Brewers Sign Mike Cameron

by Jesse on Jan 11, 2008 4:06 PM EST in News

As likely as it was that the Twins wouldn't sign Cameron, it's one more option down.

Everyday we inch toward spring training, and everday looks a little bit more like Jason Pridie might be Minnesota's best option to start in center field. Optimistic of me, absolutely, but he's my favorite out of the options currently in the organization.

Cameron's deal is for one year, with an extra year as a club option. Financial details are as follows: $5,000,000 salary for 2008 (plus a $1,250,000 signing bonus), bringing his fiscal cost for the Brewers to $4,220,000 after he misses the first 25 games of the season. The club option for 2010 is worth an astounding $10,000,000, but carries a very palatable $750,000 buyout.

Sources

Brewers Blog: From author Tom Haudricourt, beat writer for the Journal Sentinel. Haudricourt is, in some sense, to the Brewers who LEN III is to the Twins.

MLB.com: Cameron is expected to start in center, shifting Bill Hall to third base (which he should be happy about) which boots Ryan Braun into left field.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Ugh

One year with a club option? Why weren't we involved!

SBG -- Your source for half-baked crap

by SBG on Jan 11, 2008 4:55 PM EST reply actions

yep

My thoughts exactly, SBG. Maybe the Twins didn't like him with the substance thing, or maybe they think that Pridie is a realistic option in center, or maybe the Santana sweepstakes are staying Mr. Smith's hand. Who knows? 1 year with a club option is a freakin' steal on Cameron if he can perform anywhere near projections, though.

by ravenfly on Jan 11, 2008 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

Brewers are a better option?

There's also the possibility that given similar offers, Cameron would choose the Brewers. After all, he doesn't have to plan on the turf, it's in the NL and maybe most importantly he doesn't need to worry about losing time to Cabrera/Gomez/Ellsbury should a trade go down.

by Twins Geek on Jan 11, 2008 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

That or...

...when confronted with the desire for at least an option year in some form, Bill Smith fell off his chair laughing at the idea of paying Cameron $10 million for 2009.

by Jesse on Jan 12, 2008 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

I don't see that as an issue...

I would have loved to have him.

A $750K buyout is nothing. And if Cameron really went nuts this year and had a great year, then $10 M is a bargain for 1 season.

Hell, I might have paid him close to $10 M THIS season given the market and that it's only a 1-year deal vs. committing yourself for 4-5 years. EVEN with the fact that he will miss 25 games.

by djskilbr on Jan 12, 2008 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Well...

You're definitely right about the $750K...but I wouldn't blame Smith for laughing his ass off if it had been asked for. $5 MM for one season is fine, but even if he has a good year, paying $10 MM for Cameron in his age-36 season is beyond risky. It's too much money.

Using the market argument doesn't make sense here either, because if you're willing to shell out $10 MM for a guy who is going to miss a month of the season and who's going to be lucky if his numbers replicate where they were last season, you might as well have dished out a few million more for someone like Aaron Rowand. Which the Twins weren't going to do, either.

It's smart use of money versus risk for the Twins, and it has to be balanced against team needs, who the money is being spent on and all of his specifics. I still agree that $5 MM is a good deal for the Brewers over one season, and I'll also agree that his bat probably would have fit in well in Minnesota, but Cameron is as close to a $10 MM outfielder as Silva is to a $12 MM pitcher. You can't overpay by that much for a player who's probably a hair better than league average, because the return won't be worth the extra money.

by Jesse on Jan 12, 2008 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

I can't agree, Jesse....

the difference, to me, is the years. Heck FIFTEEN million for one season of Cameron is better to me than 5 years of Rowand at $12 M.

I totally agree with the old addage; there's no such thing as a bad 1 year contract.

by djskilbr on Jan 12, 2008 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

I'll weigh in

He's still got good power and speed, but he struck out 160 times last year with a .328 OBP. That's by far his worst year of his career. And considering that he's 35 years old and will be suspended for the first third of the season, $5 million (contract plus buyout) seems a bit steep.

I still might consider it, but to me this is the final sign that the Twins will trade Santana and get a center fielder in return. If they were planning on keeping Santana, they would have signed Cameron or Lofton by now.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jan 12, 2008 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

Well, let's not forget...

ballpark as well. He was playing in Petco. I think he'll bounce back this year. $5 M is nothing in this market and is worth the risk to me.

But I agree with you; it seems certain we'll trade Johan at this point because Cameron/Lofton just make too much sense not to sign if we were keeping him.

by djskilbr on Jan 12, 2008 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

Ya, I don't like this at all..

Of FA options, we're down to Wilkerson or Lofton now, if Wilkerson can still play CF. He'd be my top choice if he can.

I don't like Patterson at all. We don't need a CF with a sub-.700 OPS. We will get more than that from Pridie.

I do wonder if a Nathan/Hall trade is more of a possibility now. Gwynn could easily play 25 games in CF for them if they keep Braun at 3b.

Just a thought. Wishful thinking I know.

by djskilbr on Jan 11, 2008 6:02 PM EST reply actions

Bill Hall

I would love to see Bill Hall here but where would he paly? Was he any good in CF last year? I read on ESPN that Hall was moving to 3rd and Braun to LF...

by Chaddens on Jan 11, 2008 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

he

was not very good in center. One of the worst in the majors.

by TMoney on Jan 11, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

He wouldn't be great...

but I think his offense would somewhat make up for that.

And plus then you have insurance for Lamb at 3b, or if Pridie pans out, then you have a GREAT super-utility guy that can play both CF and 3b, plus SS/2b in a pinch.

by djskilbr on Jan 11, 2008 10:49 PM EST reply actions

No Cameron

Cameron's not worth it, with all the clubhouse problems he brings.

Bill Hall is a nice idea. Or a trade with the Braves, who seem to have seventy-five outfield prospects who are all close to ready.

Top Baseball Prospects and Fantasy Tools at ScoutingBook.com

by scoutingbook on Jan 12, 2008 9:09 PM EST reply actions

What?!

That's so very cheap! How were the Twins not able to match.

They must have been uninterested...

Frustrating, and a strike against Smith. What are we going to do with our money? Ryan always made sure to spend it at least...

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on Jan 12, 2008 9:48 PM EST reply actions

Cameron's a hack

Why would the Twins have interest in him? He's Tony Bautista with D. At least Pridie can surprize us.

by Jallen on Jan 13, 2008 1:03 AM EST reply actions

No he's not...

He's actually pretty damn similar to Torii Hunter over their careers, especially when you factor in that he's been playing in pitcher's parks his whole career.

by djskilbr on Jan 13, 2008 1:27 AM EST reply actions