Brewers, Cameron strike deal to bolster outfield depth

The Milwaukee Brewers have reached an agreement with center fielder Mike Cameron.

According to The Associated Press, the deal is a one-year, $7 million deal with a club option for 2009.

Cameron, 34, hit 21 homers and drove in 78 runs for the Padres last year. He will miss the first 25 games of the 2008 season, as he serves a suspension under the terms of baseball’s drug-testing program.

This is a dark day for us here at the Sacrifice Bunt. We’ve made no secret of our affinity for Michael Terrance Cameron, so a part of us has died with the news that he’s signed with Milwaukee. But, like any good ex-girlfriend(s), we’re happy for Mike.

Milwaukee has a solid team and is one that will actually appreciate what he does for them. He’s not only bringing his superior glove to the middle of Miller Park but he’s allowing Ned Yost to move Bill Hall back to third and out of center (where he was overmatched), which moves Ryan Braun out of the position (where he was overmatched).

Milwaukee comes to Petco in August, so maybe we’ll sponsor a Sacrifice Bunt night at the park.

For Mike.

Melvin Update: For Mike. Also for The Sacrifice Bunt.

My feeling about appreciation is that things soured with the negotiation breakdowns at the beginning of the year, then again during this off season.  It looks like his demands for a longer term may have backfired. People may see a one year deal with Mike as a better option than Edmonds.

Beyond The Box Score interview with Paul Depodesta

Paul comes across as such a smart guy. I wish he would have answered this question:

QUESTION: Not too long ago the new Pirates’ general manager Neal Huntington did a Q&A session with MLB.com and answered a question about the metrics they use to judge players, I’d like to pose that same question to you: what are some of the statistics you to evaluate potential targets?

Depo responds by saying he can’t divulge the proprietary methods the team uses. Statheads probably already knew that, but couldn’t Paul just say “VORP” so we feel smarter?

I just logged on to Gaslamp Ball to find the link to their Depodesta interview, which is fantastic by the way, and saw they also linked to this story. I take one day off work, and think I’ll be getting ahead of things but noooo.

The only solution here is to take more time off work.

Alex Rodriguez endorses Mike Cameron in the Bronx (New York Times)

The two were teammates on the 2000 Mariners squad. The bulk of the article is of the rare Yankees speculation variety, so you may want to check it out before the coverage is bumped for the most recent Devil Rays rumor.

Analysis of Mark Prior’s Mechanics (Hardball Times)

I’m still disappointed (and encouraged) about Arizona’s hiring of Carlos Gomez. Before being snagged by the evil Snakes, Gomez broke down the delivery of Mark Prior (among others) for the Hardball Times. Short version: Prior needs to be more aggressive.

Worst Hall of Fame Arguments of 2008 (Vegas Watch)

Link stolen from Fire Joe Morgan. Who can’t resist a good fun making of baseball writers ever now and again?

P.S. This post is by no means an attempt to bite Ducksnorts’ Friday Links. Sacrificial Links are crazy enough to come out any day of the week, this is just a coincidence. This will probably happen on one out of every seven Sacrificial Link posts.

Walk with me, won’t you, down memory lane.

It was but three days ago when all hope in Padresland seemed lost. The coveted Kosuke Fukudome chose the Chicago Cubs over us, leaving our 2008 season in jeopardy. In response to this, your’s truly wrote:

Jim Edmonds

Hollywood Jim could be a classic turnaround story. He’s already on the team’s radar and if he’s as healthy as he says he is, why not? If he bounces back to an average player by his standards, he’ll still be a middle of the lineup guy.

Why not indeed.

The Padres have agreed to a trade that will bring them center fielder Jim Edmonds, a 37-year-old who has won eight Gold Gloves.

After negotiations with Cameron were called off, the Padres acquired Edmonds for prospect David Freese.

Like I said a couple days ago, if he’s as healthy as he says he is, Edmonds could compliment the Z-Boys (© R. Lankford) [Kouzmanoff and Gonzalez] quite nicely.

The flip side to this joyousness, however, is the departure of Mike Cameron. For two seasons, Cameron patrolled Petco Park like no one before him, solidifying what may be the most crucial defensive position in that park. I hope to be in Petco for his first game back so I can show him my gratitude in person.

Thank you, Mike.

No, not really. But that’s a hard headline to pass up.

The Union-Tribune is reporting that the Padres have lost out on Fukudome.

The Padres found out Tuesday night that they lost out in their bid for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. The star outfielder is headed to the Cubs.

The Padres, rating Fukudome as the prime piece to their offseason plans, bid more than $10 million per season as part of a guarantee of at least three years. It was the most the club had offered a non-Padre since tendering a $55 million to $60 million proposal nine years ago to pitcher Kevin Brown, who chose to accept more than $100 million from the Dodgers.

While it would have been nice to have Fukudome, I’m almost relieved we didn’t get him. His centerfielding ability got a less than stellar review from Trey Hillman and his offensive ability does not project to be a player that would warrant the money the team was offering him. And considering we don’t know if he’ll be Hideki or Kaz, we may have just dodged a bullet.

Of course, we still have a hole in center and the options left on the market are dwindling. With that in mind, I propose three options the team could look into:

Mike Cameron

Yes, he’ll be suspended for the first month. And he usually takes a month to get his swing going, so he’ll be worthless until June. But he knows this team and he knows this ballpark and we know what we’ll be getting from him. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t type of deal. Not to suggest that Cameron is the/a devil, but you get the idea.

That, and he’s got style.

Jim Edmonds

Hollywood Jim could be a classic turnaround story. He’s already on the team’s radar and if he’s as healthy as he says he is, why not? If he bounces back to an average player by his standards, he’ll still be a middle of the lineup guy.

Matt Antonelli

Whaaaaaaaat?

I really can’t back this up (because I can’t find the link) but I recall reading Fuson or one of those guys say that Antonelli is such a gifted athlete that he might be able to handle center. Since second is such an easy position to fill, why don’t we at least find out?

Melvin Nieves to the Rescue: Tom Krasovic special from June, 2006:

The Padres are intrigued about his potential in center field. Antonelli’s foot speed, Fuson said, warrants a 70 on a scouting scale that tops out at 80, and center field is a thin position within the system.

I have a feeling this is a reference to a scouting report published elsewhere. I also haven’t heard anything about Antonelli in center more recently. I think it could make sense, but it’s quite the impossible call to make without much working knowledge of the guy.

We tend to hang our hats on these throwaway sentences without any background a bit too much, in my opinion.

Melvin’s unhelpfully vague suggestion:

Corner Power Guy / All D No Bat Guy

Grab a Willy Taveras type in center, then make up the power and obp loss in left. This might mean Chase Headley or Kevin Kouzmanoff, or it could involve dealing Headley for someone like Jason Bay.

You hate to trade the young, homegrown Headley, so signing Geoff Jenkins might make sense as a backup plan. Headley could spell Jenkins, Giles, and Kouzmanoff if he is even deemed ready for the bigs.

In response to the UT’s “5 Reasons To Keep and 5 Reasons To Let Mike Cameron Go” to which no writer apparently wants to take credit for, The Sacrifice Bunt is here to provide 5 additional equally credible reasons to keep Mike Cameron.

1. Batting gloves (or lack thereof) Think back on some of the greatest players of all-time: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays. Did any of them wear batting gloves? No. This can’t be a coincidence. There’s something to it, but no one on the Padres seems to take notice. That is, of course, except for Cameron. As a modest player, Cameron knows better than to constantly shove his excellence in the face of his opponents. That’s why he saves his batting glovelessness for special occassions, like Jackie Robinson Day:

Not only is it a sign that Cameron’s a player on another level than the rest, but it looks cool. And we know how important style is.

