LAS VEGAS -- A proposed swap of center fielders between the Yankees and Brewers was on hold Thursday because of financial issues, and an official for one of the clubs said it probably would not be completed before Milwaukee's contingent left the Winter Meetings.
The framework for the deal was set six weeks ago at the General Managers Meetings in California: The Yankees would upgrade with Gold Glove-winner Mike Cameron, who turns 36 next month and is a free agent again after the 2009 season, and the Brewers would get an affordable left-handed bat in 24-year-old switch-hitter Melky Cabrera.
The Brewers could also seek Yankees pitching if the deal were expanded to include other players, but the sticking point Thursday was the money involved. Cameron is due $10 million in 2009 while Cabrera is just entering his arbitration years, and the Yankees are asking the Brewers to pick up some of Cameron's salary. After losing the CC Sabathia sweepstakes, the Brewers balked at that request.
One Milwaukee official characterized talks as only "delayed," and expected them to pick up later. But progress was not likely on Thursday because Yankees GM Brian Cashman left the Bellagio on Thursday morning to travel back to New York. Doug Melvin's Brewers contingent was scheduled to leave later in the day.
The Brewers would be downgrading defensively from Cameron with Cabrera, but they are confident that he would work in center field. He's coming off a poor year that included a demotion to the Yankees' Triple-A club, and Cabrera finished the year hitting .249 with a .301 on-base percentage, eight home runs and 37 RBIs.
Cameron missed the first month of Milwaukee's season because of a suspension, but contributed 25 home runs, 70 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He also led the Brewers with 142 strikeouts while hitting .243.
