Long Rumored Melky For Cameron Happening?
Via ESPN.com -
The New York Yankees are set to trade Melky Cabrera to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mike Cameron, according to two major league sources, the New York Daily News reported.
The acquisition of Cameron would give the Yankees a veteran center fielder to hold the position until prospect Austin Jackson is ready for the big leagues.
Cabrera had been seen as the Yankees’ center fielder of the future. But he hit .249 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 129 games last season before being demoted to Triple A in mid-August.
Cameron hit .243 with 25 HRs and 70 RBIs in 120 games last season in Milwaukee. He missed the first 25 games of the season due to a suspension for violating baseball’s banned substances policy.
My opinion of Mike Cameron has not changed since January 10, 2008. This sort of sounds like the Yankees are trying to bring in a friend for CC Sabathia – like when they brought in Doug Mientkiewicz for A-Rod.
You’ll get more analysis from me on this move when it’s confirmed as done. In the interim, what do you think of this move? Please feel free to add comments on your opinion in the comments section below.
I don’t really mind getting Cameron as long as he is a stop gap only and we only give up Melky to get him. He’ll probably be better for this year than Gardner would be. I’m thinking he’d probably bat 8th or 9th in the Yankees lineup depending on where Cano and Swisher hit. With our luck, Girardi will probably move Jeter to the three hole and bat Cameron second.
Sorry for not posting the link in the water cooler thread Steve. My mind isn’t made for this early morning breaking news stuff.
Anyway, if it’s only Melky leaving, I’m all for this trade. Cameron should be a decent stop gap, and hopefully Jackson will play well enough to make him just that.
what no commentary on how happy the black community will be when they have a starting yankee CF? (im joking)
I don’t think that much of Mike Cameron at this point but if it’s only costing the team Melky Cabrera then this move is a no-brainer and a steal. Instead of the impotent Damon-Gardner-Nady OF, the Yanks move Gardner to his more suitable 4th OF spot and add a better bat in his place. The OF is still not what I think it should’ve been but you just sold low on Melky and still got a better player. Good move.
FYI – I’ll never understand why the Yanks didn’t just sign Cameron to a three year deal when the Mets did. Picking Kenny Lofton over Cameron for 2004 never made any sense to me.
This move is a no-brainer, I hope it happens. Melky officially wore out his welcome by his clear lack of work ethic this season. Hopefully we’ll get to say goodbye to one of the worst hitters in baseball.
Melky officially wore out his welcome by his clear lack of work ethic this season. Hopefully we’ll get to say goodbye to one of the worst hitters in baseball.
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I won’t trash Melky on the way out the door the way they do it up in Boston. Melky played a huge role on the Yanks in both 2006 and 2007 and I thank him for making those two teams fun to watch at times. His HR-saving catch in June 2006 against Manny and the Red Sox remains the best catch I’ve ever seen a Yankee make in the OF and pumped me up like I hadn’t been pumped up in ages.
If this deal goes down I wish Melky nothing but the best. The Melk-man wasn’t a bad kid and I hope the Brew Crew enjoy him as much as we did.
they may also be bringing cameron in cos hes good buds with a-rod
they may also be bringing cameron in cos hes good buds with a-rod
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I thought it was CC?
1010 WINS had the trade reported as well, but I was in one of my sleep stupors.
If in fact the trade goes down as a straight swap, Melky for Cameron, I wish Melky all the best in Milwaukee.
Personally, I think he’s a better player than Gardner and given payroll, I am a bit surprised the Brewers chose Melky, given service time shenanigans and whatnot.
Picking Kenny Lofton over Cameron for 2004 never made any sense to me.
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Don’t know either, I don’t think Cameron was ever really considered.
Personally, I think he’s a better player than Gardner and given payroll, I am a bit surprised the Brewers chose Melky, given service time shenanigans and whatnot.
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Agreed. But I guess with the Brewers cutting payroll (Sabathia, Cameron, Sheets coming off the books) they’re better off with Melky than Gardner.
To be perfectly honest, the Brewers would be best-served moving Rickie Weeks to CF and having an OF of Braun-Weeks-Hart with Melky on the bench. Weeks can’t play 2B.
Agreed. But I guess with the Brewers cutting payroll (Sabathia, Cameron, Sheets coming off the books) they’re better off with Melky than Gardner.
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Melky has more service time, and will be arbitration eligible sooner than Gardner.
“before Garder…”
Cameron was supposedly Arod’s favorite player on the Mariners. A cheap player for a 10 mill player? Look Cameron strikes out too much BUT is awesome in the outfield. Is he worth that 10 mill? I don’t think so. The Yanks should try to get the price down. They are nickel and diming Pettitte but want to have a strikeout king play for 10 mill.
Cameron over Lofton? I thought that King George loved Kenny from his Indians days. It’s funny to note that Lofton was underutilized by ST Torre in that 2004 ACLS.
It’s funny to note that Lofton was underutilized by ST Torre in that 2004 ACLS.
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I agree to the extent that Torre’s misguided loyalty to Bernie wasn’t a good thing. That being said, Lofton didn’t do a whole lot to show me he had much value to the Yanks. His later results with other teams notwithstanding, Lofton and the Yanks were a mismatched pair from the start and never should’ve gotten together in the first place.
That being said, Lofton didn’t do a whole lot to show me he had much value to the Yanks.
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Yeah, but neither did Reuben Sierra
It’s funny to note that Lofton was underutilized by ST Torre in that 2004 ACLS.
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Really wasn’t anywhere to use him; with Matsui-Williams-Sheffield in the OF, and Sierra DH’ing. He still managed to get a few AB’s, tho’
~~Cameron strikes out too much BUT is awesome in the outfield. ~~
That’s a myth. He’s maybe average in CF. If the Yankees pick him up, I’ll have the stats to prove it.
~~Cameron strikes out too much BUT is awesome in the outfield. ~~
That’s a myth. He’s maybe average in CF. If the Yankees pick him up, I’ll have the stats to prove it.
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Agreed…this is only a good move because they aren’t giving up much for him, he’s an upgrade over Melky/Gardner, and he’s on a one year deal which is perfect if Jackson is ready to go next year. Not much risk or cost involved. Of course if there were better options out there, then I would have liked to see the Yankees explore those, like maybe Marlon Byrd.
~~Cameron strikes out too much BUT is awesome in the outfield. ~~
plus u gotta worry about him runnin into the other outfielders
If we still had Abreu this wouldnt be a prob for him as he would def avoid that
Yeah, but neither did Reuben Sierra
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In 2004, you’re right. He was pretty horrible that year if memory serves.
In 2004, you’re right. He was pretty horrible that year if memory serves.
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They posted similar numbers
KL: .275, .346/.395 95 OPS+
RS: .244 .296/.456 94 OPS+
Basically, it was Lofton’s OBP, speed & ability to play the field vs. Ruben’s power.
From Tyler Kepner (http://tinyurl.com/6bghgd)
The Brewers have been asking about pitcher Kei Igawa
Sweeter words have never been spoken. Make it so!
I won’t trash Melky on the way out the door the way they do it up in Boston. Melky played a huge role on the Yanks in both 2006 and 2007 and I thank him for making those two teams fun to watch at times. His HR-saving catch in June 2006 against Manny and the Red Sox remains the best catch I’ve ever seen a Yankee make in the OF and pumped me up like I hadn’t been pumped up in ages.
If this deal goes down I wish Melky nothing but the best. The Melk-man wasn’t a bad kid and I hope the Brew Crew enjoy him as much as we did.
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I never said Melky was a bad kid. I liked his energy and I really dig the fact that he and Robinson Cano live together in Jersey with their moms. They’re definitely great kids. But the fact remains that Melky is one of the worst hitters in all of baseball. Yeah, I’m trashing him on his way out, but I was trashing him this entire season with his joke of a .650 OPS. And the fact that he’s regressed ever since his rookie year shows that he was probably never committed to getting better.
And the fact that he’s regressed ever since his rookie year shows that he was probably never committed to getting better.
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I don’t know about that. Maybe the talent just isn’t really there? Either way, let’s just leave it at that. He’s a good kid and I wish him success up in Milwaukee if that’s how this all goes down.
Separately…if the trade hinges on sending Kei Igawa along with Melky, I’ll be happy to pack Kei’s bags for him and to map out Milwauke’s best Japanese restaurants for him. I wouldn’t trust the sushi in land-locked Wisconsin but I’m sure they do ramen well enough. Certainly no worse than the Japanese food in Scranton, I’m sure.
The Brewers have been asking about pitcher Kei Igawa
Sweeter words have never been spoken. Make it so!
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Make the trade before the Brewers change their mind. Probably have him confused with Tomo Ohka