. The Yankees have stated a number of times the importance they place on a player’s character, and Cabrera already has a history of poor work ethic with the Yankees. After some promising words from Alex Rodriguez and Kevin Long, it seemed as if he surpassed most of the questions about his makeup in 2012. Now, his admission to PED use changes that. While the questions on character manifest, his price tag plummets.
2009 Melky v. 2012 Melky (Left Handed)
In my previous article on resigning Cabrera, I compared his 2009 season to his 2012 season. You’ll see that the swing has hardly changed, but the body type is much slimmer. Indeed, his athleticism has increased dramatically, but has synthetic testosterone been the sole reason he’s become one of the best players in baseball? Although it may appear so, correlation does not imply causation, as you’d be hard-pressed to find any significant scientific data that attributes PED usage to good baseball numbers. Cabrera’s rededication to his body and athleticism, as Rodriguez and Long point out above, likely plays an even bigger factor in his improvement. No one can argue that his transformation from one of the worst players in baseball to baseball’s hit leader, was individually due to juicing.
“From my experience,” Alex Rodriguez stated yesterday. “I saw where he made a statement that is always a good first step and sometimes the hardest, but I think he has an opportunity being a young player. That said, it is also going to be a challenge, and I hope he takes the bull by the horns and does great things. I am a believer, I am a friend and in times like this I will definitely not turn my back on him. I am here 100% to support him.”
In the end, the Yankees have a vacancy in the outfield, and Melky Cabrera needs a home in 2013. Some of his closest friends are in the organization, some of which have played with him throughout the majority of his professional career, and continue to train with him every winter, making him the player he is today. A reunion could even be romanticized. Some tough love from the organization that bred you allows you to realize maturation, but a tragic choice tarnishes your name. The teammates that reluctantly saw you leave, help train you and plead to the organization for your return, and now the team gives you a second chance.
But even more important, it makes perfect sense business-wise. A one year deal allows the Yankees to avoid a huge risk with an outfielder who likely has high upside, which does not play into a 2014 budget, and allows Cabrera to rebuild his value in 2013, in an extremely familiar environment, and on the biggest stage in baseball. Of course, any decision is months away, but the news makes a reunion much more interesting.
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6 Responses to Musing On Melky Cabrera’s PED Troubles And A Reunion In Pinstripes
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TIQ IQ
I have no idea what the market for Melky will be like, clearly this was a big blow to his value.
I’d be open to bringing him back at a reasonable price, especially if he ends up wanting to sign a 1 year deal to reestablish his value.
One thing Cashman has made a huge priority in recent years is acquiring high character players. Almost every single player he has acquired (Granderson, Swisher, CC, Tex etc) has been known as a great teammate and positive influence in the clubhouse. I wonder if Melky is a guy they don’t see as fitting into their culture.
The Yankees want to distance themselves from PED. There is no way I see a reunion. Would have been a nice addition though.
I would be interested in a reunion tour with Melky. I could live with 4-5 million on a one year deal. I would expect his production to match his contract though. Personally I think in his peak years with no drugs Melky is good for a high 700′s OPS.
You are correct that there is little “significant scientific data that attributes PED usage to good baseball numbers.” That is because PED usage is illegal and you can’t run an experiment with guys doping to track their results. Your statement implies that there is some debate that drugs help, I fully disagree. Drugs make you stronger, faster, and better able to recover. How can that not help?
Cabrera’s ability to achieve better fitness and conditioning certainly can be tied to chemistry. His hand eye coordination and instincts are all his naturally. In closing PED usage gives your body a huge boost to go along with your natural talents. If it doesn’t work why are so many atheletes in so many different sports willing to take them?
The placebo effect, possibly? Earlier this season, the WSJ released a study that said swinging weighted bats in the on-deck circle is actually detrimental, but players still do it. Why? Because they think it’s going to help.
Even if we assert that PEDs have an effect on player performance, we don’t know how much of an effect. A-Rod is a good example. Yes, he had incredibly productive years during the time he was on PEDs. However, he also happened to play in an extremely good era for offense while playing half his games in a very offense-friendly park. This is all without mentioning that he was probably the most talented player in the game at the time.
Matt, if it is the placebo effect, than when those guys go clean they will loose all of their “imagined” benefits. So there is still a drop off.
The weighted bat things is not a great example. There might be some study saying it’s not helpful, but it’s not harmful to your health or illegal. PED usage on the other hand has lots of studies showing possilbly life shortening effects, and you get a 50 game ban if your caught.
Your last point is money though. Who knows how PEDS effect each person? Lots of guys who “might” take them are already great ballplayers. To me that is the saddest thing about drugs in sports, what is “real” and what is “enhanced”? Sadly there is no way to know.
Great site keep it up!!!
My point re: the weighted bats isn’t about consequences or legality; it’s about the fact that players will do something they THINK will help even if there’s no evidence (or evidence to the contrary in this case) that it will help.