Cameron, Brewers sign 1-year $7M deal

1.12.08 12:24pm PST

The Brewers and Mike Cameron agreed on a 1-year $7M deal that includes a club option for 2009.

1.11.08 3:06pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed free agent Mike Cameron to a 1-year deal, though the terms of his deal have not been released.

With this move, the Brewers intend to move Bill Hall to 3rd base and Ryan Braun to left field. That being said, could they possibly look into dealing Tony Gwynn Jr? One team that could be interested, but it would come with the pressure of his father's name in this city, the San Diego Padres.

With Brian Giles not being ready for Opening Day, the Padres are looking to move young prospect Chase Headley from 3rd base to left field with Jim Edmonds in center and possibly Scott Hairston in right, it's not the kind of outfield that excites you.

Maybe the younger Gwynn wouldn't be a bad move, who knows?

1.10.08 8:51am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Milwaukee Brewers apparently have serious interest in free agent center fielder Mike Cameron.

If they do acquire Cameron, it could mean that Bill Hall could possibly be traded.

1.9.08 8:46pm PST

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Milwaukee Brewers are apparently looking at veteran free agent outfielders Kenny Lofton and Mike Cameron, possibly Luis Gonzalez as well.

Lofton and Gonzalez can be had on 1-year deals while Mike Cameron is looking for a 2 or 3-year deal. I'm not sure the Brewers are willing to give Cameron either, so Lofton and Gonzalez are the likely choices.

Brewers land Cameron

1.11.08 3:06pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed free agent Mike Cameron to a 1-year deal, though the terms of his deal have not been released.

With this move, the Brewers intend to move Bill Hall to 3rd base and Ryan Braun to left field. That being said, could they possibly look into dealing Tony Gwynn Jr? One team that could be interested, but it would come with the pressure of his father's name in this city, the San Diego Padres.

With Brian Giles not being ready for Opening Day, the Padres are looking to move young prospect Chase Headley from 3rd base to left field with Jim Edmonds in center and possibly Scott Hairston in right, it's not the kind of outfield that excites you. Maybe the young Gwynn wouldn't be a bad move, who knows?

1.10.08 8:51am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Milwaukee Brewers apparently have serious interest in free agent center fielder Mike Cameron.

If they do acquire Cameron, it could mean that Bill Hall could possibly be traded.

1.9.08 8:46pm PST

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Milwaukee Brewers are apparently looking at veteran free agent outfielders Kenny Lofton and Mike Cameron, possibly Luis Gonzalez as well.
Lofton and Gonzalez can be had on 1-year deals while Mike Cameron is looking for a 2 or 3-year deal. I'm not sure the Brewers are willing to give Cameron either, so Lofton and Gonzalez are the likely choices.

Brewers taking serious look at Cameron

1.10.08 8:51am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Milwaukee Brewers apparently have serious interest in free agent center fielder Mike Cameron.

If they do acquire Cameron, it could mean that Bill Hall could possibly be traded.

1.9.08 8:46pm PST

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Milwaukee Brewers are apparently looking at veteran free agent outfielders Kenny Lofton and Mike Cameron, possibly Luis Gonzalez as well.

Lofton and Gonzalez can be had on 1-year deals while Mike Cameron is looking for a 2 or 3-year deal. I'm not sure the Brewers are willing to give Cameron either, so Lofton and Gonzalez are the likely choices.

Brewers looking at Lofton, Cameron

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Milwaukee Brewers are apparently looking at veteran free agent outfielders Kenny Lofton and Mike Cameron, possibly Luis Gonzalez as well.

Lofton and Gonzalez can be had on 1-year deals while Mike Cameron is looking for a 2 or 3-year deal. I'm not sure the Brewers are willing to give Cameron either, so Lofton and Gonzalez are the likely choices.

Mike Cameron update

12.24.07 2:44pm PST (Christmas Eve)

First, let me wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Great New Year. I hope everyone is enjoying this time with friends and family.

Updating from yesterday. North County Times' Dan Hayes and Union Tribune's Tim Sullivan were nice enough to respond to my questions regarding Mike Cameron.





Baseball-rumors: With the Rangers trading for Josh Hamilton and the Phillies signing both So Taguchi and Geoff Jenkins, are there any teams left with interest in Mike Cameron? Is there any chance that the Padres re-visit talks with him and his agent?





Tim Sullivan: That's a good question. I would think that Cameron will be able to find a spot somewhere -- maybe with a non-contending team. But I'm not convinced the Padres won't add a right-handed bat. It's certainly a question worth floating.





Dan Hayes: I think the Padres would love to have Cameron for center with Edmonds in left. But they're so close to their budget ... I hear it's $75 million and they're around $73 with bonuses ---- I haven't done the math yet ---- so I doubt it's realistic. Cameron would easily command $10 million a year over two years, which is a steal. But unless the Padres unloaded Barrett's $3.5 million contract I couldn't see it happening. They might make a $5 million exception and go up to $80 m, but I don't see them going to $83 or $84 m. Though Edmonds and Cameron would make them a very strong contender in the West.





12.23.07 8:53pm PST





The biggest surprise to me this offseason, Mike Cameron is still yet to be signed. Cameron and his agent had been talking to the San Diego Padres about a 2-year deal few weeks ago, but could not come to an agreement on the dollar amount.



