Showing posts with label Cameron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cameron. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Mike Cameron press conference
If you would like to get the audio of the Mike Cameron press conference, here it is.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Mike Cameron signing becomes official
Mike Cameron passed his physical as expected today, and the deal has become official. He will be playing center field for the Brewers, and Hall will be moved to 3B and Braun to LF.
Tom Haudricourt has some more statistical insight for this signing:
$1.25 million signing bonus plus $5 million salary in 2008. Incentive bonuses: $175,000 for 325 plate appearances and 375 PAs. $200,000 for 425 PAs and 475 PAs. Club option for 2009 for $10 million with $750,000 buyout. Incentive bonuses: $175,000 for 425 PAs and 475 PAs; $200,000 for 525 PAs and 575 PAs. Limited no trade.
This is a bit misleading, however, because Cameron will not be paid during his 25-game suspension to start the year. He won't make his full $7M. Interestingly enough, Haudricourt comments that Cameron has the same statistical rankings as Andruw Jones, yet the Brewers only paid one-year $7M for Cameron...as opposed to a 2-year $36M contract Jones signed with the Dodgers. If nothing else, it seems that Melvin got quite the deal in that aspect of the free agent market.
The statistical breakdowns of Cameron is starting to make me come around on this deal a little bit, I must admit. If you look at Cameron's stats in NL Central ballparks in the last 3 years, he has been very solid (thanks to Milwaukee JS for this):
Cameron is 12-for-35 (.343) at Miller Park with four home runs and 12 RBI. His on-base average in Milwaukee in the last three years is .452. Much higher than it was at the pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
Tom Haudricourt has some more statistical insight for this signing:
$1.25 million signing bonus plus $5 million salary in 2008. Incentive bonuses: $175,000 for 325 plate appearances and 375 PAs. $200,000 for 425 PAs and 475 PAs. Club option for 2009 for $10 million with $750,000 buyout. Incentive bonuses: $175,000 for 425 PAs and 475 PAs; $200,000 for 525 PAs and 575 PAs. Limited no trade.
This is a bit misleading, however, because Cameron will not be paid during his 25-game suspension to start the year. He won't make his full $7M. Interestingly enough, Haudricourt comments that Cameron has the same statistical rankings as Andruw Jones, yet the Brewers only paid one-year $7M for Cameron...as opposed to a 2-year $36M contract Jones signed with the Dodgers. If nothing else, it seems that Melvin got quite the deal in that aspect of the free agent market.
The statistical breakdowns of Cameron is starting to make me come around on this deal a little bit, I must admit. If you look at Cameron's stats in NL Central ballparks in the last 3 years, he has been very solid (thanks to Milwaukee JS for this):
Cameron is 12-for-35 (.343) at Miller Park with four home runs and 12 RBI. His on-base average in Milwaukee in the last three years is .452. Much higher than it was at the pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
PNC Park -- .351 (13-for 37), 2 HR, 9 RBI, .415 OBA
Minute Maid Park -- .340 (16-for 47), 3 HR, 12 RBI, .360 OBA
Wrigley Field -- ..306 (11-for 36), 2 HR, 4 RBI, .375 OBA.
Great American Ballpark -- .217 (5-for-23), 0 HR, 2 RBI, .391 OBA.
This is all great besides the Great American Ballpark, but Cincinnati boasts one of the leagues best hitters' parks. Cameron can easily change those stats there this year.
All in all, this signing is starting to make sense when you start to figure in the statistical facts that Melvin had to work with. Pair these stats with his fine defensive skills, and this signing could work out much better than the majority of us originally thought.Saturday, January 12, 2008
Rumblings on the Cameron signing
Buster Olney and Tom Haudricourt give us a couple interesting reactions from Ryan Braun and Bill Hall about the Mike Cameron signing.
Braun is very open to moving to LF for the Brewers. "I'm excited about it," Braun said. "It's in my best interests and in the best interests of the team. Whatever makes us better, I'm all for it. There's no question it's the right move." This is the talk of a quintessential team-player. The type of player that the Brewers have fought to include on their club.
Hall, on the other hand, is not overly excited about moving positions again. "I think every player likes to look out for himself at some point," said Hall. "You want to protect your dignity a little bit." He is talking about the fact that he has been bounced around, while he has been told that he will not be. I can understand this. At the same time, he is getting paid to be a part of the Brewers, so I'm not sure he has the leverage (especially after a down year) to be demanding a certain position.
Olney wonders if the Dodgers might revisit trade talks surrounding Bill Hall. This seems like a possibility because of Hall's discontentment, but Hall would still have to be a 3B in Los Angeles. Hall would really have to want to leave Milwaukee for that trade to be enacted, I think. I don't know what we would get anyway. Hall, Vargas, and a prospect for Andre Ethier and keep Braun at 3B? I just don't see that much swapping happening. Then again...I didn't see Melvin making a move to switch both Hall and Braun's positions.
Braun is very open to moving to LF for the Brewers. "I'm excited about it," Braun said. "It's in my best interests and in the best interests of the team. Whatever makes us better, I'm all for it. There's no question it's the right move." This is the talk of a quintessential team-player. The type of player that the Brewers have fought to include on their club.
Hall, on the other hand, is not overly excited about moving positions again. "I think every player likes to look out for himself at some point," said Hall. "You want to protect your dignity a little bit." He is talking about the fact that he has been bounced around, while he has been told that he will not be. I can understand this. At the same time, he is getting paid to be a part of the Brewers, so I'm not sure he has the leverage (especially after a down year) to be demanding a certain position.
Olney wonders if the Dodgers might revisit trade talks surrounding Bill Hall. This seems like a possibility because of Hall's discontentment, but Hall would still have to be a 3B in Los Angeles. Hall would really have to want to leave Milwaukee for that trade to be enacted, I think. I don't know what we would get anyway. Hall, Vargas, and a prospect for Andre Ethier and keep Braun at 3B? I just don't see that much swapping happening. Then again...I didn't see Melvin making a move to switch both Hall and Braun's positions.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Cameron now a Brewer
UPDATE 01-11-08 7:02 PM - Alright folks, here's what I've got for you on the Mike Cameron signing. He will be getting a $1.25M signing bonus, along with a $5M salary for 2008. What's more is that he will not be getting paid for the 25 games for which he will be suspended for taking a banned stimulant. That comes out to $4.22M plus the signing bonus. That is much less than the $7M that he made last year with the Padres. The Brewers also hold a $10M club-option for 2009, with a $750,000 buyout.
Haudricourt also said that this move is not a precursor to any other type of trade concerning Bill Hall. Hall will be moving to 3B and Braun will be moving to LF. Both players have been informed of this move.
This move should help the Crew's defense a lot next year. Cameron is a 3-time Gold Glove winner, Bill Hall plays a very good 3B, and hopefully Braun will be solid in the corner outfield spot. I'm still wary about Cameron's lack of plate discipline and the fact that he is another right-handed batter. The Brewers' lineup his almost exclusively right-handed (except Prince Fielder), which may be an issue down the road. This move could work out, however, so I'm kind of in "let's wait and see" mode.
If there's anything else you'd like to know about the signing, let me know, and I'll get that information back to you!
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Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports and Tom Haudricourt report that Mike Cameron has signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers today, along with a club-option for 2009. The dollar amount is unknown, but he did earn $7M with the Padres last year. The deal is pending a physical.
As I've said before, Cameron hit .242 with 21 homers and 78 RBIs for the Padres last season. Rosenthal believes that these numbers will go up because Cameron has always played in a pitcher's park (like Petco last year). He has a career .251 BA along with a .341 on-base percentage. That is not great by any stretch of the imagination, but Rosenthal points out that it is above-average for a center fielder. Rosenthal also points out that this move to a midwest team will lessen the travel for the veteran, who is now 35 years old.
Of course, the Brewers do have to deal with the 25-game suspension he will face to begin the year. Let's hope that the salary reflects that ban somewhat. I'm going to do a little more research on the signing before I post my opinion on that matter. Until then, however, you all post what you think!
Haudricourt also said that this move is not a precursor to any other type of trade concerning Bill Hall. Hall will be moving to 3B and Braun will be moving to LF. Both players have been informed of this move.
This move should help the Crew's defense a lot next year. Cameron is a 3-time Gold Glove winner, Bill Hall plays a very good 3B, and hopefully Braun will be solid in the corner outfield spot. I'm still wary about Cameron's lack of plate discipline and the fact that he is another right-handed batter. The Brewers' lineup his almost exclusively right-handed (except Prince Fielder), which may be an issue down the road. This move could work out, however, so I'm kind of in "let's wait and see" mode.
If there's anything else you'd like to know about the signing, let me know, and I'll get that information back to you!
________________________________________________________
Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports and Tom Haudricourt report that Mike Cameron has signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers today, along with a club-option for 2009. The dollar amount is unknown, but he did earn $7M with the Padres last year. The deal is pending a physical.
As I've said before, Cameron hit .242 with 21 homers and 78 RBIs for the Padres last season. Rosenthal believes that these numbers will go up because Cameron has always played in a pitcher's park (like Petco last year). He has a career .251 BA along with a .341 on-base percentage. That is not great by any stretch of the imagination, but Rosenthal points out that it is above-average for a center fielder. Rosenthal also points out that this move to a midwest team will lessen the travel for the veteran, who is now 35 years old.
Of course, the Brewers do have to deal with the 25-game suspension he will face to begin the year. Let's hope that the salary reflects that ban somewhat. I'm going to do a little more research on the signing before I post my opinion on that matter. Until then, however, you all post what you think!
Yankees also a suitor for Cameron
UPDATE 01-11-08 11:10 AM - Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says that you can add the A's to the list of contenders for Mike Cameron. Since trading Nick Swisher to the White Sox, Oakland is looking for an outfielder in the free agent market. She reports that they have serious interest and have had several meetings with Cameron's agent.
What do you all think about the outfield situation?
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The stiffest competition for Mike Cameron will be from the New York Yankees, Tim Dierkes from MLB Trade Rumors says. If the Yankees trade Melky Cabrera this offseason, they will need someone to play center-field. It is widely reported that they do not want to stick Johnny Damon back out in the field. This is probably because he has one of the worst throwing arms I've ever seen from an MLB starting CF.
Another interesting aspect about the Yankees in this race is that A-Rod has been privately endorsing Cameron for many weeks now. We don't know how much influence A-Rod has in influencing the Steinbrenners' decision making, but it certainly cannot hurt Cameron's chances from going to New York.
What do you all think about the outfield situation?
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The stiffest competition for Mike Cameron will be from the New York Yankees, Tim Dierkes from MLB Trade Rumors says. If the Yankees trade Melky Cabrera this offseason, they will need someone to play center-field. It is widely reported that they do not want to stick Johnny Damon back out in the field. This is probably because he has one of the worst throwing arms I've ever seen from an MLB starting CF.
Another interesting aspect about the Yankees in this race is that A-Rod has been privately endorsing Cameron for many weeks now. We don't know how much influence A-Rod has in influencing the Steinbrenners' decision making, but it certainly cannot hurt Cameron's chances from going to New York.
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