Melky Cabrera received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test, Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday.
The news comes as a complete stunner -- Cabrera was listed in the Giants lineup for Wednesday afternoon's game against the Nationals. He will be replaced in left field by Gregor Blanco.
But he won't be appealing, issuing a statement through the union that he accepts his suspension and "will try to move on with" his life.
"My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used," Melky said in the statement. "I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down."
Cabrera was having a career year, hitting .346/.390/.906 with a MLB-leading 159 hits, 11 home runs, 63 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
[Related: Cabrera Suspension Costs Him Millions of Dollars]
The Giants have just 45 games remaining in the regular season, so Melky's season is over barring San Francisco making the playoffs. If the Giants do make the playoffs, MLB announced that Cabrera will be allowed to return to the team. He will, however, have to miss the first four games of the postseason to fulfill his 50-game suspension and then will be eligible to return.
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"We were extremely disappointed to learn of the suspension of Melky Cabrera for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention & Treatment Program," the Giants said in a statement. "We fully support Major League Baseball's policy and its efforts to eliminate performance enhancing drugs from our game. Per the protocol outline by Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement, the Giants will not comment further on this matter.”
Cabrera was scheduled to be a free agent after this season after he and the Giants broke off negotiations on a long-term extension.
He just cost himself millions and millions of dollars with the news of his positive test.
