Yanks OF Cabrera may appeal suspension

Mar 15, 2008 - 4:32 PM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Outfielder Melky Cabrera might be in the New York Yankees' Opening Day lineup after all.

Cabrera said he is leaning toward appealing his three-game suspension for his involvement in Wednesday's bench-clearing incident with the Tampa Bay Rays, which would allow him to play on Opening Day.

"I'm going to do something about it," Cabrera said. "I want to start Opening Day in New York."

The 23-year-old Cabrera was disciplined Friday after the Rays claimed that the switch-hitter struck Tampa Bay infielder Evan Longoria in the back of the head during the fracas, which was sparked when the Yankees' Shelley Duncan slid spikes-high into second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

Cabrera on Saturday said differently.

"I just tried to push some guy because I don't want to fight," he said. "I just came to play baseball."

If Cabrera does appeal the suspension, he will likely start in center field against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 31.

Cabrera batted .273 with eight home runs and 73 RBI last season.