2. Old, beat up glove

Take a look at these pictures and tell me what you notice:

That’s right, Cameron’s very photogenic when he ranges to his left. And he’s had the same glove his whole career. That kind of loyalty is very rare these days, making it ironic if the Padres let Cameron walk.

3. Spring Training Photos

I’m getting kind of worried that this is going to turn into a photo essay, so I’m going to refrain from using any actual photos here. Go to Google and look around for some pictures of Cameron at Spring Training. Then come back here and thank us.

4. Off-center Hat

More so than any other, baseball is a sport about style. The players have become so stylish that they’re breaking the rules. Unfortunately for us, there aren’t a lot of Padres concerned with doing it big. The best we’ve got is Bard using that red bat every now and then. That is, of course, except for Cameron. Along with his long pant legs and general swagger, Cameron’s hat, worn just to the right, added a bit of excitement that is otherwise missing at Petco Park.

5. Ray Lankford Comparison

We’re well aware that Towers called the Lankford-for-Woody deal the worst trade he ever made, but did you realize that Lankford posted an OPS+ of 132 the year he became a Padre at the age of 34? That’s not bad. And for his efforts, Poppa Ray was named the fourth most similar batter to Mike Cameron this season. If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is.

This UT post previously made fun of at Friar Forecast.

Ok you really need to see these spring training photos:

This article included contributions from Melvin Nieves

“Mikey, buddy”, said Kevin Towers with an arm across his shoulder and a sly grin creeping across his face. “I’m thinking about ‘offering’ you some arbitration. You get what I’m freshing here? Yeah? You do? Great, I’m buying the PBR next Mike Cameron Sloshball Classic™ this year.”

Padres do their arbitration thang, Mikey C. style. They’ll offer him arbitration, which he’ll likely not accept says Tom Krasovic.

Build through the system baby, take advantage of every opportunity.

Also, Padres interested in Kazuo Fukumori. Thats all I gots.

Umpire: You can’t leave first until you chug a beer. Any man scoring has to chug a beer. You have to chug a beer at the top of all odd-numbered innings. Oh, and the fourth inning is the beer inning.

Mike Cameron: Hey, we know how to play baseball.

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It’s not as common as greenies, but big leaguers have been known to step on the field liquored up. … Almost every current major leaguer I spoke to knew of players who had stepped on the field under the influence. When asked what the signs were, the players typically responded the way Giant Ryan Klesko and Padre Jake Peavy did: ‘I just knew.’ Interestingly, another Padre, center fielder Mike Cameron, had a more intimate experience with game-day tipsiness:

“Sh-t, I’ve played drunk.

“When?

“New York City.”

What were the circumstances?

“I went four for four with two jacks and eight ribbies. I’m not saying that’s the only day I played drunk, but that was the best one.”

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Mike Cameron: ‘I’ve Played Drunk’

Frankly, I’m more upset about the cursing.

Mike Cameron is suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive for stimulants.

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“The one thing I wanted to make sure was explained is, no steroids,” Cameron told AM 1090, the Padres’ flagship radio station. “I never took nothing like that before in my life. That would be 50 games, and that would affect me a whole lot more.”

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“After all of the analysis and testing, I can only conclude that a nutritional supplement I was taking was tainted,” he said ‘Unfortunately, the actual supplement is gone, and therefore cannot be tested. Without the actual supplement in hand, the rules are clear, and I must accept the suspension.”

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Padres CF Mike Cameron suspended 25 games for positive stimulant test

It’s hard to say what this means so early in the happenings. Maybe I’m just a softy, but I think that I believe Cameron. He’s done nothing in his time here to lose the trust of the fans so I don’t think this necessarily changes that.

I had been on the fence about bringing him back, but now it doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. We could probably get him on a short term deal and he sucks in April anyway (.508 OPS this year, .500 OPS last year). Then again, we’re might be missing Giles at the beginning of the year as well. Hopefully SuperBlum can play the outfield.