Melky Cabrera played a decent amount of this season with a tumor on his spine.
Melky Cabrera played a decent amount of this season with a tumor on his spine. (USATSI)

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Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera has already been ruled out for the 2013 season with a knee injury, but news broke Saturday that he had a benign tumor removed from his lower back. Specifically, the tumor was near Cabrera's spinal cord, via BlueJays.com.

The tumor was reportedly putting enough pressure on Cabrera's spine that it helps explain Cabrera's leg injuries this season.

Cabrera, 29, was a disappointment this season for the Blue Jays, hitting .279/.322/.360 with 15 doubles, three homers and 30 RBI in 88 games. Injuries hampered him and, again, that might be attributed back to the tumor on his spine.

Cabrera is expected to be fully recovered by spring training. He'll be in the final year of his two-year, $16 million contract that he signed with Toronto this past offseason.