Dunedin, FL (Sports Network) - Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera issued a statement through his new team on Friday and said he won't further address his latest link to performance-enhancing drugs.
According to a story in the Miami New Times in late January, Cabrera's name was mentioned in the records of a Miami anti-aging clinic that allegedly provided performance-enhancing substances to major league players.
"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," said Cabrera in the statement Friday. "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."
Cabrera signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent this offseason after a roller-coaster 2012 campaign with San Francisco. He was the All-Star Game MVP and was on his way to a career year, leading the National League in batting at .346 with 11 home runs and 60 RBI in 113 games, before being suspended by Major League Baseball for violating the drug policy.
The 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic was banned for 50 games in August as a first-time offender and was not placed on the Giants' postseason roster when he became eligible during the playoffs. San Francisco went on to capture the World Series title.
"Last season ended for me when I admitted taking a banned substance and accepted and served my punishment of a 50-game suspension," Cabrera added in his statement. "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.
"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.
"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."
Cabrera is a lifetime .284 hitter with 69 homers and 417 RBI in 984 games with the Yankees, Braves, Royals and Giants. He joins a revamped Toronto team that made numerous changes in the offseason, including the acquisitions of former All-Stars Jose Reyes, R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle.
