Last season, the eventual World Series Champion San Francisco Giants decided against placing Melky Cabrera on their 25 man playoff roster, despite the fact that the outfielder had served his 50 game steroid suspension and was elgible to play. The team took a principled stance, refusing to play Cabrera in the playoffs, and then refusing to sign him in the offseason. Despite the fact that Cabrera was leading the National League in batting average at the time of his suspension, the team decided they could manage without him, and did so, bringing home the championship.
In the fallout of the Biogenesis scandal, the Texas Rangers face a similar choice with Nelson Cruz, their starting right fielder for the past five seasons. Yesterday, Rangers manager Ron Washington said that the Rangers would not follow the Giants’ lead, and instead would bring back Cruz’s bat for the playoffs, if the Rangers are able to qualify.
“If we end up getting into the playoffs, we’re not looking at him to come in and carry us,’’ Washington said. “We’re not looking at him to come in and carry us, just be a part of the line-up. He’ll hurt somebody.”
The comments came in the wake of Cruz’s public apology earlier in the press conference. He stated that he had made mistakes and that he was going through a tough time, adding, “but I have good friends and a good family. They give me the support that I need to be here.”
Cruz has hit .269 with 27 homers and an .841 OPS in 108 games this season before the suspension. He also indicated that he has been working out at Rangers facilities during the suspension, and that he will spend some time in August with the Rangers’ instructional League team to be sure.
Cruz is a pending free agent, playing the final season of a 2-year $16 million contract he signed prior to the 2012 season.
The Rangers currently sit in first in the AL West, two games ahead of the Oakland A’s
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