Melky & Pitching For Cameron?
Via Joel Sherman –
The Yankees have inquired about the availability of Mike Cameron and the Brewers are weighing whether to deal the center fielder.
Brewers officials have been asking around about Melky Cabrera, trying to determine why he struggled in 2008. The Yankees are willing to deal Cabrera and pitching to land Cameron.
Earlier this week the Brewers picked up the $10 million 2009 option on Cameron. Nevertheless, Milwaukee believes its lineup is too right-handed plus it needs pitching. Cabrera’s numbers as a lefty were not great (.267 with a .361 slugging percentage), but were far better than his stats as a righty. The Yanks also have talked to several teams about Wilson Betemit, another switch-hitter like Cabrera who is superior from the left side.
Cabrera, Betemit and a pitcher is probably a package – combined with the savings Milwaukee would receive from moving Cameron’s contract – that the Yanks would be willing to move for Cameron.
Boy, has Melky’s stock dropped, huh?
Dropped isn’t the word.
Why the hell would the Brewers make this deal?
I could understand the Yankees (and I don’t even like Cameron) doing this deal, but the Brewers could definatly get a better package from someone else.
……unless the pitcher (prospect) is Hughes or someone else of similiar value in the system.
Hughes has value?
I think I see the Brewers take on this – Cabrera is younger, and much cheaper, than Cameron. And, it’s not like Cameron is a super bat. So, for what you lose on offense, you gain in terms of salary saved and control of the player (in terms of years before having to pay him or lose him). With the glove, Cameron is somewhat overrated – and Melky’s not terrible in center – so, again, it’s not that much of a drop/loss.
And, if the Brewers could get a pitcher, too, that just may be something to make up for the difference between what they lose in player production and what they gain in salary/control.
Betemit? Hey, he’s a decent pinch-hitter who could “play” a number of positions in an emergency. For a NL team, he has some value as a 25th man.
Yeah, if I’m the Brewers, I make this deal (Cabrera, Betemit and a pitcher) with no hesitation.
If I’m the brewers, this is a bad sign of how little anyone anywhere thinks of Cameron.
I mean, I understand Melkys minimal value, the question is, out of all the MLB teams, is this the best, absolute best package that can be had for Cameron?
Then what was even the point of picking up his option, if all you can get back is Melky and Betemit….unless that pitching prospect makes it worthwhile.
It would be pretty sad, if not one team could top the Yankees package, and says how little value Cameron has. If I’m the yanks, I do the deal, if I am the brewers, I kick myself for picking up this option because now this is all I can get.
The Brewers don’t have to move Cameron.
Think of this as when the Yanks picked up Wright’s option. They could’ve let him walk for $$, or pick up a warm body in return.
Same thing. They could’ve let Cameron walk, or they could pick up a package of players for him. I’d make the deal if I were the Brewers, regardless of who the pitching prospect is.
Steve, do you like this trade from the Yankees perspective if the pitcher is, say, Marquez or Kontos?
I would do it.
Yeah, if I’m the Brewers, I make this deal (Cabrera, Betemit and a pitcher) with no hesitation.
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Agree, especially if the pitcher is Rasner. Basically the Brewers are losing Sheets/Sabathia and need to slot someone in after Gallardo/Suppan. For $10M off their books, they can use that money to cover the likely arbitration raises due to Prince Fielder and JJ Hardy.
Incidentally, I’d favor the Yanks trading for JJ Hardy and moving Jeter to 1B or CF. It won’t happen, because Jeter’s delicate sensibilities would be mortally wounded, but it would be a tremendous coup for the Yanks, especially since there isn’t an SS in the organization.
I wouldn’t even trade AndrewYF for Mike Cameron. I’m not sure he adds any value at this point in his career.
That is…that I’m not sure if Cameron adds value…
not slight meant to AndrewYF.
Hey, I’m touched.
Jesus. Who even really cares? Melky sucks. Cameron offers the hope of not sucking, but in reality he is old and does suck. Cameron at least adds a *tiny* bit of pop (relative to Melky, at least.) I don’t even know if I can muster an opinion on this one.
Incidentally, Cameron and Sabathia are supposed to be buddies, apparently from their brief time together in Milwaukee. If it significantly increased the chances that the Yankees land Sabathia, would that impact your decision?
Cameron had a 110 OPS+ last season and is signed for one year. Why wouldn’t you make this deal? Give up Melky who is ass and some other minor prospect.
~~~Cameron and Sabathia are supposed to be buddies, apparently from their brief time together in Milwaukee. If it significantly increased the chances that the Yankees land Sabathia, would that impact your decision?~~~
Well, using that logic, then we should beg Enique Wilson to unretire – as having him on the roster may want to make Manny Ramirez come to the Bronx too, right?
~~Why wouldn’t you make this deal?~~
My man-crush on Brett Gardner?
My man-crush on Brett Gardner?
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Steve’s kiss of death
I don’t really like cameron, but if i don’t have to see melky or betemit at the plate anymore, and i get a decent stopgap CF for 1 year, pull the trigger. If Cameron sucks trade him at the deadline, let Gardner win the job don’t give it to him, we learned THAT lesson.
My man-crush on Brett Gardner?
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Amazing that you can be crushing on a guy that projects as a 4th OF type at best yet can be so lukewarm on most everyone else.
Position players. Those are the prospects that float my boat, ya know…
Position players. Those are the prospects that float my boat, ya know…
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even AJ? Or just the ones who don’t get the hype initially?
Position players. Those are the prospects that float my boat, ya know…
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Yes, I know. Even piles of crap like Alberto “Attorney General” Gonzalez…
“My man-crush on Brett Gardner?
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NNOOO!! last year it was kennedy and we all saw what happened to him!
Steve is out to ruin another Yankee prospect!
But seriously, if Gardner falls on his face can we please start comparing your man crushes to SI’s cover page curse?
1) Melky will never be a star, but I haven’t given up on him.
2) If we spend $40m/yr on 2 pitchers, is the difference between Brett/Melky and Cameron worth $10m, Melky, a decent bench bat AND a pitching prospect?
We are suppoded to be getting younger and more flexible. On top of 2 overpriced pitchers, it seems like this move is getting us closer to the bad business deals of the past.
We can’t get younger if we don’t give our youth adequate time to develop. Everone is ready to dump Melky, Brett, IPK and even Hughes and Cano… but we piss and moan that we should have held on to Carlos Pena.
1 year at $10 mil is hardly a bad deal for an above average centerfielder who has excellent D.