Mike Cameron

[Warning Track Power]

Give Mike Cameron the super utility role for the OF like Counsell has for the IF and I think he would thrive. Give him 200-300 ABs and the #4 OF job. Yes he still would strike out a lot, but his bat can also draw the walk and still hit the HR. It would do wonders for the bench. For all the manlove that Russell Branyan gets around here (myself included), it sure would seem that Mike Cameron would offer a very similar skillset in a backup role.

 

If Boston would do Stetter for Cameron + $5MM of his $7.25MM salary, I would jump.

[RockCoCougars]

Even though I wasnt a huge fan while he was here.....Cameron for a million or two in a part time role? I'd be all over it. For$7 million, no way- so it's not going to happen. I still find it pretty ironic that the Brewers paid Billy Hall to play for Boston last year, pretty much filling what would be an ideal role for them this season.

[HiAndTight]

Melvin has pretty much ruled out adding a salary like Cameron makes. I heard Doug on the D-List and when asked about Cameron, he said there really wasn't room in the budget to add the 7 million Cameron makes.

Do you have a link to that? I've heard just the opposite. That they have room in the budget to add some salaries. The last I've seen/heard the payroll was around 85-86 million. If so, I'd think we'd have some room to work with. Especially given the commitment they've made this year and the looming TV deal that will kick in shortly providing us with a significant boost in revenue.

[Invader3K]

My guess is any extra budget room is being saved for a possible mid-season acquisition at this point. That would fit with how they've operated under Attanasio.

[Blindcheck]

I never understood the love for Cameron...when he was at the plate, I never had any confidence that he was going to have a good at bat when we needed it.

 

His fielding was good...but he made some atrocious plays that were inconceivable to me when me made them.

[CheezWizHed]

I don't think anyone will forget the ball he missed in the playoffs, but that was the exception, not the norm. Unfortunately, it came at the wrong time.

 

When he was here the first go around, Cameron he was an above average CF; On defense and on offense. Not All-Star, but far better than we had been used to. But the thing I really liked about him was that he brought leadership. Guys like Braun, Weeks and Fielder rallied around him and listened to him. Last year, our dugout had a kind of sour feeling to it. Macha obviously contributed to it, but losing Cameron also did, IMO.

 

As for right now, Cameron on this team for $7M isn't worth it. But for a couple $M as a backup OF, yes PLEASE.

 

Last year Gomez exceeded his career numbers (which is possible again as he is still young):

247/298/357/655 (Career: 246/293/349/642)

 

Last year Cameron had injuries and was way below his career norms (which is possible again as he is older - and it really sucks to call someone younger than me "older"):

259/328/401/729 (Career: 250/340/447/787)

 

Those are big differences in OBP and SLG. But even if Cameron doesn't out-hit Gomez this year, he would be a valuable backup and strong leadership presence. And would take Kotsay's spot on the team.