Melky Cabrera Disqualifies Himself from NL Batting Title Race.
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Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Suspended San Francisco Giants slugger Melky Cabrera has disqualified himself from the National League Batting title race.
Cabrera was suspended for 50 games back on August 15 for testing positive for testosterone. The All-Star game MVP is sitting out the final 45 games of the regular season and at least five playoff games if the Giants make it that far.
The 28-year-old outfielder has a league-leading .346 batting average entering Friday’s games, seven points ahead of Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It has been reported that Cabrera asked the MLB players’ association to convey his desire to be disqualified to Bud Selig’s office, and an agreement was reached Friday to make him ineligible.
“I have no wish to win an award that would be tainted,” Cabrera said.
Even though he was suspended more than a month ago, Cabrera’s 501 plate appearances on the season keeps him in the running for the batting title. 500 is the minimum.
The MLB could not disqualify Cabrera outright. It could only change the batting title rules for this year with an agreement from the union. This is solely Cabrera’s decision.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio.