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FILE - In this July 28, 2013 file photo, San Diego Padres' Everth Cabrera strikes out looking in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on in Phoenix. Major League Baseball has told the union which players it intends to suspend in its drug investigation and which ones will receive lengthier penalties for their roles in the Biogenesis case. Three 2013 All-Stars could face bans, including Cabrera. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
SAN DIEGO >> Padres All-Star shortstop Everth Cabrera wouldn’t say whether Major League Baseball plans to suspend him for his role in the Biogenesis case.
“I can’t talk about nothing right now. Just wait for the news,” Cabrera said Wednesday morning before playing against the Cincinnati Reds. Cabrera was in San Diego’s starting lineup, batting leadoff.
It could be his last game until the season’s final weekend.
San Diego is off Thursday, and discipline is expected to be announced Friday.
If Cabrera is suspended 50 games for first offense under baseball’s drug program, he would lose $348,361 of his $1,275,000 salary. Barring rescheduled games, he would not be able to play until Sept. 27, meaning he could be back for the final three-game series at San Francisco.
Cabrera, a switch-hitter, is one of the top base stealers in the big leagues. Going into Wednesday’s games, he led the NL with 37 steals. Last year, he topped the NL with 44 stolen bags.
Cabrera said during spring training that he was “a little surprised” and “disappointed” that his name reportedly was listed in the record of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic, which has been accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. Cabrera otherwise has declined specific comment, and he did not say whether he had taken, purchased or received performance-enhancing drugs.
He said at the time that he would fully cooperate with MLB.
Manager Bud Black, who has a strong relationship with Cabrera, didn’t sound overly concerned then.
“We’re satisfied by what we heard,” Black said at the time. “We believe this will resolve itself in a positive way.”
