Comments on: Searching for reality

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:00:21 +0000

Peter,
I wanted to get your thoughts on a proposed minor trade? What do you think of trading Kei Igawa to Seattle for CF’er Jeremy Reed?

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:03:48 +0000

The Cameron/Betemit/Cabrera discussion reminds me of the talk when Cash did the trade for Abreu and Lidle. Chris Russo couldn’t get over Cash saying without Lidle the deal doesn’t happen. One GM was even quoted as saying he had offered more for Lidle alone and he didn’t get it.

The Brewers picked up a $10M option with the intent to trade Cameron. They lose absolutely NOTHING if they trade him, as opposed to just letting him go (maybe they would have received a draft choice if they let him go?).

A trade is about exchanging assets. $ are an asset. Cameron has a 10M contract. Melky and Betemit combined make about 2M. This trade could be viewed two ways. If you assume the Brewers don’t want Cameron and picked up his option to trade him, then they get Melky and Betemit for whatever draft choice they would have had if they just let Cameron go. If you were to assume they wanted him as a player, then they get Melky and Betemit plus 8M.

PS The Abreu trade was similar in that the Yankees were taking on his large salary. That was an asset going to the Phillies. That is why the trade wouldn’t have been made w/o Lidle. He was the compensation for the cash asset exchange.

Bob

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:59:25 +0000

I’ve heard that Cameron and CC are close. Could this be the Yanks trying to get an edge in signing him?

By: Yankees#1

Yankees#1 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:11:29 +0000

Yankees must Sign CC and AJ to deals that will make sense.

If Teix is willing to sign for 7-years, go for it.

If Marte is willing to take 2-years at $10MM, go for it.

Melky and Brett should be okay for CF for 2009 with AJackson coming along.

Sign either Moose or Pettite as the 4th starter.

Have Joba and Hughes share the 5th starter and the alternate plug in starter for 2009.

Yankees will have a great shot of reaching the 2009 playoffs.

By: Lambchop Louie

Lambchop Louie — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:56:22 +0000

Payroll: $232,000,000 ? Beyond ludicrous. What part of luxury tax is not understood ?
It’s the bottom feeding MLB owner’s fantasy.

By: Virginia Yankee

Virginia Yankee — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:12:23 +0000

how far we have fallen — what happened to all those “Melky has the same stats at the same age as Beltran” arguments from last year when the fans decried any trade of he and IPK for Santana

By: 86w183

86w183 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:54:43 +0000

Yeah Pete is overstating the one-sidedness of the so-called Cameron deal.

First, the Brewers overwhlemingly RH at the plate and adding a couple of useful LH bats for the bench or possible platoon duty makes some sense.

Second, as others have mentioned, Cameron is slipping, aging and probably not worth $ 10 M and the Brewers need to get their money’s worth while the Yankees can overpay.

Third, Gardner gives you the opportunity to rest Cameron more regularly, ideally making him more effective. this would paarticularly be beneficial against RH power pitchers who Cameron has a lot of trouble handling.

Looking at those factors, it’s a deal that could help both teams… maybe the Brewers platoon Melky/Billy Hall… and it buys the Yanks time for Gardner to mature and/or Austin Jackson to develop.

That said, I don’t make the deal. I want ALL acquisitions that are targeted for regular duty to be in their prime which means no older than 32.

By: Roger B Calistro

Roger B Calistro — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:24:20 +0000

How old is Cameron? And how with all the publicity about steroids in the last several years does this guy get caught doping? Why are the Yankees so hot for this guy? I’d rather run Bret Gardener out there then trade for this guy. Is he that great a centerfielder? I forget: Did the Mets win anything with him in centerfield?

I wouldn’t give up Melky for him straight up– however poor a season Melky might have had, he still has some potential.

By: bigjf

bigjf — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:06:22 +0000

Calm down, Pete. Cameron is nothing special. I grant you he’s OK and he’s worth more than Cabrera and Betemit, but I don’t see how Cashman would win any awards for that trade…

I wish they would non-tender Betemit, though.

By: Steve k

Steve k — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:57:10 +0000

Pete, your nuts. Cameron is terrible, especially at this point in his career. At 10 million and over 35 I would rather stick with Melky or Gardner …Preferably Gardner