MLB

YANKS EYE CAMERON; COULD MOVE CABRERA

The Yankees have inquired about the availability of Mike Cameron and the Brewers are weighing whether to deal the center fielder.

Brewers officials have been asking around about Melky Cabrera, trying to determine why he struggled in 2008. The Yankees are willing to deal Cabrera and pitching to land Cameron.

Earlier this week the Brewers picked up the $10 million 2009 option on Cameron. Nevertheless, Milwaukee believes its lineup is too right-handed plus it needs pitching. Cabrera’s numbers as a lefty were not great (.267 with a .361 slugging percentage), but were far better than his stats as a righty. The Yanks also have talked to several teams about Wilson Betemit, another switch-hitter like Cabrera who is superior from the left side.

Cabrera, Betemit and a pitcher is probably a package – combined with the savings Milwaukee would receive from moving Cameron’s contract – that the Yanks would be willing to move for Cameron.

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In order to keep all options open Mike Mussina was one of four Yankees to file for free agency yesterday. Mussina, who strongly has hinted to friends and Yankees staff members that he will retire after his first 20-win season, joined Jason Giambi, Carl Pavano and Damaso Marte in filing.

Mussina’s rep, Arn Tellem, also Giambi’s agent, said his client still had not made up his mind on retirement.

“He wants to make a decision sooner than later,” Tellem said. “But this is a life decision. He is weighing his options, so I will not rush it.”

Regarding Giambi’s future, Tellem said the first baseman/DH “hopes there is still an opportunity when all is said and done to stay a Yankee.”

The only way that might occur is if the Yanks can open the DH role by trading Hideki Matsui. Marte, a left-handed reliever who has a $6 million option ($250,000 buyout) in play, filed as a provisional in the event the Yankees don’t pick it up. They aren’t expected to but have said they are willing to talk about a multi-year deal.

Giambi and Pavano were informed Tuesday the Yankees weren’t picking up their options.

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The possibility of Giambi going to the A’s increased because Oakland re-hired Giambi’s buddy, Bobby Alejo, as strength and conditioning coach. Alejo previously held the position from 1993-2001 before following Giambi to the Yanks.

Alejo was Giambi’s trainer during the period of the slugger’s admitted steroid use. Nevertheless, Oakland GM Billy Beane said the club did its “due diligence” in vetting Alejo, who was not implicated in either the BALCO investigation or the Mitchell Report. Beane also said the organization was proactive in telling MLB of its intentions a month before the hiring.

MLB officials do not like the bad appearances associated with Alejo’s return to baseball, but ultimately those officials said they had no proof of wrongdoing and cannot dictate to organizations who can and can’t be hired.

As for hiring Alejo to recruit Giambi back to Oakland, Beane said, “This has zero to do with that. If that was all that was necessary to bring in top free agents, I would hire 15 strength and conditioning guys.”

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As The Post reported yesterday, the Yanks are going to promote minor league infield instructor Mick Kelleher to major league first base coach. One reason is Kelleher’s strong relationship with Robinson Cano. But Kelleher also has strong ties with Alex Rodriguez.

The two bonded in the pre-spring training workouts that A-Rod likes to do at third base. Rodriguez, a baseball gym rat, does not dole out compliments easily, yet he has deep respect for Kelleher’s baseball knowledge, work ethic and positive nature.