Mike Cameron; Latest: One-year deal "on the verge" of happening according to ESPN and Fox

[yoshii8]

The Padres just got Edmonds and broke off talks w/ Cameron. It seems that he isn't getting much play this off-season, why not? Is it the 25 game suspension? He is still a good centerfielder, and 05' and 06' he was still very good offensively, got power, speed combo, strikes out a lot, but takes walks too. If we could get him for 1 year 6 million, or something, would you want him? I think he is a type A free agent. So that would suck, but we do already have 7 draft picks in the top 100. Then we could move Hall to 3rd, and Braun to left, and were set. Or are we?

[steve267268]

Strongly agree. He would make our defense in the outfield so much better, his bat would just be a bonus.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Cameron would be an option (although he is often hurt), I would want to explore the Blalock/Rolen option first, it's still only December so we have some time, the trade market is starting to heat up, once Santana & Bedard situations get settled that should be about it & then maybe DM can get some stuff done with our pitching.

[recte44]

How about both? Hall could go back to being a super-utility guy and/or trade bait?

[dpapo]

I think there are a couple reasons why teams are hesitant to sign Cameron. First is the 25 game suspension. Second, this is the second time he has tested positive for a banned substance. If he tests positive a third time, he would be suspended for 80 games.

[recte44]

If we're looking to add defense, there's few better well, except TGJ.

[hauser42]

If we're looking to add defense, there's few better well, except TGJ.

 

Cameron is better in CF and his bat is so much better than Anthony Gwynn.

[billyhallfan]

first off, i would love to add gwynn, but i agree, if all you want is defense, you might as well just play gwynn, and i hope that isn't what happens.

[erbacaine04]

first off, i would love to add gwynn, but i agree, if all you want is defense, you might as well just play gwynn, and i hope that isn't what happens.

 

Yeah we already have him...lol

 

2nd Cameron would be a 30 HR guy in Miller park easily....maybe even with missing the first month of the season... Our OF Defense would be great... I dont even think you need to move hall out of Center... because basically we would have 3 guys with CenterField Range roaming the OF... it would cut down alot of gappers.

 

I think Melvin is really dead set on getting a Lefty bat though.... I would be all for adding Cameron, Ibanez(through trade) and Brad Wilkerson(FA) especially if we cant get a Rolen/Blalock/ Chavez

[Jarjohm]

Haudricourt reports that the Brewers are showing interest in Cameron.

 

He seems as surprised as I am... It doesn't seem like a very good fit.

[derflotr]

Cameron is an excellent defensive CF, and can definitely hit for power...but he is the offensive opposite of what the Brewers are looking for.

 

There are worse options, I think...the bench would certainly look better, with Cameron or Lofton or any other free agent - Gross, Dillon, Counsell, Munson/Rivera, Gwynn.

 

Still a lot of pitchers left, though.

[SoCalBrewfan]

As others have pointed out, the Brewers have a flyball staff, and Cameron would help the defense quite a bit, assuming Hall returns to the infield and Braun goes to left...that's a big improvement at CF and 3B and a small decline at the much less critical position of LF. If, as it seems, the other options have dried up, Cameron would be a pretty good choice IMO. Remember that he's played in huge pitchers' parks all his career, so his numbers are less impressive than they would be in a neutral environment.

[DrWood]

I like Cameron, but he basically seems like a Jenkins who bats RH and plays CF. Oh, and steals bases. well....he strikes out a lot and has good power.

[MillerParkSouth]

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2008/01/09/signing-cameron-means-moving-or-trading-hall.aspx

 

Haudricourt now reporting that if we get Cameron, Hall will either be moved to 3B OR TRADED! I personally do not see the point in replacing Hall with Cameron if it means Hall is gone altogether. Cameron is older, more expensive and suspended for 25 games. This improves the defense a little yes, but the offense won't be nearly as good. We need to find good on base, preferably left handed hitters. Cameron is neither.

[mrwisconsin]

Tom H also said he try-ed calling Doug but couldn't get hold of him which Tom's said something is up.

[Big Reed]

hers's a different take from Fox sports. I didn't realize cameron was already 35. That makes jenkins look young. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7656588?MSNHPHMA

[logan82]

Funny He didn't suggest that Hall possibly moves to LF.

[yoshii8]

I think that Hall will move to 3rd, or they are on the verge of shipping him as the centerpiece of a deal to Baltimore for Bedard and Mora. Ok, I made that up....

 

 

 

 

 

But I do think that Hall would just be moved to 3rd. I fully support a Mike Cameron signing, especially at 2yrs/14 million or so.

[RockCoCougars]

If he wants to work cheap and play left, I'd be fine with it. Over 5 million and center field, no way. The guy is 35 years old, and his days of being a great centerfielder are probably over. Plus, he strikes out like the second coming of Jose Hernandez. I'll take my chances with Hall out there instead.

 

 

 

In the end, I think things would have been better if they had just picked up Jenkins' contract. I would much rather have him then Cameron at this point. I'm starting to like this offseason less and less. They are picking up too many old and injury riddled guys, and have really done nothing to upgrade the depth of the team. I liked Joe Dillon as much as anyone else, but I don't want to see him play 120 games next year, which I fear is going to happen.

 

 

 

The only moves that I got excited about were the dumpings of Mench and Estrada.

[Jarjohm]

Perhaps the Brewers have been talking with L.A. again about Andre Ethier? If I remember right, Melvin confirmed that the Dodgers and Brewers had discussed trades involving Bill Hall and also that the Brewers were interested in Ethier. Ethier is a left-handed hitting outfielder that could slide into left with Cameron in center and Hart in right. Ethier also does not appear to have a starting spot with the Dodgers right now despite putting up pretty solid numbers in just his second season last year:

 

Ethier - 447 AB, 50 R, 13 HR, 64 RBI, 46 BB, 68 K, 0 SB, .284 BA, .351 OBP

 

I'd hate to trade Hall now because his value is lower than it should be due to his down season last year, but adding Ethier and Cameron is somewhat intriguing (even though it wouldn't address the defensive concerns at third). Cameron and Hall actually had very similar seasons last year, except Cameron provides a stolen base threat and is a superior defender though he is significantly older and could begin to regress:

 

Hall-------452 AB, 59 R, 14 HR, 63 RBI, 40 BB, 128 K, 4 SB, .254 BA, .315 OBP

Cameron-571 AB, 88 R, 21 HR, 78 RBI, 67 BB, 160 K, 18 SB, .242 BA, .328 OBP

 

Maybe Melvin feels Hall's 2007 season will be a lot closer to his production level than his 2006 season. If so, Ethier would be a nice addition for Hall, especially when you consider Ethier is a few years younger and cheaper. An outfield of Ethier/Cameron/Hart should be more productive and better defensively than a Gross+Dillon/Hall/Hart outfield.

 

Also, if Cameron is signed to a year or two deal, he could be replaced in center by Hart when his contract expires with Ethier and LaPorta manning the corners if LaPorta advances through the minors as expected.

 

 

EDITED: Corrected Cameron's 2007 statistics

[TheBrewer]

For me right off the bat this makes me questions the Brewers agenda. Cameron equals Billy Hall in a different way. Hall improved significantly as the season went on with his D and Id imagine that Cameron is only a few steps ahead of him in D if Hall were to play CF for the Brewers this year. With that said, Cameron is a few steps ahead of Hall, and can steal bases. With that said he's 35 years old compared to Hall's age of what 28/29? Hall has a nice affordable contract I beleive, correct me if I'm wrong, while Cameron might take 5-7 million. When it's all said and done I think they'd be equal IMO.

 

 

 

I'll try not to complain about their off-season until all the dust settles and it's Opening Day, but right now I'm not the biggest fan of their off-season so far. I have to given Melvin and Co the pass on things right now because they've done a great job with this club up until now so I won't complain until I see maybe the bigger picture?? or not pass judgement until everything is finished??

[sbrylski]

Very interesting. Its just nice to see some legit Brewers news.

 

Given that Mike Cameron essentially equals Bill Hall's value and profile as a CF, I think this suggests Hall would be traded rather than moved to 3B - it makes a lot more sense anyway. I'd go as far to assume we already have serious discussions in the works or a trade near completion, and Cameron is the fill for the hole created. Given that Hall can be considered a SS solution to other teams and we can give a decent SP along with him, I would be very excited to see what we would be getting for him. It would definitely be selling low on both Hall (and maybe a SP) though.

 

However, in the end, I'll put five imaginary dollars on Hall being on the opening day roster and Cameron NOT in a Brewer uniform. Probably just one of the multiple things going on behind the scenes that TH got wind of.

 

EDIT: Reading through the comments on the blog post, remember than even if getting Cameron and trading Hall is a downgrade in CF - we are getting something for Hall that would hopefully upgrade 3B and LF at the same time to outweigh it and improve the club overall, now and in the future, hopefully. A lot of those posters there didn't seem to get that.

 

And for fun:

 2008 2009
2B Weeks 2B Weeks
3B Teahen* 3B Teahen*
LF Braun RF Braun
1B Fielder 1B Fielder
RF Hart CF Hart
CF Cameron LF LaPorta
SS Hardy SS Hardy
C Kendall 

[treego]

Ugghhh! Signing a guy who won't even play the first month because he's a convicted cheater who is on the downside of his career at 35 years of age more than likely now?

 

 

 

Bill Hall has more potential and ability than Mike Cameron for now and the future. Don't do it, Doug!

[TheBrewer]

Take it for what it's worth, but MLB4U.com is saying that Cameron could command a deal around 3-4 years at 10-12 million a year.

 

"The Padres tried to work out a 2-year, $20M extension with him early in the season, but talks failed to reach an accord when he asked for 3 years, $36M. "

 

I figured if he made made 7 million last season, and is out the first 25 games of 08', his price might drop per season or at least stay the same.. not increase. He really doesn't warrant that type of money IMO what so ever. If Melvin does even a 2yr/20 million for him I'd be upset, I'd rather have Jenkins who is younger and cant steal bases for his 9 million dollar option that we couldve picked up instead of that. Thats just wrong IMO for a guy to get 10 million+ a year because he can play good D and hit .250/20HR/20SB and who's 35+ years old.

 

I heard someone say that he's a Class A FA also.. so aside from paying him it sounds like at least 20 million over 2 years we'd have to give up a pick to the Padres

[Oldcity]

I'm not too crazy about this, and if it were more than a two year deal I would definitely dislike it a lot. Cameron in center, Hall in third and Braun in left would go a long way to improve the defense, but it isn't wise to give a 35 year old a long-term deal. Especially one with a low OBP and a steroid suspension.