USA defeats Venezuela

An eight-run sixth inning propelled the United States over Venezuela 15-6 Sunday night in Toronto. The United States advances to the next round of competition, but still has one more game left in group play, facing the loser of the Canada/Italy game on Wednesday.

Mark DeRosa and Chris Iannetta each drove in four runs, and Adam Dunn, Kevin Youkilis and Ryan Braun all homered for the Americans.

Derek Jeter entered the game in the fifth inning and went 0-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a run scored.

Melvin Mora drove in two runs for the Venezuelans, who will face the winner of the Canada/Italy game in hopes of advancing past group play.

USA defeats Canada

Home runs by Kevin Youkilis (I can't believe I have to cheer for him), Brian McCann and Adam Dunn led the way for the United States over Canada 6-5 in the first game Pool C of the World Baseball Classic. The game was played at Rogers Centre.

Derek Jeter went 2-for-3 with a double before being replaced by Jimmy Rollins. J.J. Putz got the save despite giving up two hits and an earned run in the ninth inning.

The United States will play the winner of the Venezuela/Italy game tomorrow night at 8.

AP Photo

Dodgers interested in Abreu

MLB.com's Ken Gurnick is reporting that the Dodgers will soon open talks with Bobby Abreu, and have already started talks with Adam Dunn.

Poor Abreu. Raul Ibanez essentially set the market with a three-year, $31.5 million contract earlier this month, and Abreu will probably sign a contract less than what he expected.

Meanwhile, the Mets have talked to the Dodgers about trading for Andruw Jones. Vazzano hasn't commented on this, but if I were him, I'd run far, far away.

Olney's latest on Teixeira

ESPN's Buster Olney has a good read on the Mark Teixeira negotiations. In it, he maintains the Red Sox will still eventually sign him. He also has some Yankees news in there, specifically their role in the negotiations.

The Yankees made an initial offer that was believed to be markedly less than what the other offers have been, and since then they have withdrawn that offer. They are pushing to cut their payroll in 2009, and they cannot sign Teixeira and accomplish that unless they could dump the contract of Hideki Matsui and others, in a market flush with corner outfielders. Their focus continues to be on starting pitching, and at some point they could re-engage a free agent who could come cheaply.

Focus still on starting pitching? They just spent $243.5 million on starting pitching! It's time to upgrade the offense, whether it's Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, etc.

If Andy Pettitte's return is "virtually inevitable," how much more do they need to focus on starting pitching? Think offense, folks.

Melky et al. for Cameron?

According to The Post's Joel Sherman and George King, the Brewers could be interested in trading CF Mike Cameron for Melky Cabrera. The Brewers have asked around as to why Cabrera was so awful last year, and the Yankees would be willing to trade him and pitching for the Brewers' outfielder.

The writers suggest that Wilson Betemit could also be involved, but don't name a potential pitcher. Cameron's $10 million option was picked up by the Brewers earlier this week.

Cameron, a three-time Gold Glove winner in center field, would help shore up the Yankees defense. However, he is a strikeout machine - think Adam Dunn with half the amount of walks, and thus, a much lower OPS. He batted .243/.331/.477 in 508 plate appearances last season.

If the trade is Cabrera, Betemit and a mediocre pitcher, I'd have to do the trade, simply because getting anything back for Cabrera at this point would be a victory. However, the Brewers need pitching, and I'm not sure they'd accept a mediocre pitcher in return.