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NEW YORK -- Melky Cabrera's uncertain future has not affected his play in the Dominican Winter League, where the Yankees outfielder is continuing to sharpen his skills for next season.
Included by the Yankees in recent discussions concerning a potential trade for the Brewers' Mike Cameron, the 23-year-old Cabrera is batting .304 (21-for-69) with 14 runs scored and seven RBIs in 18 games for Las Aguilas Cibeanas.
The organization has said that, barring another move, Cabrera will be in competition to become the Opening Day center fielder for the second consecutive season. There is a long way to go between December and April, however.
Talks with the Brewers have cooled considerably since the Winter Meetings, with one baseball source saying that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had not spoken to his Milwaukee counterpart, Doug Melvin, for days.
That may not prompt a sigh of relief for Cabrera, however, as he may have to ward off more than challenger Brett Gardner in Spring Training. The Yankees remain interested on some level in acquiring Manny Ramirez, which would push Johnny Damon into center field and relegate Cabrera to a fourth outfielder at best.
In the meantime, all Cabrera can continue to do is ready for the challenges ahead. Sent to the Minor Leagues in August to work on his selectivity and baserunning, Cabrera has stroked five doubles and worked nine walks (two intentional), while stealing a pair of bases.
Here is a look at how other Yankees prospects are doing in the winter leagues:
Dominican Winter League
LHP Wilkins Arias: Arias has relieved in 16 games for Las Aguilas Cibeanas and is 0-1 with a 12.66 ERA. He has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) and 16 hits in 10 2/3 innings, walking seven and striking out 12.
2B Robinson Cano: Playing with Las Estrellas de Oriente, Cano is batting .310 (18-for-58) with 14 runs, seven doubles and 12 RBIs in 14 games. Cano has struck out just three times in his 58 at-bats.
RHP Oneli Perez: A June waiver-claim acquisition from the Indians, Perez has a 4.05 ERA and six saves in seven tries over 14 appearances for Tigres del Licey. He has allowed six earned runs and 15 hits in 13 1/3 innings, walking seven and striking out 14.
RHP Amaury Sanit: Sanit has a 5.19 ERA in seven relief appearances for Tigres del Licey, allowing five runs on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. He has walked three and struck out seven.
Puerto Rican Winter League
RHP Ian Kennedy: Playing for Los Indios de Mayaguez, Kennedy is 2-2 with a 1.56 ERA in six starts. He ranks first in the PWL in ERA and is tied for fourth with 31 strikeouts. Kennedy recorded his first career shutout on Nov. 30 at Los Lobos de Arecibo, striking out seven while allowing three hits and a walk. Kennedy has recorded at least five strikeouts and allowed three hits or less in four of his six starts.
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo: Returning from a stress fracture in his pitching elbow, Albaladejo has not allowed a run in 14 innings with Los Indios de Mayaguez and is tied for first in the PWL with nine saves in 10 chances. He has given up nine hits and a walk, with nine strikeouts.
Venezuelan Winter League
C Francisco Cervelli: New York's most big league-ready catching prospect, Cervelli is hitting .256 (11-for-43) with a home run, seven doubles and eight runs scored in 20 games for Cardenales de Lara. Cervelli played 21 games at Double-A Trenton before making it into three games with the Yankees in September.
IF Edwar Gonzalez: Through 22 games for Cardenales de Lara, Gonzalez is batting .345 (19-for-55) with one triple, two home runs and nine RBIs.
IF Carlos Mendoza: Mendoza has four hits in 11 at-bats (.364) for Cardenales de Lara, having appeared in 16 games and logging an RBI and walk, striking out four times.
LHP Edgar Soto: Pitching twice for Aguilas del Zulia, Soto has allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings, posting a 27.00 ERA.
Mexican Pacific League
INF Walter Ibarra: Through 34 games, Ibarra is batting .197 (14-for-71) with two RBIs and three runs scored for Naranjeros de Hermosillo.
INF Ramiro Pena: Pena is batting .266 (25-for-94) with 11 runs scored, three doubles, one homer and seven RBIs in 27 games for Tomateros de Culiacan.
Included by the Yankees in recent discussions concerning a potential trade for the Brewers' Mike Cameron, the 23-year-old Cabrera is batting .304 (21-for-69) with 14 runs scored and seven RBIs in 18 games for Las Aguilas Cibeanas.
The organization has said that, barring another move, Cabrera will be in competition to become the Opening Day center fielder for the second consecutive season. There is a long way to go between December and April, however.
Talks with the Brewers have cooled considerably since the Winter Meetings, with one baseball source saying that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had not spoken to his Milwaukee counterpart, Doug Melvin, for days.
That may not prompt a sigh of relief for Cabrera, however, as he may have to ward off more than challenger Brett Gardner in Spring Training. The Yankees remain interested on some level in acquiring Manny Ramirez, which would push Johnny Damon into center field and relegate Cabrera to a fourth outfielder at best.
In the meantime, all Cabrera can continue to do is ready for the challenges ahead. Sent to the Minor Leagues in August to work on his selectivity and baserunning, Cabrera has stroked five doubles and worked nine walks (two intentional), while stealing a pair of bases.
Here is a look at how other Yankees prospects are doing in the winter leagues:
Dominican Winter League
LHP Wilkins Arias: Arias has relieved in 16 games for Las Aguilas Cibeanas and is 0-1 with a 12.66 ERA. He has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) and 16 hits in 10 2/3 innings, walking seven and striking out 12.
2B Robinson Cano: Playing with Las Estrellas de Oriente, Cano is batting .310 (18-for-58) with 14 runs, seven doubles and 12 RBIs in 14 games. Cano has struck out just three times in his 58 at-bats.
RHP Oneli Perez: A June waiver-claim acquisition from the Indians, Perez has a 4.05 ERA and six saves in seven tries over 14 appearances for Tigres del Licey. He has allowed six earned runs and 15 hits in 13 1/3 innings, walking seven and striking out 14.
RHP Amaury Sanit: Sanit has a 5.19 ERA in seven relief appearances for Tigres del Licey, allowing five runs on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. He has walked three and struck out seven.
Puerto Rican Winter League
RHP Ian Kennedy: Playing for Los Indios de Mayaguez, Kennedy is 2-2 with a 1.56 ERA in six starts. He ranks first in the PWL in ERA and is tied for fourth with 31 strikeouts. Kennedy recorded his first career shutout on Nov. 30 at Los Lobos de Arecibo, striking out seven while allowing three hits and a walk. Kennedy has recorded at least five strikeouts and allowed three hits or less in four of his six starts.
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo: Returning from a stress fracture in his pitching elbow, Albaladejo has not allowed a run in 14 innings with Los Indios de Mayaguez and is tied for first in the PWL with nine saves in 10 chances. He has given up nine hits and a walk, with nine strikeouts.
Venezuelan Winter League
C Francisco Cervelli: New York's most big league-ready catching prospect, Cervelli is hitting .256 (11-for-43) with a home run, seven doubles and eight runs scored in 20 games for Cardenales de Lara. Cervelli played 21 games at Double-A Trenton before making it into three games with the Yankees in September.
IF Edwar Gonzalez: Through 22 games for Cardenales de Lara, Gonzalez is batting .345 (19-for-55) with one triple, two home runs and nine RBIs.
IF Carlos Mendoza: Mendoza has four hits in 11 at-bats (.364) for Cardenales de Lara, having appeared in 16 games and logging an RBI and walk, striking out four times.
LHP Edgar Soto: Pitching twice for Aguilas del Zulia, Soto has allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings, posting a 27.00 ERA.
Mexican Pacific League
INF Walter Ibarra: Through 34 games, Ibarra is batting .197 (14-for-71) with two RBIs and three runs scored for Naranjeros de Hermosillo.
INF Ramiro Pena: Pena is batting .266 (25-for-94) with 11 runs scored, three doubles, one homer and seven RBIs in 27 games for Tomateros de Culiacan.
