Cameron for Melky Cabrera? Nick Swisher?

[fleehaw]

What exactly do the Brewers see in Igawa?

Perhaps SP depth? When is the last time the Brewers made it through the season with only 5 pitchers starting games. Igawa as a #6 SP at say $2M/yr has some value for the Brewers. Currently, who would be their #6 SP?

 

I'm not saying I'd expect great things from Igawa. But, he's only pitched 71.2 innings in the majors. Odds are that he's better than what he's shown thus far in the majors, and probably worse than what he did in Japan and last season in AAA.

[TooLiveBrew]

But if he's basically a replacement-level caliber player, why waste that much money on him (through 2011)?

[endaround]

McClung is already on the roster at minimum. Unless its the only way to get Kennedy (a pitcher the Yankees should be trading anyway) Igawa is just negative weight.

[piccione88]

According to Cots McClung made 750 K last year, and is up for arbitration this off-season.

[PeaveyFury]

What exactly do the Brewers see in Igawa? The guy has been a complete failure each chance he has gotten in the majors.

 

Over a very small 71-inning sample, FWIW.

[monty57]

Unless he has some big deal waiting on his freeing up the money, Melvin really needs to back away and tell Cashman he can go into this season with Cabrera as his CF, a boatload of young pitchers that will never see new Yankee Stadium and a $161MM pitcher that doesn't really want to live in NYC and now won't have his best friend to chat with.

 

This seems like Melvin feels he has to trade Cameron, and it doesn't seem to me like he does. Even with Cameron, we should still have plenty of money to pick up a SP (Johnson / Smoltz) on a one-year deal and shore up our BP and bench. Pick up a couple of AAA SP on minor league contracts for insurance, and go into the season with Villy as your closer, Lamb/Hall as your 3B and basically the same offense that got us to the playoffs this year. Cashman needs to do this deal at least as much as Melvin. If he's unwilling to deal, tell him to take a hike. Call back when you're ready to deal a better pitcher.

[TooLiveBrew]

Exactly, Monty. Melvin is the one that has the valuable commodity here. If Cashman doesn't want to meet Melvin's stipulations, too bad for him. If he actually wants Cam, time to pony up.

[logan82]

I am sure we could get a decent pitcher from somebody for Cameron.

[southpaw121505]

I agree, I hope thats why this has taken so long. I really hope we don't do a salary dump without something else somewhat big up his sleeve for that money..

[Cracked Bat Collector]

Read this tidbit on part of an MLB blog regarding Igawa being the holdup in the deal: "The Post reported that the Brewers asked for Phil Coke, Jose Veras and Mark Melancon before Igawa's name surfaced, but the Yankees quickly said no. "

[Brian the Automator]

"The Post reported that the Brewers asked for Phil Coke"

There's a Steve Howe joke in here somewhere.

[PeaveyFury]

I really hope we don't do a salary dump without something else somewhat big up his sleeve for that money..

 

Maybe one of the reasons the Brewers seem ok with taking Igawa is that they've got somebody that they're close to signing and need to free up cash ASAP?

[JohnBriggs12]

Igawa is better than anything the Brewers had in AAA last year. He could easily turn out to be a very adequate 4th or 5th starter. If he does that, his $4 million per year will seem cheap. Some guys just need to be out of NY.

[endaround]

No that $4m won't be cheap. That's more than what Vargas cost and he was cut because of it.

[Chio151]

No that $4m won't be cheap. That's more than what Vargas cost and he was cut because of it.

True, but you are shedding the 10 million for Cam. So, aren't we still coming out with 4 million in space in the deal?

 

If Igawa is really useless, then you pull a Vargas on him.

[PilprinBuddha]

A lefty for the pen...at worst. Bring him in.

[Brian the Automator]

True, but you are shedding the 10 million for Cam. So, aren't we still coming out with 4 million in space in the deal?

Yes, but if you didn't pick Cam back up, you would have come out with 10 million in the deal...

[And That]

If Igawa is really useless, then you pull a Vargas on him.

Igawa is guaranteed $12 mil for the next three seasons. Whatever chunk of the contract the Brewers assume, they would owe him all of it.

[endaround]

If Melvin takes on Igawa at full salary its really questionable if he or Kenny Williams was the more swindled by Cashman this offseason.

[GoudaBrew]

If Melvin takes on Igawa at full salary its really questionable if he or Kenny Williams was the more swindled by Cashman this offseason.

Swindled....

 

http://pics.forecaster.ca/mlb-player/6837.gif

R.J. Swindle

[joepepsi]

Seems like they could keep Cameron and sign Daniel Cabrera for lot less than Igawa. Cabrera's just as crappy, but he throws hard and might benefit from having a pitching coach who is also from the Dominican.

[MillerParkSouth]

I really have no use for Melky Cabrera, but I'm all for trading Cameron if we can bring back some useful pitching in the deal. That said, if Kei Igawa ends up a Milwaukee Brewer I might lose it. Unless the Yanks are paying ALL of his salary, he has no place here.

[brewmann04]

I hope Melvin just keeps Mike.

[afeter]

I hope Melvin just keeps Mike.

I second this with a resounding "me too".

[Crewin06]

Normally I would tell myself that no sane GM would trade Cameron for Cabrera and take on Igawa's contract. There can't be any truth in the discusions.

 

Then I think back to last season signing Gagne, trading Estrada for Mota, and the signing of Suppan and I think to myself, Melvin has thrown a lot of good money after bad players before what is to stop him now.