Chicago White Sox prevent Giants from doing something stupid

(USA TODAY Sports)

Now if someone will just step up and overpay for Chase Headley's services allowing the Giants to focus on signing James Shields, I would be grateful. From the White Sox standpoint, at least they didn't give him five years, which some were projecting Cabrera would get. That would have made the risk even greater. He can hit and he would plug a hole in the Giants lineup left by Sandoval, but he comes with even worse baggage than Sandoval's occasional struggles with weight watching. For that reason, I would have shied away from a Melky Returns to SF sequel.

The shopping list still includes a starting pitcher, left fielder and third baseman and will grow to include a set-up man if/when Romo sign elsewhere, so Sabean will have start shopping for pre-Christmas bargains (aka dumpster dives), which is his niche. It's still not too late to salvage the holiday season and bring good cheer to Giants fans, but the shelves are starting to look a little more bare.

from Yahoo Sports:
Chicago White Sox agree to three-year deal with Melky Cabrera | Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports:

If it wasn't official before, it's official now: The Chicago White Sox mean business.
After taking the Winter Meetings by storm, acquiring Jeff Samardzija in a six-player trade with the Oakland A's and signing free-agent reliever David Robertson to a massive four-year, $46 million deal, general manager Rick Hahn has struck again, agreeing to a three-year deal with outfielder Melky Cabrera. 

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Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!.....this just killed my World Series buzz

I mean, didn't this team just win the World Series? And now they're trying to hook up like a desperate, loser barfly at "last call". C'mon, are you guys serious about this?

from Bleacher Report:
Melky Cabrera Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star Outfielder | Bleacher Report:

The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to retain All-Star outfielder Melky Cabrera and are reportedly engaging in new contract talks with the impending free agent. However, multiple teams, most recently the San Francisco Giants, have also shown interest in acquiring Cabrera.

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San Francisco Giants - Team Report - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

The real punishment for Cabrera as a player had to have been not being part of the playoff / WS run.

There is no guarantee they make it and things play out the same way -- personally I think the lineup became tougher to pitch through  by adding Blanco's plate discipline as well as OF defense, addition by subtraction -- but the Giants did get better / tougher and maybe pulled together more after the incident.

from Yahoo Sports:
San Francisco Giants - Team Report - MLB - Yahoo! Sports:

OF Melky Cabrera is eligible to receive a full playoff share of pay as a member of the World Series champions, even though he has not been a part of the Giants' team for months, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Cabrera spent 117 games on the Giants' roster this season before testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance and being suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball.

He was eligible to return to the Giants' roster after the first five playoff games, although the Giants had made it clear earlier he would not be added to the roster.

But according to player union rules, if a player's team plays 10 games after the suspended player is eligible to be reinstated, he gets a full playoff share.

The Giants played 11 games after Cabrera became eligible for reinstatement—seven against the Cardinals in the National League Championship Series and four against the Tigers in the World Series—so Cabrera became eligible for a full winner's share, which is about $300,000 for each Giants player.

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10 numbers for the NLDS: Giants vs. Reds | Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports

This number gave me some hope prior to the series. Now not so much.

Seriously, it goes to show at least on a small sample basis, that heart and grit and honest team chemistry can be more important than anything the pharmaceutics industry can come up with.

from Yahoo Sports:
10 numbers for the NLDS: Giants vs. Reds | Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports:

".667 The Giants' team winning percentage without Melky Cabrera. The team went 30-15 after his suspension on August 15, compared with 64-53 with him (a .547 winning percentage). With Cabrera as the Giants' best hitter, the team had a .711 OPS. After he was suspended, they boosted their overall team OPS to .757. (The pitching didn't really improve down the stretch; they had a 3.64 team ERA through August 14, and a 3.79 team ERA the rest of the year.) The Giants were a far better team down the stretch than they had been the rest of the year, fending off a Dodgers team that massively retooled at the deadline and a Diamondbacks team that was the defending division champion."

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Melky Cabrera seeks instructions from Giants (hint: pack your bags)

Good news, as requested here yesterday. Maybe they heard me.

As I responded to a Giants fan poll, I would rather lose without him than win with him.

As reported by Andrew Baggerly:
Melky Cabrera seeks instructions from Giants:

"The club is not commenting on Cabrera's situation, but all indications are that upper management has zero interest in the All-Star Game MVP playing another game in orange and black."

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P.S. Giants are 19-9 since losing Melky. Sounds like addition by subtraction. Replace him in the off-season, preferably from within the organization.

Melky Cabrera suspended 50 games for testosterone - GIANT DISGRACE

By Daniel Shirey, US Presswire

Hopefully, the talk on a long term deal are OFF THE TABLE FOR GOOD!!! This team needs to crash and burn. Rebuild from within. Seems like nothing but trouble whenever these guys go outside the organization for help. Good job Melky, good effort.

Melky Cabrera suspended 50 games for testosterone:

"Melky Cabrera, whose breakout season with the San Francisco Giants was highlighted by his MVP performance in the All-Star Game, has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for testosterone, Major League Baseball announced."

He and the Giants had exploratory discussions on a contract extension over the All-Star break before talks were tabled until after the season.

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