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

[trwi7]

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

 

He's a Class B FA so we don't have to worry about that.

[ILuvDaBush]

Yeah, there are no more class A FAs.

[RU Rah Rah]

It's not as though I think Cameron is a stiff, or that I'm dead set against dealing Billy Hall, but I'm not sure how I feel about this particular set of circumstances. I suppose putting him in CF, Billy at 3B, and Braun in LF would be ok, especially defensively, but you have to wonder what would happen over the long haul. Would the team go through this same business two years from now?

 

And I agree with one of the comments above re: Jenkins. If Billy is going to move to 3B and Braun to LF, the Brewers could have picked up Jenks' option, put him in RF, and moved Corey over to CF. (Right? All of this potential shuffling has got me confused already.)

[aracko]

Cameron is better then Jenkins though. He is a THREE time Gold Glove award Winner.

 

 

 

I know the clutch thing is not very big around here but to others like me its a factor. Since 2005 he leads CFs in BA with RISP - .302. and Slugging % at .554.

 

 

 

The biggest factor in Camerons favor and the reason I think he will be an excellent fit is because 8 of the last 9 seasons Cameron has averaged more than FOUR pitches per plate appearance.

 

 

 

Its hard to teach old dogs new tricks but if there was a way for him to cut his strikeouts, he would be a star player.

 

 

 

Bill Halls Range factor was quite high last year if I am not mistaken. And Camerons was down last year but over his career it has been near the top. Cameron can play LF.

 

 

 

I think that putting Cameron in LF(7th in Range Factor) , Keepign Hall in CF(4th in Range Factor) and Hart in RF (1st in Range Factor) makres our outfield pretty great defensively.

 

 

 

His numbers at Miller Park - although limited sample have been downright awesome.

 

 

 

I think that the plan at this point is to add a Outfielder. If Braun is moving he should be working already and we would have heard by now. I think Braun is capable of it and would be a good outfielder, but I dont think it is happening this year.

[Brian the Automator]

One of the interesting things here is that even though Cameron had a down year, his OPS away from Petco field was still .790. To me, it all depends on how much money he's willing to play for. The defensive upgrade would be immediate and drastic, and Hall's been a bit of a question mark as to whether he could bounce back or not.

 

 

 

The lack of OBP is the major wart here (as well as the 25 games he won't be playing right off the bat), but if the dollars were right and it led to a move that would shore things up even more, I'd be for it.

[aracko]

Cameron Missing 25 games is almost a plus. 25 games into the season its going to be like swinging a trade for a major player, but not losing anything from your roster. Thats how I am looking at the suspension. It really puts it in a different light.

[trwi7]

but you have to wonder what would happen over the long haul. Would the team go through this same business two years from now?

 

Not really. You sign Cameron for a couple years and then LaPorta is most likely ready. By that time Braun is used to the OF and could probably make the switch moving LaPorta to LF, Hart to CF and Braun to RF with Hall still at 3B.

[MillerParkSouth]

If we sign a 35 year old, strike-out prone, twice caught roiding outfielder $10mm/year for multiple years and trade Hall, I will freak out. I agree with the other poster that said at that point, we may as well just have picked up Jenks' option.

[Brian the Automator]

If we sign a 35 year old, strike-out prone, twice caught roiding outfielder $10mm/year for multiple years and trade Hall, I will freak out. I agree with the other poster that said at that point, we may as well just have picked up Jenks' option.

Cameron never got busted for steroids, it was for amphetamines.

 

[Hammer]

Wow, Brian with some damage control already. Does this mean that you know more about this signing than the rest of us?

[JohnBriggs12]

If this means the Brewers end up with Eithier, I'm okay with it. I hate to see Hall go as he's been a favorite of mine but that's baseball. Cameron gives solid D in CF, and should match at minimum the numbers Hall put up last year. They could get by for 25 games by platooning Gwynn or Gross with Kapler.

 

 

 

Eithier will just turn 26 in April so he's more than 2 years younger than Hall and just reaching his prime. He also is the type of hitter that balances out a lineup of right handed power. In effect the 08 OF will subtract 2 big strikeout guys, one righthanded and one lefthanded and add one big strikeout guy and one contact hitter. Since Eithier is pre arby, and Cameron shouldn't cost more than $5 million per year or roughly equal to Hall's 08 salary, they are also saving the difference between Jenkins' and Eithier's salary.

 

 

 

They have also set themselves up to do some platooning with Eithier (with Kapler or Dillon) and with Cameron (with Gwynn or Gross).

[Brian the Automator]

Wow, Brian with some damage control already. Does this mean that you know more about this signing than the rest of us?

Nope, I just think that given the right price, Cameron could be a plus for the team. My only point about the "damage control" over the drug suspension was that there's a difference between steroids and stimulants. I think that a possible production dropoff from a banned stimulant wouldn't be as bad as a dropoff from a steroid.

 

[endaround]

Another failed test though and its 40 games more. And the 25 games is huge. Thats an extra 125 PAs for TGJ. Thats bad.

 

 

 

And unless Hall is moving to 3B, this really doesn't do that much.

[MillerParkSouth]

My bad on the steroids vs. amphetamines, but like endaround just mentioned, one more failed test would equal a very lenghty suspension. I just see Hall to Cameron as a lateral, riskier move, regardless of what we might be able to get for Hall.

[Fatter than Joey]

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.

 

 

 

You may be right -- I would hate for the Brewers to get a hometown discount from Hall, and then trade him.

[JohnBriggs12]

My bad on the steroids vs. amphetamines, but like endaround just mentioned, one more failed test would equal a very lenghty suspension. I just see Hall to Cameron as a lateral, riskier move, regardless of what we might be able to get for Hall.

 

Doing nothing might be the biggest risk. Hall has a lot of value in the market place. Any team needing an OF, 3B, SS, 2B could have interest in him. He's worth more if you add him to one of the 3 expendable arms. This is a real opportunity to improve the team for 08 and even bolster the system.

[Brian the Automator]

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.

 

You may be right -- I would hate for the Brewers to get a hometown discount from Hall, and then trade him.

I don't think they really got a hometown discount on Hall. It was your basic buy out arby years and get a year of FA deal.

As far as the move from Hall to Cameron in CF, Cameron's had the same types of offensive numbers longer, and the defensive differences are staggering. If Hall can be flipped to get another needed piece, I'm all for it.

 

[Fatter than Joey]

As far as the move from Hall to Cameron in CF, Cameron's had the same types of offensive numbers longer, and the defensive differences are staggering. If Hall can be flipped to get another needed piece, I'm all for it.

 

 

 

I'm for putting Hall at 3b and Cameron in CF. As far as trading Hall, I suppose it depends on what we getz.

[hauser42]

Mike Cameron is above Hall when it comes to playing CF. He played in one of the biggest outfields last year and did a great job, now he would move to a smaller park and make more plays. Hall has a ways to go when it comes to getting to gold glove play.

 

 

Bill Hall has had one season of top level of production and most likely never come close to it again. He proved last year he was a free swinger that hit HRs or struckout. Hall might be better at 3B than Braun right now, but Braun still has a chance to get to Hall's level when it come to playing defense there.

[JohnBriggs12]

I honestly don't think Melvin pulls the trigger on Cameron without being certain he'll get what he wants for Hall. I don't think for a second he plans to move Hall to third after signing Cameron. If it were Lofton, maybe, but not Cameron. The defense would be fine, but the lineup would be too righthanded, too strikeout prone, and still lacking in a higher on base guy to fit the 2 hole.

[aracko]

Honestly guys Cameron in LF Hall in CF and Hart in RF would be amazing defensively. As I stated earlier all are near the top of the league in Range Factor. Balls hit to the Gaps would be few and far between.

[JohnBriggs12]

The Angels are another team that would figure to have interest in Hall but as a SS.

 

Chone Figgins would look good in a Brewer uniform and at the top of the order. The Angels would then go after Rolen or Crede for 3B, and play Hall at SS.

[brewmann04]

I would be real curious to see what Melvin can get for Hall.

 

Right now it very fun to speculate .

[twobrewers]

The biggest factor in Camerons favor and the reason I think he will be an excellent fit is because 8 of the last 9 seasons Cameron has averaged more than FOUR pitches per plate appearance.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It takes at least 3 pitches to strike out. I would much rather have a player who can put the ball in play.

 

Cameron on a reasonable 2 year deal, (like 5 Million per) and moving Hall to 3B is ok with me. (If we are spending money, our goal should be to move Braun off of 3B)

 

Trading Hall or moving Hall to LF is not an option I want to explore.

[RU Rah Rah]

Cameron on a reasonable 2 year deal, (like 5 Million per) and moving Hall to 3B is ok with me.

But we're talking about double that, right? It's going to be more like $10 million per year for . . . great defense, a zillion K's, low OBP, maybe 20 HR, and a 25-game suspension. I'm still not really excited about that.