GMs' meetings: One final wrap-up
The trade makes sense because the Yankees need a one-year stopgap in centerfield. They hope that youngster Austin Jackson is ready to play a significant role at the big-league level in 2009.
Jon Heyman reported that the Brewers can't deal Cameron until they know for sure that they're not re-signing CC Sabathia. Cameron and Sabathia became good friends during Sabathia's time in Milwaukee.
The Mets would be willing to pay some of the $3.6 million owed to Schoeneweis in 2009. They feel that Schoeneweis could have appeal to other clubs because of his strong numbers against lefty hitters (.520 OPS in 2008).
Cashman said that he wasn't looking to Kelleher, specifically, to work with Robinson Cano. Said Cashman: "I’m not looking for a coach that’s a motivator of Robby. Robby is a self-motivated guy. …His batting came around in the end. I just think you’ll see Robby back to his old self. The job description has nothing to do with, ‘I need a coach to fix Robby Cano.’ I think Robby is fixed already. How he finished demonstrates that."
Towers said he's engaged in conversations with three National League clubs - the Braves, Cubs and Dodgers - and that he thinks he'll get a deal done prior to the winter meetings, which begin on December 8.
All right, gotta fire off some stories for the newspaper and then it's on the plane home. Thanks for all of the interaction this week. It was fun.
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (18)
Ken, are you going to Torre's dinner at Pier 60 tomorrow night?
No, Jack. Are you?
FYI - Mike Cameron is a very good friend of a certain pitcher the Yankees are trying to sign.
Seriously? Why would the Yankees want a guy in Cameron who can barely hit his weight. Good ballplayer don't get me wrong but doesn't hustle as much as he should.
Someone leak the AL Gold Glove award winners before the official announcement at 4 p.m. today on the internet. It was on "The Slanch Report" website.
If this it for Moose, then what a way to go out with winning 20 games in a season for the first time and winning a Gold Glove.
Sounds like the Phillies are the early favorite to get Matt Holliday of the Rockies.
Here's the link to the story.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/11/06/heyman.holliday/index.html
Ken, as much as I enjoy sharing a meal with Joe, I am very disappointed that Chuck Knoblauch will not be at the dinner. Somehow, Homer Bush just doesn't cut it for me. Therefore, I am passing this year.
Hey!!! That wasn't me that wrote about Cameron!! I have a fan.
Actually though, I think the impostor is dead on with Cameron not being able to hit his weight. But I always thought Cameron hustled more than most. Though outside of Tatis and Rich Harden, I dont think anyone hustles (John Stearns alert) like John Stearns/Rex Hudler and Andy Fox.
Though the next time I see Eckstein and Rolen and the whole Angels team I will watch more closely.
I don't like the proposed Cameron deal because I don't particularly like Cameron, who strikes out far too much and who barely hits his weight. Under no conditions would I include Kennedy in the deal.
That's three Cameron "can't hit his weight" comments. He OPSes around .800 every year, so he's not exactly an offensive drag. He does hit for a low average (though that a pretty meaningless stat) and he does strike out a ton. But he's always hit for decent power and played a nice centerfield. I'm not really a big fan of his, but one year at 10 mil would be a very nice deal for the Yankees. Really, it's ideal, with Austin Jackson waiting in the wings. (This assumes, of course, that the Brewers don't want a lot in return. Kennedy is an overreach, but Melky is not.)
Bailey really it should be 2 1/2 because one was made by an imposter of me, even though I totally agree with my Impostor Pal.
Cameron will cost $10 million for the year. Should the team give up a young player (Cabrera) and a good utility player who is also fairly young (Wilson B) and fairly cheap or even Ian Kennedy? I think not. Cameron is still useful but he is aging. He's not worth it. I would rather have Melky.
Cashman has a fascination with aging expensive players. He has no imagination. Epstein can run rings around him. Cashman lacks creativity. He should be rankd No 25 out of 30 GMs.
Cameron is the right kind of player for the Yanks right now because he still plays good defense, has some pop from the right side and will only be with the Yanks for one year and then AJax will be ready (hopefully).
I would not trade Kennedy for him though, that is silly. Actually the only reason I'd like to see the Yanks get him is to help in the pursuit of CC. If CC would come to the Yanks without Cameron and the Yanks picked up Tex too, I would be perfectly happy with either Melky or Gardner in CF as the Yanks lineup should be able to muster 4+ runs per game with these players: Damon, Jeter, ARod, Posada, Matsui, Nady, Cano and Tex. If they get good starting pitching they won't have to score runs like a slow pitch softball team again.
If the Yanks believe that Austin Jackson is the future centerfielder and they don't think a Garner/Cabrera platoon will work out, then they need to get a player who can be a stop-gap for a year. Cameron strikes out a lot, but he is not a terrible hitter. Cameron will give the Yanks a glove in center. Now if the Brewers play hardball, then the Yanks should go elsewhere for a centerfielder.
Cameron is not a smart move...nice guy but the "friend" package is not making sense to me.
Mets deep-sixing the bullpen is a must...even if the only reason is to change the kharma it's something that has to be done.
Trade Cano for pitching. You look at Pedroia's ability and attitude and you realize that Robby is not the answer.
I wouldn't dump a 24 year old kid who came within a couple of points of winning a batting title because he had one off year- sorry, but Cano has enormous potential and last year may have been the humbling experience he needed to motivate him.
If the right trade came along, sure, but dumping him for the sake of dumping him is silly.
Why would you trade players that might be around for 10-15 more years for someone that is going to be on the team for one year? It doesn't make any sense unless that one player is going to help the team win a championship, which they aren't going to win in 2009. Stop grasping at straws. The Yankees need to rebuild and reposition for the next ten years, not the next year.
I hope the Mets don't dump Scho or Pedro just for the sake of change. They can both be effective for NY if used properly. The poor bullpen construction has prevented that for the last year and a half. They probably don't need both if they get some other bullpen needs filled. Heilman on the other hand needs a 'change of scenery' trade as bad as anybody in the game. Quite a shame really.
I think Cameron is a good one year fit. He OPS's well and has a great though declining glove. If Jackson is the man soon enough, I'd think the Yanks have a better shot at the playoffs next year with Cameron than Melky. Though asking for Kennedy seems a stretch.
Great job this week Ken. Yourself and your mentor have really kept us up to date this week. Great info from you both this week. Bear in the BBH was always a favorite when my son was younger.
I'm with y'all that Melk and IPK is too much for a 36 year old, declining OF. CC is already too expensive and trading for his buddy to get him here makes this Santana all over again. Now that does not make sense. Make CC a great offer. If he says no, move on. Forget Cameron.
I don't agree that batting average is 'a pretty meaningless stat' and I haven't yet decided if the Yanks can win a championship in 2009 or not but I do believe that as currently constituted, assuming Jorge & CMW regain their health and I think they will, the Yanks are an AL East contender.