No Mike Cameron may open door for Manny Ramirez to become a Yankee http://0rz.tw/275gp BY MARK FEINSAND DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Tired of waiting for the Yankees to make a move, the Brewers killed the proposed deal for Mike Cameron Wednesday, leaving a gaping hole in center field in the Bronx. Could that hole be filled indirectly by Manny Ramirez? Only time will tell. Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said Wednesday that he had yanked the Cameron deal off the negotiating table, ending the week-long saga that had led most to believe the veteran center fielder would be sent to the Bronx in exchange for Melky Cabrera and Kei Igawa. "I haven't heard from Brian Cashman and I haven't called them," Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I'm very happy having Mike Cameron with our ballclub." Cashman wouldn't comment on the talks, although he acknowledged that he had not spoken with Melvin since the end of last week's winter meetings, where the deal was first discussed. Acquiring Cameron would have locked three veterans into the starting outfield spots, but now the Yankees have the flexibility to shift Johnny Damon back to center if they were to sign Ramirez. The official stressed that the decision not to move on Cameron was "not connected" to the team's interest in Ramirez, even though it leaves a spot open for the enigmatic slugger. The Yankees continue to monitor the market for Ramirez, but teams are unlikely to begin making offers to the free agent until Mark Teixeira - a fellow Scott Boras client - signs. The Red Sox, Angels and Nationals appear to be the finalists for the first baseman, who is expected to get eight years and approximately $160 million. Hank Steinbrenner is among a group of high-ranking front office officials believed to be pushing to sign Ramirez, according to a source, while Hal Steinbrenner is in the middle. Cashman and Joe Girardi are not sold on adding a player with Ramirez's baggage, the source said, but the Yankees might not be able to resist a player of his talent if the price is right. The Yankees were looking to acquire Cameron to play center, where they currently have Cabrera and Brett Gardner penciled in to compete for the job. But the Bombers didn't believe Cameron was worth his $10 million price tag, so they asked the Brewers to either pay part of his salary or take back Igawa and pay a portion of the $12 million the lefty is owed over the next three years. That's when negotiations hit a stalemate, as Melvin began to express second thoughts about the deal. "I'm not sure if I even want to do that," Melvin said. "The deal was never necessarily done. You never know what's going to happen when you leave ideas with someone. That's the way the market is. There are a lot of things moving around out there. (The Yankees) have other options." One Yankees official said the talks were simply "not moving" anywhere with Milwaukee, adding that Melvin's declaration of the deal being dead could be seen as an attempt to push the Yankees into coming back to the table to close a deal. "Maybe he thinks we'll be upset and jump back in," the official said when informed of Melvin's comments. "We didn't think Cameron was worth $10 million - and we still don't. I guess (Melvin) finally got the message." WELCOME WAGON: The Yanks will introduce CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett today at a 1 p.m. press conference at the old Stadium. Sabathia will wear No. 52 and Burnett No. 34. POSADA'S PROGRESS: Jorge Posada continued his throwing program in Tampa Wednesday, making 75 throws from 60 feet for the first time. Posada, recovering from shoulder surgery, reported no problems. --

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