Cameron is now a Better Option for the Braves

by gondeee on Oct 31, 2007 1:04 PM EDT in News Comment 12 comments

From ESPN this morning:

Mike Cameron, the Padres' Gold Glove center fielder, was suspended for the first 25 games of next season on Wednesday after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant.

Cameron, who plans to file for free agency, said he believes he took a tainted supplement.

"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."

Cameron was already the third or fourth best center field option on the free agent market this winter, but now his stock, in the eyes of many, may drop even further. Couple this suspension with the injury he suffered after Milton Bradley stepped on his hand the last week of the season and teams may be very wary to give Cameron a big contract. Before these two events he was believed to be seeking a three-year deal at around $7 to $9 million per year. That would have likely put him out of the Braves contract length and price range desires. Most people may conclude that all this makes him less desirable or a worse option than we was before, but now that he's a bit tainted I actually think he fits perfectly for the Braves.

They can offer him a one-year "make good" contract, which fits with their strategy of waiting for Jordan Schafer to develop, and not really wanting to spend big money on a stop-gap center fielder. They can likely fill in with Gregor Blanco or Willie Harris for the first 25 games of the season. That gives them the option of getting rid of whichever one of those two players are not performing when Cameron returns from suspension. And when he does return it may give the offense a bit of a shot in the arm - he does have considerably more power than both of those guys put together.

All the other usual reasons for Cameron to come to the Braves still exist as well. He is a native of LaGrange, Georgia, and may have grown up a Braves fan. The Braves also have a good track record of taking troubled or down on their luck players and giving them a good environment to flourish.

In my book, this may move Cameron to the top of the list of lower cost free agent center field options for the Braves.

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What about the draft pick?

Do you still think he would be worth it considering we would likely have to forfeit our first round draft pick in '08?

by Zbrave on Oct 31, 2007 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Patience

Cameron would likely get more money via arbitration, so I'm guessing San Diego will not offer it to him. That would mean we wouldn't have to surrender a draft pick to sign him (I doubt he would be a type A anyway, but I haven't seen the comp charts yet).

by gondeee on Oct 31, 2007 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On MLBTR...

...it said that Cameron was granted type B FA status, while Michael Barret (wtf?) and Milton Bradley were granted type A FA status.

by Smoltzs Beard on Oct 31, 2007 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where would he hit?

This would make Terrance Moore happy, that's about it.

by TradeAndruw on Oct 31, 2007 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hmm

probably 6th or 7th I would assume

escobar
kj
cj
tex
mac
frenchy
cameron
willie

9 pitcher

by RehabReject on Oct 31, 2007 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yuck

The last thing I want to do is make Terrance Moore happy.

I'm guessing he would hit 7th or 8th:

Yuney
KJ
CJ
Tex
Heap
Frenchy
Cameron
Diaz / BJ

by gondeee on Oct 31, 2007 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right Price

I'm thinking then that maybe 2/16 would get Mike Cameron? That gives Schaeffer about a season and a half to get ready which would seem appropriate. That would let Schaeffer play 2008 in Mississippi and then either start 2009 on the bench in ATL or start the year off in Richmond before replacing Cameron sometime around the allstar break. Even with the suspension news I have a hard time believing that Cameron won't at least find somebody else willing to offer two years if the Braves scoff at that.

Hopefully they'd be able to prorate 2008, thereby knocking about a million off the total payment to Cameron. If we give Glavine 1 year at 8 mil that would still leave us with some extra cash to play with around the break next year.

by tmsnow on Oct 31, 2007 5:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

way too much

there's no way we need to spend $8 million on CF next year, and tie up CF for two years. For that price we could bring in another SP, or two relievers, either of which would be more cost effective than someone who will bat 7th or 8th. I'd rather have Patterson for around $2.5, though I still feel Lillibridge is the way to go. Not to mention I think Cameron will be closer to 5 (if not under) than 8 after this

by abravesfan on Oct 31, 2007 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way that 5 gets it done

I don't disagree with you at all about the possibility of bringing in Patterson but there's no way Cameron is a 5 mil per year player.

Wes Helms got 3/18 last offseason and guys like Matt Stairs are asking for 4-5 per year this year... If only for his defense, Cameron is AT LEAST an 8 mil per year player in the current FA market.

by tmsnow on Oct 31, 2007 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hehe...

..wes helms...

by Doghnut on Oct 31, 2007 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cameron knocked off a sixth of the season

not to mention this is his 2nd offense according to articles. He also just admitted to playing games drunk. I agree he's a 8+ player statistically, but with tons of CF options (think of all the guys we've debated on here) and these personal problems I do think he will be closer to 5 than 8, at least if its multiple years. I could see a one year deal for 7 or so.

by abravesfan on Oct 31, 2007 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cameron

anny thoughts about carl loedenthal. hit
for average and was named best OF fielder
I think in 2006. can steal a base. Is it possible
JS may audition him this spring and if he is up
to it could serve as a fill in until Gorkys
or schafer ready?

66mustang

by 66mustang on Oct 31, 2007 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs