Melky Cabrera is signing a minor-league deal with the Pirates, sources confirmed to DKPittsburghSports.com Sunday. He will be invited to major-league spring training.
Cabrera, 34, will have a $1.15-million salary if added to the major-league roster with the opportunity to make $850,000 in performance bonuses.
The switch-hitting outfielder most recently played for the Indians last season, but has also suited up for the Yankees (2005-09), Braves (2010), Royals (2011, 2017), Giants (2012) Blue Jays (2013-14) and White Sox (2015-17) during his 14-year career.
Last season, Cabrera hit .280/.335/.420 with six home runs and 39 RBIs in 78 games, nearly identical to his career slash line of .286/.335/.418. He began his season at Triple-A Columbus, batting .321/.338/.413 with eight RBIs in 19 games.
Cabrera was an All-Star in 2012, where he won the game's MVP Award while playing for the Giants. Just one month after that performance, however, Cabrera was suspended 50 games for elevated levels of testosterone.
That remains the best season of Cabrera's career as he had a .346/.390/.516 line with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 113 games.
The Dominican Republic native has 137 career homers with 807 RBIs and 99 stolen bases in 1,754 games.
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