Brewers Trading Cameron for Melky

by tville on Dec 11, 2008 8:28 AM CST Comment 37 comments

According to this article in the NY Daily News.

The Brewers get considerably younger with this move, but do they improve? Much depends upon how well Cabrera rebounds after a horrible 2008 season.

Defense certainly takes a hit in their outfield, and if Braun remains in left, this will be a pretty pourous group in the field.

This does free up cash for the Brewers and should give them the opportunity to pursue a quality closer or starter.

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Cabrera is pretty good defensively...

so I don’t think it’s a huge step backwards there. It’s probably a huge step backwards offensively though. Cabrera did have a down year last year, but he was below-average in his two previous years as well. I think the biggest thing here was to shave some payroll to address the rotation.

Cabrera has always been young for his level, so it’s hard to gauge what he’ll become as a hitter. But he’s never really shown offensive prowess for any extended period of time, and it has to be a concern that he’s gotten progressively worse offensively each year in MLB.

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 8:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

But is he Gold Glove caliber?

Cameron, as we know, holds the hardware and he covered a lot of ground in CF for the Brewers last year, making the shift of Braun to LF seem not so horrendous.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Dec 11, 2008 8:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He might be...

I mean, “gold glove caliber” is sort of hard to define. Will he likely ever win a gold glove? Probably not, because he’s not so flashy defensively to make up for his lack of hitting. But is Cameron still “gold glove caliber” either? He certainly HAS been incredible defensively, but he’s going to be 36 next year.

I don’t think the dropoff defensively is that big from Cameron to Cabrera. Cabrera got rave reviews for his defense in CF last year in New York. (whether they were justified or not, I don’t know)

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 9:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This only makes sense

If they are salary dumping Cameron – Cabrera is a fourth outfielder. The Brewers window of contention is also right now, due to their wealth of young position players. If this frees up money to take a shot at some of the other big pitchers out there, this is a reasonable move. Otherwise, this is a TERRIBLE trade

Some people have 3 layers, like pie. Blog Blog Blog

by berselius on Dec 11, 2008 8:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Cameron's getting a little old...

… he’ll be 36 in January. This is probably a good move for the Brewers.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 11, 2008 8:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Trading Cameron MAY be a good move...

as he is getting old. But he probably has a year or two left. Getting Cabrera in return doesn’t seem like a great move, as he hasn’t shown any signs of offensive life.

The only value I see in this is the salary dump, unless Cabrera figures out how to hit.

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 9:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed that Melky hasn't hit much.

But he is only 24, and thus has some upside. Granted that Yankee prospects are generally overhyped.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 11, 2008 9:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There's always hope, sure...

But he hasn’t really ever shown evidence of that upside. He could blossom into a productive hitter, but we really haven’t seen any evidence that it will happen for him.

I agree that if Cabrera learns to hit it’s a good deal for the Brewers. And I guess it’s the type of gamble the Brewers needed to make – find a team willing to take on Cameron’s salary and get a young and cheap replacement in hopes he emerges.

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 9:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If Cabrera were 28, I'd agree with "no evidence".

At 24, he still has upside. I wouldn’t count on it if I were Milwaukee, but obviously, they think it’s worth the risk.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 11, 2008 9:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wondering

Does that same “no evidence” rule apply to Felix Pie because when you compare the numbers of the two, admittedly Pie’s are a smaller sample size, there isn’t a huge discernible difference….and Pie just turned 23. Just wondering.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Dec 11, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I think it does.

Again, if Pie were 28, and doing what he’s done, I’d say he’s no prospect.

Pie will be 24 in March. He still has a chance.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 11, 2008 9:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see how you can disagree with the "no evidence"

No evidence doesn’t mean no upside. Just means he hasn’t shown any of the upside yet, which means the ability may or may not be there. Age would only be relevant if we were saying he had no upside.

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 9:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dumb trade for the Brewers.

I just don’t get what everyone sees in Melky Cabrera. New York hype, to me. Maybe they see something I don’t….who knows.
I feel bad for the Brewers- really. They should just blow up the whole team and reload for 2010 now that they’ve lost Sabathia, and Sheets soon to follow. I hate the Yankees. I hope Sabathia blows his arm out for their sake. Is that wrong?

by reedjohnson on Dec 11, 2008 8:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

yes, that's wrong

you can’t go all hatin’ on a big, 300 lb fun-lovin’ throwback pitcher that loves to hit and eat. Someone asked him once what CC stood for – he said “Cupcake” and proceeded to pop one in his mouth. You should hope for CC to win 25 games and the Cy Young.

