The Toronto Blue Jays are stacking up for the upcoming season. Enrique Rojas of ESPN reports that the Jays signed free-agent OF Melky Cabrera, who was suspended on August 15 for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug rules, to a two-year deal worth $16 million.
Just a few days after the Blue Jays pulled off a mega-trade with the Miami Marlins, which sent P Josh Johnson, P Mark Buehrle, SS Jose Reyes, and C John Buck to Toronto, the Jays have improved their lineup even further. Cabrera's suspension expired during the postseason, but he was not included on the Giants' playoff roster. The 28 year-old outfielder will be eligible to start the season with the Blue Jays.
$16 million is not the type of money that a guy who hit .346 the season prior usually takes, but since he tested positive for PEDs in August, Cabrera's value went down. ESPN's Jim Bowden reports that had Cabrera not tested positive for steroids, he could have easily gotten a deal worth $40-56 million.
With the Blue Jays acquiring Cabrera, it leaves the Phillies with one less free-agent outfielder to offer a deal to.
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