Cashman not surprised by Cabrera, Colon suspensions
Count New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as one baseball executive who wasn't surprised to hear that former Yankees Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon failed drug tests.
"Unfortunately, not surprised," Cashman said on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "Michael Kay Show." "You see some spike in performance. You hope it's not the case, but you scratch your head and wonder at the same time. But then you sit there and get a comfort level: Tests are taking place, so if people are passing their tests ..."
Colon, 39, pitched for the Yankees last season. After only pitching in 257 innings the previous five years, Colon regained his 90-plus mph fastball velocity. He went 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA for the Yankees, and signed with the Oakland Athletics over the winter.
Cabrera was dealt to the Atlanta Braves after the Yankees won the 2009 World Series, and he also played for the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants. He had evolved from a solid player to an MVP candidate.
"When we traded him to Atlanta we had him as a low-end, everyday regular or an excellent fourth outfielder," Cashman said. "And that's how we show where we thought his ceiling was. As you know, he was starting for us in the World Series, but we had him as a low-end, everyday guy, not a National League MVP candidate. So I wasn't surprised."
