Brewers sign Mike Cameron (1yr/$6.22 mil + 2009 Team Option)

[PaulRigdon]

Is there any chance that Hardy could be moved to third? Or is he too much of a stiff?

[brettac1]

Well, I like this one.

 

It certainly reverses the huge error they made last year in not just moving Braun to the OF in spring training and handing 3B to Hall. Plus, Cameron can still play a little defense, the gains made in that department are huge. Offensively, he's like a prototype Doug Melvin guy - good power, good walk rate, lots of K's. Sounds good to me.

[JJHardy7]

The thing that bothers me about this is moving Hall again and the effects that may/may not have on him.

 

What effect will it have on Braun's bat? That's what scares me.

[homer]

Braun's crappy D last year didn't really affect him. I'm not worried.

[southpaw121505]

The thought of Braun taking over in a year or two in center makes me very giddy. What better guy to learn the ropes from?

[Fatter than Joey]

What effect will it have on Braun's bat? That's what scares me.

 

 

 

I think it is just as likely his continued struggles at 3b would affect his bat as well. Honestly, I think moving Braun from 3b to LF takes a big burden off of his shoulders.

[sbrylski]

I'm slightly above neutral on this, 5 to 4:

 

PROS

• Braun is off of 3B
• One year commitment
• Only costs money
• Above average bat
• Above average defense

CONS

• Right handed
• Lowish OBP
• Hall showed improvement in CF
• Perfect move if followed by a Hall or Hardy marque trade for an OBPer+.

It just is so disappointing we couldn't find the right LH OBP 3B out there.

[craigharmann]

I really had a gut feeling that the names like Cameron, Lofton and Feliz were last resorts. Not surprisingly, I was wrong. I guess this works, but I don't like the fact that he's out the first 25 games of the season. I guess out of all the 3b options out there, Bill Hall was our best choice. Don't disagree with that.

[Weirdos19]

I think everybody should remember that Corey hart was a infielder until 2005. He then moved to the outfield without missing a beat.

 

Corey carved up third base, maybe even worse than Braun.

 

Braun should be fine in left, he does have some wheels.

[sbrylski]

Another note, my sig quote is about obsolete now...

[TCSM]

For the 25 game suspension I would still like to see Hall going to third and Braun out to Left. By doing this we don't have a massive switch between 3 different players one one day. So for CF we can have TGJ with Gross filling in or Hart sliding over.

[MarquesJohnson2000]

Hardicourt was just on Homer's show and said that his belief is that the organization sees its outfield for 2009 as

 

 

 

LF - LaPorta

 

CF - Hart

 

RF - Braun

 

 

 

though the club option in Cameron's contract for '09 is insurance against LaPorta not being ready yet.

[Patrick425]

So, please explain to me again why we got rid of Jenkins and we are now replacing him with basically a right handed version of him for probably not much cheaper than Jenkins would have cost us? I'm not thrilled about the move and I'm guessing that by mid-July most fans will be fed up with his .245avg/.320obp.

[sbrylski]

So, please explain to me again why we got rid of Jenkins and we are not replacing him with basically a right handed version of him for probably not much cheaper than Jenkins would have cost us? I'm not thrilled about the move and I'm guessing that by mid-July most fans will be fed up with his .245avg/.320obp.

Because Cameron plays CF.

LaPorta-Hart-Braun sounds GREAT to me!!!

[jjfanec]

He can play center, which Jenkins couldn't. Jenkins had no place on this team if we wanted to move Braun to the outfield. I guess it could have been Hart in CF with Braun and Jenkins, but Cameron out there is a huge upgrade defensively.

[DrWood]

I only like this deal if they turn around and trade Hall, packaging him in a Bedard/Mora like-deal. The reason? With the amount of short term contracts were accumulating I'd say that this is a win now strategy. \

I don't think it's "win now", it's plugging a hole while we wait for someone to develop in the minors. I think it's a great idea. I just wish Melvin had been able to sign Suppan to a 2 year contract.

 

 

[brewmann04]

I think this is an excellent move still shocked about it but i agree hart or Gwynn start in Cf

 

and let hall and Braun play the natural positions.

 

Guys we still have the surplus pitching that supposed to get us something also.

[Patrick425]

Because Cameron plays CF.

LaPorta-Hart-Braun sounds GREAT to me!!!

Hart can play Center too. Jenkins-Hart-Braun in the OF. Hall at 3rd. I like that better than Cameron-Hart-Braun, with Hall at 3rd simply because of Jenkins is a lefty. LaPorta, Hart, Braun sounds good to me too. But that's 2009. What about 2008?

[MarquesJohnson2000]

It is a "win now" strategy in that they're not willing to give Braun the time to develop at 3B the way they let Weeks play through his struggles at 2B... no more "on the job training".

[fondybrewfan]

I like the deal. I am thinking this will actually improve our overall team OBP because as someone else previously mentioned outside of Petco he had an OBP of over 350. Our defense is instantly better although I doubt braun will be better than Jenks in LF. Bill Hall is no gold glove at 3rd but he is a million times better than Braun. I still wouldnt mind an Ensberg type or Lofton for that matter. Lofton could open up in CF and then once Cameron is ready could be a 4th outfielder type.

 

 

 

Overall this deal improves the team. I am not to big into strikeouts but if we are essentially replacing Jenkins and Mench with Cameron one would think the K's would stay about the same with the BB's going up a bit due to Mench's previous suckiness

[Patrick425]

Wow, I'm just shocked at the number of people that not only like this move but think it's a great move. I don't get it. Especially after getting rid of Jenkins. There sure are a lot of rose colored glasses out there. Reminds me a little of all the excitement after the Brewer's signed Hammonds.

[TerraceReserved]

This here marks the happiest day of the offseason for me. Finally it's official that Braun is off third and our defense may even be league average now. I know it's dissapointing we couldnt get the LH bat or a high OBP guy, but this was the next best option. Doug is the man.

[Dmiles23]

So, please explain to me again why we got rid of Jenkins and we are not replacing him with basically a right handed version of him for probably not much cheaper than Jenkins would have cost us? I'm not thrilled about the move and I'm guessing that by mid-July most fans will be fed up with his .245avg/.320obp.

So why would the fans be able to put up with Jenkins putting up those numbers?

 

[giffted1]

Cameron isn't anything special offensively, but this is a great move for our team defense. Props to Melvin for filling holes without having to get tied up in a long term deal.

[Patrick425]

So why would the fans be able to put up with Jenkins putting up those numbers?

 

 

A) He's a lefty

B) Jenkin's has at least shown in the past that he can put up a .270/.280 average with an over .340 obp. Cameron has rarely put up those numbers in his career.