Decision makers in The Bronx and Pittsburgh said yesterday there was nothing to the Yankees acquiring outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates – yet.
“We haven’t talked about it, it’s premature,” a Yankees source said.
“Haven’t heard a word about that,” a Pirates source said.
Pirates GM Neal Huntington has declared nobody is untouchable, and the Pirates are looking to upgrade a poor minor league system and major league talent base, so McLouth’s name has been tossed around. The Yankees are in the market for a center fielder.
Though some believe the left-handed hitting McLouth isn’t a true center fielder. The first-time All-Star batted .276 this year with 26 homers and 94 RBIs. McLouth, 27 later this month, was 23-for-26 in stolen base attempts and had a .356 on-base percentage.
After trading outfielders Jason Bay to Boston and Xavier Nady to the Yankees, respectively, the Pirates would want a lot for McLouth, who isn’t yet eligible for arbitration and made $450,000 this past season.
Another option in center for the Yankees – who haven’t ruled out Johnny Damon, Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera – is Milwaukee’s Mike Cameron, a former Met.
The Brewers have a $10 million option on Cameron, who will be 36 in January and had the Yankees interested last offseason. There is a $750,000 buyout. It’s not likely the Brewers will pay that after losing pitchers Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia via free agency.
Cameron, a three-time Gold Glove winner who made $7 million this year, batted .243 with 25 homers and 70 RBIs after being suspended for the first 25 games for violating MLB’s stimulant policy.