From Ken Rosenthal (FOX Sports):
The Yankees talked with the Brewers about trading for center fielder Mike Cameron before the Aug. 31 deadline for setting postseason rosters, but the teams did not get close to a deal, major-league sources say.Cameron has long been a Yankees’ favorite, but the club did not want to take on the rest of his $10 million salary, which would have amounted to more than $1.5 million.
The Yankees also did not view Cameron, a right-handed hitter, as a dramatic upgrade over Melky Cabrera, a switch-hitter who has shown significant improvement against left-handed pitching this season.
Cameron, 36, has an .814 on-base plus slugging percentage overall, an .871 OPS against left-handers. Cabrera, 25, has a .755 mark overall and a .795 mark against lefties. The Yankees were reluctant to reduce his playing time.
The other day I wrote about what could have been if the Yankees had traded for Cameron over the winter. He’s a distinct upgrade over Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner (and a combination of the two) and would have been a nice addition. For that reason, Rosenthal’s report is rather perplexing.
I can understand not trading for Mike Cameron if the Brewers’ asking price, prospect-wise, is too high. Why pay such a premium if you only get the player for a month or so. However, if the main issue was $1.5 million, then that’s a definite head scratcher. It looks like Hal Steinbrenner is really running the show, financially.
I also wonder about the team’s willingness to stick with Melky Cabrera when Cameron is an offensive and defensive upgrade in center (although Melky has come on lately, offensively). Maybe they were worried about the move to the AL or maybe they were worried about disrupting the team’s chemistry. Or, perhaps they were worried about making room for Cameron on the roster. I’m hoping these were the real reasons as to why they didn’t pursue Cameron—not the $1.5 million or so that he has left on his contract.
Brian Cashman and co. have been smart this season in terms of non-moves (e.g., Washburn, Halladay). While I would have liked for them to add Cameron—he’s a good player—with Brett Gardner on the mend and Melky hitting well, this could end up being another one that works out for the club.
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10 Responses to Yanks were in on Cameron
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TIQ IQ
Not getting Cameron is the best non move, lets continue what is working, as well as the chemistry of the team with best record in baseball.
Well considering that Cameron is one of Sabathia’s best friends and Alex Rodriguez is his friend as well so I really doubt it would have messed up any chemistry and it could have only made us better… He would have brought more consistency to the line up, a better defensive outfield than the one we have right now and he would have brought a 9th player to the line up with 20+ HRs and he is still a 10x better 9 hole hitter than Melky.
As a general matter, I think that you are too stuck on Melky. Before tonight’s buzz saw he was hitting about 277. He has had his share of game winning hits this year and started off hot when the yankees needed him most. When he was cold others were hot. Thus, I am not sure that all of your stats mean a lot. On the other hand, for 1.5m you get cameron. That’s a no brainer. What did they have to give up for him though? You never explain that. Are you suggesting that it was a free give away?
No one knows for sure what was talked about obviously but I heard the Yankees only wanted to trade Melky or Melky and a prospect if the Brewers paid a lot of the contract. For one year it would have made the line up and defense better not a whole lot better for the regular season but his bat would make it devastating on good pitchers in the post season, but even with out him I really don’t see us having a problem with hitting and Melky/Gardner together bring as much to the table when you add speed to make up for some of the power lost.
Enough with Cameron, it would have been nice but I’m not too sure the Brewers, the same Brewers were just now gonna give him to us for a marginal prospect when he’s only owed 1.5 million. These are the same Brewers that lost CC Sabathia to us. There not looking to help out the Yankees!
Lastly, I have a quick trade proposal in the off season after we hopefully win our 27th Title. I know it’s early, but it may be intriguing. Matsui and Damon both come off the books this year. And though I do love Damon, I feel his defense and age are factors into not bringing him back, unless it was a one year deal. So saying that why not offer Melky, Ian Kennedy, and a marginal B level prospect for Holliday and Vernon Wells. Now the only way Toronto does this is if we eat a substantial chunk of Wells contract. BUT, this is Holliday’s last year and his numbers and age (34) are not leading the league this year, so they lost top value for him. We are also taking on Wells but we must make Toronto eat a third of his contract so instead of paying him 21 mil a year, we pay him around 16 mil. Wells can be slotted in RF or LF and he automatically upgrades our defense and we than platoon Gardner and Action Jackson when he is ready. What an upgrade on defense with Swish filling the last spot. If Kennedy is not the guy they want we offer a healthy Wang after spring training instead. Risky but wow!
NO NO NO TO VERNON WELLS…. First of all they wouldn;t do that deal and second of all I wouldn’t want a 33 year old pitcher and a useless CF who has the worst contract in baseball and produces nothing for it!
Sorry I mispelt Roy Halladay’s name. I’m tired!
We’re winning without him, have by far the best offense in baseball, and a 6 game lead for the best record in baseball. There is no need to add him but gluttony. This is no longer going to be a team put together by George’s “All Star at every position, and damn the cost!” philosophy (which never worked and many of us are glad to see go away).
Take that stuff somewhere else! Gluttony… I am so tired of people who talk about enough is enough and don’t you get tired of your team buying players and how can you root for them and all this other BS that comes with spending money… who cares if we have the best player at every position better for us as a team and fan.
You are right Chris except that your story has a hole. All of us are saying that the Cameron trade would have cost something undwfined. Define it and we probably agree. Otherwise you have a half a blog.