C.C. Sabathia agreed to a record 7-year, $161 million deal with the Yankees on Wednesday…not Yanks’ GM Brian Cashman is trying to pry centerfielder Mike Cameron away, by trading their centerfielder, Melky Cabera, and possibly another player for Cameron. Tom Haudricourt of JSOnline.com says the trade is looking like a real possibility, as the Brewers are looking for youth (Cabrera is 24) and a left-handed bat (Cabrera is a switch-hitter).
My take…Cabrera has been a fantasy baseball owners’ “sleeper prospect” evert season since 2006, never reaching the potential everyone thought he had. A career .268 hitter over 3+ seasons, his time with the impatient Yankees seems to be over, and Melvin is willing to roll the dice.
As for the Rule 5 draft, the Crew lost catcher Lou Palmisano to the Orioles in the MLB portion of the draft, meaning that Palmisano will have to stay with the parent club or be offered back to the Crew; in that same section of the draft, Melvin snared Eddie Morlan from the Rays’ AA affiliate for help in the bullpen. There’s a good chance that they won’t make the MLB roster for the entire year–but the $25,000 cost ($50,000 upfront less $25,000 which comes back to the acquiring club if the original team wants the player back) is worth it, even for just a month or two.
Morlan has an above average fastball (92-94 mph)…no word on whether it moves or comes straight in.
The Crew also added four in the AAA phase–the Cubs’ Mark Holliman, a RHP, second baseman Jonathan Ash, and shortstops Shane Justis and Juan Sanchez…all must remain at AAA Nashville (or higher), meaning Melvin is now loaded with additional infielder options should Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks continue to under perform in ’09. It also means that new Sounds’ manager Don Money is willing and able to move SS prospect Elcides Escobar to another position.
I believe the Brewers’ 40-man now stands at 38 players with the addition of Morlan…so only room for two more….
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