Cabrera, who was suspended for 50 games earlier this season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, was eligible to rejoin the Giants for the National League Division Series. However, as the playoffs approached San Francisco made it clear that they were not interested in adding Cabrera to their group of 25.

Some were surprised initially by this news considering Cabrera was an NL MVP candidate prior to his ban, but the Giants did play extremely well without the slugger and apparently the team as a whole was more than willing to move on without him. The team has gone with Gregor Blanco as its regular left fielder in place of Cabrera.