Cameron a fit, but there are others
December 3, 2009, 7:30 pm by iYankees · 2 Comments
From Joel Sherman (NY Post):
Without Damon or a big free-agent purchase, the Yanks will have to go less-heralded and less-offensive minded in left.
Mike Cameron fits the bill, does he not?
Similar free agent options include: Randy Winn, Rick Ankiel and Chone Figgins.
Similar trade options could include: David DeJesus (a poor man’s Damon) and Juan Rivera.
Of the names listed, Cameron and DeJesus are probably the most realistic options.
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Figgins is a good bat but you have no real evidence how well he will do in LF and we need above average D before we need above average bats in LF, we already had that and we could keep that (Damon) but there is no reason too!
Randy Winn and Ankiel I would take on the Yankees roster but I wouldn’t want either to be anymore than a 4th outfielder… Maybe if we sign Cameron and trade Melky we can use Ankiel as the left handed bat off the bench who can play all 3 outfield positions.
Rivera I don’t want back, he isn’t great in LF defensively and his bat isn’t that much better than what Damon gave last year.
Dejesus would cost players in a trade and his .280 average and 13 HRs aren’t exactly something I am falling over myself to get! He would cost at least Austin Jackson and I want to keep Austin unless we get a playmaker or starter in return and Dejesus is neither!
The best option is Mike Cameron no matter what anyone else says!
yes he strikesout and yes he’s going to hit below .260 but he has legit power to all field still and he, he was plenty durable last year and for his whole career for the most part and he still plays one of the best CF Ds in the game! He provides versatility because he can play stellar D in CF and is willing to play corner outfield as well giving Gardner and Melky the option to play while Cameron is still in the game giving good D. He wouldn’t cost a pick, payers or a multi year deal and he wants to play for a winner so you know he will be on his best behavior and from what you hear he and CC were pretty decent friends on the Brewers so he will be welcomed into the club house.
Cameron’s bat in CF along with his defense and Melky’s arm in LF give us a tough defensive outfield and one you will be hard pressed to run on because of range of Melky in LF and Cameron in CF and Melky’s arm in LF. We instantly go from THE worst defensive outfield in the playoffs to one of the better defensive outfields in the playoffs and with Cameron’s 24+ Hrs he will replace Damon’s power in the lineup while taking away runs Damon would have given up!
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However I suppose the best defensive equation is Cameron-Gardner-Swisher but I am not sure that it is enough offense from LF and CF when you consider that Gardner isn’t hitting many HRs at all and you lose him as a pinch runner. Obviously you could see daily changes where at times Gardner is in CF and Cameron in LF and Then Melky in LF and Cameron back to CF but that might mess up the guys defensively constantly having to switch off between the 2 spots.
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