But it is perfectly okay to hope for the rest of the rotation to come down with sore arms and other various ailments. You should also hope for ARod to become embroiled in a nasty tabloid scandal regarding his Madonna exploits and have that spill over into the clubhouse and the field, resulting in a less than stellar performance. And you should hope that Jeter is discovered to be a behind the scenes invester in a puppy mill operation. And you should hope for the usual front office and meddling owner shenanigans that will bring back memories of the George era.

And of course, hope that once again the Yankees will miss the playoffs so all over New York, little 9 year old kids will tug at their daddy’s sleeves and wonder plaintively with tears in their eyes if the Yankees will ever win the World Series in their lifetime…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Dec 11, 2008 9:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I just don't see a guy like CC fitting in to that button-down Yankee clubhouse.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 11, 2008 9:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BALLHAWK

Is that story about the cupcake real???

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Dec 11, 2008 11:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well, I kinda have my doubts but that's the way I heard it.

Sticking closer to the facts, I have seen other references to his Cleveland teammates calling him cupcake – not being mean-spirited at all, but in more of a good ol’ fashioned clubhouse fun “talking smack” session kind of way.

On a related note, I perused the user comments of one of the NY papers shortly after the deal was announced and there were more than a few Yankee fans that were upset about the signing. One guy went off on a rant and finished it up by saying, great, we just signed CC Pavano. Cracked me up.

The only thing that could have been more perfect is had that comment been posted by somebody with a username of MDBNYU

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Dec 11, 2008 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That was a nice run by the Brewers while it lasted

no Sheets, no CC and now theyre gambling that Melky isnt merely Yankee Hype

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 11, 2008 9:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like the Brewers realized that

without CC and Sheets they really had no need for a 36 yr old center fielder making $10 mil a year. On a side note, has anyone seen the numbers being thrown around for Mark Texiera? 7/$160 mil. I know he’s a good player, but that just seems wacky.

by Juiceboxjerry on Dec 11, 2008 9:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Actually..

… it’s eight years, $160 million.

Sure does seem out of whack with today’s economy. Teixeira’s good, but he’s not going to make the Nats a winner.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 11, 2008 9:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BoSox and Yankees............

………..are also in the hunt so it could reach $200 mil for Tex’s services.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Dec 11, 2008 9:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea, that's the thing, if it's $160 mil now, how high will it get?

by Juiceboxjerry on Dec 11, 2008 9:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boston would be the best fit for him

The Nats are going nowhere anytime soon, neither are the Os

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 11, 2008 9:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Where will he play for Boston?

They got Youkilis at first and he can’t move to third cause they got Lowell there.

by Juiceboxjerry on Dec 11, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And they have a DH, too.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 11, 2008 9:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They'd move Youkilis to 3B...

and waive goodbye to Lowell via trade. You make room for a bat like Teixeira.

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 9:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely you would trade Lowell, but can you?

They just gave him a new deal recently and he was injured a significant portion of last season, I doubt they could move him.

by Juiceboxjerry on Dec 11, 2008 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This should come as no surprise...

Supposedly Giants have an interest in Lowell should the Tex dominos start to fall in Boston

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Dec 11, 2008 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They Will move him

They are the Redsox, if they have to eat some or most of his salary, they will do it. They can afford it.

by MrShowtime on Dec 11, 2008 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They can move him...

They’ll be happy to take on a good portion of Lowell’s salary if need be, and there’s always some GM dumb/desperate enough to take it. For example, they traded Renteria to the Braves. There are rumors already of the Giants being interested in Lowell.

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats what i was thinking

Besides, how many years does Lowell have left on his deal?

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 11, 2008 10:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's entering the 2nd year of a 3 year/$37 mil dollar deal.

So if you traded for him you’d be on the hook for two more years at 12 per. Not good.

by Juiceboxjerry on Dec 11, 2008 10:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Red Sox have shown that they're not afraid to eat money

They basically paid the Braves to take Renteria off their hands.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Dec 11, 2008 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yabbut...

he can’t make them (the Nats) any worse, either.

"Well, we're out of cake! We only had three bits and we didn't expect such a rush! So what do you want?"
"What, so my choice is 'or death?' Well, then I'll have the chicken, please."
--Eddie Izzard

by znohitter on Dec 11, 2008 11:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta start somewhere...

Teixeira would be a big step toward credibility as a franchise.

by SouthernCub on Dec 11, 2008 11:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a very smart move for the Brewers

Mike Cameron is grossly overpaid for his offensive production. What a bad contract they got into, and now they are unloading it to the place where bad contracts go to die, New York!

To me its a slam dunk, Melky is cheap, under team control for many years, fast, good arm, decent power, and switch hits. It’s a slam dunk to me. Next they should give the Yankee’s Bill Hall for Ian Kennedy and start rebuilding their rotation

by MrShowtime on Dec 11, 2008 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs