:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1267145/20120805_ajl_aq2_148.0.jpg)
The San Francisco Giants reinstated Melky Cabrera to the 40-man roster on Friday, but maintained that he wouldn't play during the postseason.
Melky Cabrera tested positive for testosterone on Aug. 15 and was suspended for 50 games, missing the final 45 games of the regular season. The Giants had announced earlier that Cabrera wouldn't make the join the team for the October run as the team had been playing well and wanted to avoid the potential distraction.
It seemed that the Giants were ready to cut their ties with Cabrera, who is a free agent after this year is over. But as CSN Bay Area points out, the Giants could possibly have interest in signing the outfielder to a contract next season.
It's hard to know how much the PED use fueled his incredible 4 1/2-month run, but many in the front office continue to view Cabrera as a talented two-way player coming into his prime. And now he'll be a relative bargain on the free-agent market, too.
Cabrera tried to create a phony website to explain his test result, but changed his tune after his appeals were denied. He did a bit of image repair with the Giants by announcing in late September that he would withdraw his name from the National League batting title, as he was one plate appearance shy of qualifying for the award. At the time of his suspension, Cabrera was leading the majors with a .346 average. His teammate Buster Posey won the NL batting title, hitting .336.