Kei Igawa in Melky Deal For Mike Cameron?
By Joseph Delgrippo ~ December 11th, 2008. Filed under: Digest Contributors.
During last night’s NYBD radio show, host Mike Silva, Howard Megdal and I got into a discussion about the depth of the Yankees AAA rotation, especially if the Yankees sign another top flight free agent pitcher. I brought up that the Yankees should seek to trade Kei Igawa to a National League team, such as the Milwaukee Brewers. If the Brewers also lose Ben Sheets in free agency, they would need to fill two spots in their rotation. Somehow, I said Dave Bush wouldn’t scare me if I was a hitter.
After the NYBD show, I met a high ranking member of the Milwaukee Brewers front office. During our conversation, I mentioned my Igawa scenario, and he told me that Igawa was “on their radar, but not at the top of the pecking order.”
Here is that segment on our Igawa discussion on NYBD: NYBD Radio.
Now that we hear from Joel Sherman that a pitcher could be going to Milwaukee, along with Melky Cabrera, it makes you wonder if Igawa could be that arm.
Igawa was 14-6, with a 3.45 ERA in AAA Scranton, making 24 starts. He was also the LHP on the Triple A All-Star team, which includes the Pacific Coast League players. I feel Igawa could be a productive 5th starter type for someone like the Brewers, who won’t be around the playoffs next season. See what he can do over a full season.
Stay tuned as this develops. We have no information is that Igawa is in the deal, but what we do know is that the Brewers have interest, and financially it makes some sense. The proposed Mike Cameron/Melky Cabrera deal between the Brewers and Yankees has broken off due to the Yankees insisting the Brewers pay some of Cameron’s $10 million salary for 2009. If Yankees add someone like Kei Igawa to the Cameron – Cabrera deal, the money would become more equal and the Brewers would get a guy for their 5th spot in their rotation, while Yankees rid themselves of someone who needs a smaller market to pitch. Igawa is only owed $12 million over next 3 years, not a bad deal for a 5th starter.
UPDATE:
