We have long suspected that this would be the case and with today’s announcement, the truth is officially out. Cabrera, along with 11 other players including Nelson Cruz of the Rangers and Jhonny Peralta of the Tigers will accept their suspensions and bypass the appeal process. The only player linked to Biogenesis and Tony Bosch that is expected to go through the appeals process is Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees.
Among players accepting 50-game suspensions: #Rangers’ Cruz, #Tigers’ Peralta, #Phlllies’ Bastardo, #Mets’ Valdespin, #Padres’ Cabrera.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 5, 2013
Also suspended: #Yankees’ Cervelli, #Mariners’ Montero, #Mets’ Puello, #Astros’ Escalona, #Padres’ De Los Santos, #Yankees’ F. Martinez.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 5, 2013
Also on the list is pitcher Fautino De Los Santos who Corey Brock reports is still in the Padres organization.
FWIW, RHP Fautino De Los Santos is still with the #Padres organization. He's in Arizona rehabbing a right shoulder injury.
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) August 5, 2013
Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal has been linked to Biogenesis, but will not face any additional suspension because he has already served a 50 game suspension after testing positive for testosterone in 2012.
Everth Cabrera, the Padres 2013 All-Star representative, had been having a standout year batting a team leading .283 in 381 at-bats. In the 95 games he played this year, he had already amassed a career high in hits with 108, which also led the Padres at the time of his suspension. Cabrera had also reached a career high in home runs with 4, as well as tying his career best 31 RBI. He was also the team and National League leader in stolen bases with 37 this year, ahead of Pirates outfielder Starling Marte's 32 SB.
Padres teammate Will Venable, 2nd on the team in stolen bases with 11, has a strong opinion regarding PEDs and cheating in baseball. In an ABC News report, Venable says:
"My personal opinion is that the penalties need to get back to the contracts.""I believe that if you cross over and decide that you are going to use the banned substance, you also should forfeit the support of the players' association.They are not worthy of the support of the players' association. I think the combination of that and somehow having to forfeit or void your contract that you're under is something that needs to be the main focus of the penalties."
With the loss of Cabrera, the Padres shortstop situation is in a state of mystery. Thoughts are that Logan Forsythe and Alexi Amarista may split time at SS as well as the possibility that new signing Ronny Cedeno will spend time with the team for the remainder of 2013. For now, only one thing is clear. Everth Cabrera will have to wait until 2014 to begin playing for the Padres once again.