Padres optimistic Everth's name will be cleared

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Shortstop Everth Cabrera said Wednesday he was taken aback to see that his name was linked to Biogenesis, the South Florida anti-aging clinic currently under investigation by Major League Baseball.

"I was a little bit surprised," he told reporters.

Cabrera and Padres reliever Fautino De Los Santos were linked in documents that were obtained by ESPN's "Outside the Lines" and released Tuesday. The documents revealed both players as receiving performance-enhancing drugs, although the documents alone aren't proof the players actually received or used PEDs.

Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez, A's reliever Jordan Norberto and Mets prospect Cesar Puello were also linked to the clinic, according to the ESPN report.

"I'm going to cooperate with Major League Baseball, and I can't say anything," Cabrera said.

Cabrera met with San Diego general manager Josh Byrnes as well as manager Bud Black before talking to reporters at the team's Spring Training facility.

"I can't comment specifically on Cabby, but we're satisfied from what we've heard," Black said. "This will resolve itself, I think, in a positive way.

"It's something that for a moment might be a distraction, a disappointment that some of our guys might be mentioned in the press. But in the long term as it relates here, I think things will be OK."

Why was Black so optimistic?

"Because of my conversation with Cabby," he said.

One document obtained by "Outside the Lines" lists Cabrera and a figure of $1,500 from March 2012. De Los Santos, who played for the A's and Brewers last season, is also listed with a figure of $700 from March of last year as well. The Padres claimed De Los Santos off waivers from the Brewers on Feb. 6.

The 26-year-old Cabrera, projected as the Padres' starting shortstop, hit .246 last season in 115 games and led the National League in stolen bases (44).

"As far as fact finding, I don't know more than anyone else does, nor should we, we're not part of the investigation," Byrnes said. "We'll support whatever Major League Baseball needs. From what I understand, Everth will be part of the investigation and intends to cooperate."

As for Cabrera, he sounded like he was ready to move on.

"I'm very confident none of this will affect me. I'm a professional. I'm confident," Cabrera said. "I'm sorry about the situation for the San Diego Padres organization."

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, who in November was suspended for the first 50 games of 2013 after testing positive for testosterone, was linked in January to Biogenesis. Thus far, Grandal has declined to answer questions about any potential connection to the clinic.