General manager Brian Cashman refused to confirm or deny that Mike Cameron is high on the Yankees' list of free-agent signings if the veteran outfielder becomes a free agent.According to an industry source, the Yankees are waiting to see if the Brewers pick up a $10 option on Cameron, who will be 36 in January.
If they don't, the source said, the Yankees have targeted him because they consider him an upgrade at center field, where they have Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon.
"I am not going to tell you that's right or not," Cashman said. "We are going to do whatever to make the team better, that's the bottom line."
"The Yankees have targeted him because they consider him an upgrade at center field, where they have Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon." Ummm, I disagree, he hit .243 with 25 homers and 70 RBI last year, and I think the Yankees would be smart if the did not waste their money on Cameron.
Update: 12:00 p.m.: Joel Sherman commented had this to say about the King article this morning on his blog:I do believe that the Yanks have some interest in Cameron, but that he is a backup plan. They want to add an outfielder this offseason, but they really want that outfielder to be a lot younger than Cameron, who will play at 36 next year. They want someone who could be part of the fabric of the team for a while.
25 Comments:
Georgey the 3rd at it again.
I agree, Cameron is NOT an upgrade. Not to mention he's not the CF he once was, and I don't think he was ever the CF everyone hyped him up to be.
Plus, the guy strikes out a million times per game, negating most of his minimal value. Aging, low batting average, low OBP hitters who strike out a lot and can't put the ball in play are the very reason our offense is as inconsistant as it was this season. No need to obtain another guy who fits the classic low averge, high K, minimal contact profile.
Please, Yankees, stay as far away from Mike Craperon as possible.
Someone needs to get King-3 a hobby.
But, lets say it's true....
Just like LaToya Hawkins, he'll be DFA'd by July.
terrible, terrible, terrible...don't like it one bit...hopefully, it's not true...
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I don't think this is as horrible as you guys are making it out to be. His defense is still better than average in center. He's got a low batting avg but always draws a good amount of walks. Combine the walks with his slugging and it results in a perennially better than average OPS+. And he still regularly steals bases at a very acceptable rate, greater than 70%.
I'm not saying give him a 4 yr deal. But if you could get him to sign a 1 or maybe 2 year deal, this is a decent signing.
He's 36.
One of the off season projects is to get younger.
A 2 year deal would give the Yanks a 38 year old CF. I'd put Damon in CF before I did that.
No thanks.
I am sure they will look into several options, which is their job but I highly doubt Beltran, Cameron, or Rowand will be roaming CF for the Yankees next year. The only positive about Cameron is he is a right handed hitter which is good because we have so many lefties.
I agree with you Mike. I could have sworn one of the off season plans was to get younger. If we sign Cameron we will actually be getting older in the outfield. (He is older than damon, abreu, and matsui, albeit by one year). I'd rather much give gardner a chance.
anonymous,
I'm with you on this one - give Gardner a chance. The guy can be a decent hitter in this league if he's given the chance. I'm kind of surprised at how quickly people are ready to give up on a kid who has only had 127 at-bats in the big leagues.
The Yankees need to have patience with their young players, it's the only way to develop young talent.
I don't think people have given up on Gardner, I just think he hasn't shown any signs of being a major league hitter.
Well, he did hit .294 over his final 58 at-bats after coming back from the minors, plus he hit well at every level in the minors.
They need to give him a real chance to prove himself before coming to that conclusion.
Here's something to think about: Dustin Pedroia hit just .186 over his first 144 at-bats in the majors, I'm sure there were many fans who didn't think he was going to cut it in this league either.
What kind of chance? How long do you go with him? What happens if he fails?
I'm all for giving someone a look in ST, but all he showed me is that he's fast.
What the Yanks should do is fortify the line up around him so his .220 wont matter much.
I'd give him most of the year to prove himself. With his speed and defense, even if he doesn't hit he will help the team.
The Yankees are not going to get younger by giving up on a 25 year old after 121 at-bats.
And as you said, it's important for them to fortify the lineup around him so that if he does struggle at the plate it doesn't hurt as much. Signing Mark Teixeira would help the fortification.
I'm with Greg on this one, give Gardner a chance.
Are any of you who are ready to give up on Gardner scouts? I don't understand how you people think you can determine if someone is going to be good a major leaguer based in 120 at-bats unless you have some sort of scouting experience.
It should not come as a surprise to any of you, but I'm just not certain if Cashman knows what the hell he's doing.
Cameron? Yuk!
Mike
Anon;
Since you say give him a shot, I guess that means that you are a scout and have determined he deserves one, right?
I never said NOT to give him a shot.
All I am saying is that the Yankees track record with their prospects becoming good ball players in the last 10 years is pretty crappy.
Most are over-hyped minor AAA players.
Greg;
Do you really want to sign someone for 8+ years again?
Mike,
If it's Mark Teixeira I really wouldn't have have a problem with it.
Forget Big Tex, all signs look like he'll re-sign with the Halos...
Thats what we said about Giambi.
And don't forget, we have A-Slug for another 9.
Hopefully this is like the Cano and Beltran rumor.
Michael Kay ran through all the Yankees hot stove rumors and said the only one that is both feasible and beneficial to the team is to make a nice comprable package to trade for David DeJesus and Zack Grienke of the Kansas City Royals...
And that is good news to me, Grienke is a headcase but he has nasty stuff, and I've been lusting over DeJesus since he became the full time centerfielder in KC... He has all the things I want in a Yankee centerfielder.
This one makes sense.
Mike, there's a big difference between a 28 year old switch-hitter who can play gold-glove first base and Jason Giambi. Giambi never was good defensively, he was 31 when he started with the Yankees, and steroids destroyed his body/Yankee career.
Yes, A-Rod's contract is going to be a problem one day.
Derek,
I wouldn't mind that deal either. Even though I like the idea of starting Gardner, I think both Dejesus and Greinke would be nice pickups.
I agree with Mike concerning the Yankees track record with their "prospects." I agree 100%.
Mike
Trust me...
If you sign anyone for more than 5 years, you will be regretting it after year 4.
The only way that I'd do more than 5 is if there wasn't a no-trade clause after year 4 AND a buy-out of the players 5/10 rights OR club a club buy out after each year from year 5 and on.
The way baseball is today you can't improve your team through free agency without giving certain guys long-term deals.
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