Report: Cameron to sign with the Brewers

[AccordinglyReds]

-Per Rotoworld-

A source told FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal that the Brewers and Mike Cameron have come to terms on a one-year deal with a club option for 2009.

It's very surprising to see Cameron settle for a one-year deal with at least a couple of other clubs interested in him. The Brewers will likely move Bill Hall to third base to make room for him. The move puts them in much better position to challenge the Cubs in the NL Central. Jan. 11 - 3:07 pm et
Source: FOXSports.com

As long as it's not with the Reds...

[*BaseClogger*]

Who plays center in April?

[mlbfan30]

Hall with Braun at 3B. That will give enough time for Braun to be ready for LF by March.

[*BaseClogger*]

Hall with Braun at 3B. That will give enough time for Braun to be ready for LF by March.

[Oxilon]

We can only hope Braun's defense in LF will be as solid as it was at 3B last season...

[757690]

I think that this shows that the Reds are happy with Bruce in center for most of 08. If they weren't, they would have signed Cameron, especially if they thought he might go to the Brewers.
This does help the Brew Crew, if only that it allows them to move Braun to LF. There is no way for them to win with Braun at 3B all year.

[AmarilloRed]

Cameron deal in place, pending physical
By Tom Haudricourt
Friday, Jan 11 2008, 04:47 PM

The Brewers won't be officially announcing the signing of free agent centerfielder Mike Cameron today because the deal is contingent on him passing a physical. It's my understanding that physical will be Monday.

But I've talked to people familiar with the deal and here's what I know. Cameron will get a $1.25 million signing bonus and a $5 million salary in 2008. But, because he is suspended for the first 25 games of the season for testing positive for a banned stimulant, he won't be paid for those games.

So, instead of the $5 million, Cameron actually will make around $4.22 million in salary. A season is based on 180 days of play and Cameron will miss 28 days ($27,778 per day). Barring postponements, he'll be eligible to play his first game on April 29 in Chicago.

The Brewers hold a $10 million option on Cameron for 2009 with a $750,000 buyout. So, if he plays for them one year, the Brewers' financial commitment will be the $1.25 million signing bonus, $4.22 million in actual pay and the $750,000 buyout, which comes to $6.22 million.

And here's something else that was made clear to me by folks in the know. This is not the precursor to another deal. The plan is to move Bill Hall from center to third and Ryan Braun from third to left field, and both players have been told that.

In the first 25 games without Cameron, look for the Brewers to use backup outfielders such as Tony Gwynn Jr. and Gabe Gross in center. Corey Hart will stay in right and Braun in left.

This makes the Brewers a very right-handed-hitting team but they just couldn't find a left-handed hitter they felt did as much for them as adding Cameron. The major emphasis of this move is to improve a defense that ranked 13th in the NL last year, which certainly didn't help the pitching staff.

A pretty good price for an outfielder. The price will really rise in 2009,however, unless the Brewers go for the buyout.