The teams that had been interested, namely the Rangers and Phillies, have both acquired center fielders. The Rangers traded for Reds' center fielder Josh Hamilton, the Phillies signed both Geoff Jenkins and So Taguchi to free agent deals.



At this point, with his options dwindling by the day, could Cameron return to the Padres? It's doubtful, but if he and the Padres are willing to re-negotiate the dollar amount on that 2-year deal previously discussed, maybe there is a chance.

Mike Cameron still unsigned

The biggest surprise to me this offseason, Mike Cameron is still yet to be signed. Cameron and his agent had been talking to the San Diego Padres about a 2-year deal few weeks ago, but could not come to an agreement on the dollar amount.

The teams that had been interested, namely the Rangers and Phillies, have both acquired center fielders. The Rangers traded for Reds' center fielder Josh Hamilton, the Phillies signed both Geoff Jenkins and So Taguchi to free agent deals.

At this point, with his options dwindling by the day, could Cameron return to the Padres? It's doubtful, but if he and the Padres are willing to re-negotiate the dollar amount on that 2-year deal previously discussed, maybe there is a chance.

Phillies could sign Sidney Ponson?

Not sure if this is a desperation move on the part of the Phillies, but they are apparently looking into signing free agent Sidney Ponson to a minor league deal.

Ponson is currently pitching in the Dominican Winter League and is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 2 starts.

The Phillies have also started talks with free agent center fielder Mike Cameron. The two sides have had previous discussions, but Cameron was looking for more years than the Phillies were willing to give. With the departure of Aaron Rowand, that apparently has changed.

Cameron, Padres part ways

Prior to the Padres landing Jim Edmonds, the agent for Mike Cameron (Mike Nicotera) called off the negotiations with San Diego. The two sides agreed on 2 years but were far apart on the dollar amount.

“In the end we were just not able to reach agreement with the Padres,” agent Mike Nicotera said. “They are moving in another direction as are we. There was just never a meeting of the minds with him. It was certainly amicable.”

The teams interested in Cameron include the White Sox, Twins, Rangers, Brewers, Phillies, and Braves. Ken Rosenthal checks in on the same subject and adds the Cardinals, Reds, and Yankees as possibilities as well.

Padres continue talks with Cameron

After losing out on Japanese free agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, the Padres Front Office will start their search for a center fielder as well as a corner outfielder. Padres' GM Kevin Towers confirms that the Padres are still talking with free agent center fielder Mike Cameron and his agent about a 2-year deal.

The Padres have also been rumored to be talking to the Pirates about a trade scenario with former Padre Jason Bay as the center piece. Though, those rumors have been shot down by Padres' GM Kevin Towers, Padres' CEO Sandy Alderson as well as Dejah Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Padres in talks with Eckstein?

Padres GM Kevin Towers confirmed that he has had talks with free agent shortstop David Eckstein and they would be interested in him but only on a 1-year deal basis. Though talks are ongoing, Towers said a deal is not close.

Towers also confirms that he has had ongoing talks with free agent center fielder Mike Cameron while they wait for a decision from Kosuke Fukudome. Both sides have agreed on a deal being for 2-years but are far apart as far as dollars go.

Towers denies reports that the Padres plan to shop catcher Michael Barrett after he agreed to arbitration.

Bradley signs with Rangers

12.9.07 8:50am PST

According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers have come to terms with free agent outfielder Milton Bradley on a 1-year $5M deal.

On a side note, if Japanese free agent oufielder Kosuke Fukudome signs with the Padres, look for Mike Cameron to also sign with Texas to be their center fielder.

12.7.07 7:49pm PST
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, Milton Bradley has informed the Padres that he needs more time to decide whether he'll accept the 1-year $4M deal he's been offered. He also has an offer on the table from the Texas Rangers for their DH job.

12.6.07 1:49pm PST
The San Diego Padres have brought back one of the most volatile players to wear a Padre uniform. The team is close to signing outfielder Milton Bradley to a 1-year deal that is reportedly worth $4M.

The agent for Bradley says the outfielder should be ready for Opening Day after having ACL surgery on his right knee.

Reds talking to Mike Cameron?

A new team has jumped into the bidding for free agent center fielder Mike Cameron, the Cincinnati Reds. Before the Padres hired new manager Bud Black, they interviewed current Reds manager Dusty Baker, who Mike Cameron strongly recommended and went so far as to say he would like to play for Baker.

The Padres have had talks with Cameron's agent, but they're waiting for a decision from Japanese free agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome before trying to seriously re-sign Cameron. Though, if they wait too long, they may not have that chance.

How high are the Cubs willing to go for Fukudome?

According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune, the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are neck-and-neck in the race for Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome. He says the Cubs could we willing to go as high as $14M - $15M a year for the free agent. If Fukudome wants to play on the West coast, and why wouldn't you, he could take less money to play for the Padres.

Kevin Towers and the rest of the Padres brass have departed Nashville but still could make some big moves prior to Spring Training, especially if they land Fukudome. If they do, the Padres will end their negotiations for Mike Cameron.

Padres Update

12.4.07 9:40pm PST
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Padres and Astros are unable to come to an agreement on a trade for Luke Scott.

In the same article, the Padres are negotiating with the agents for Kosuke Fukudome and Mike Cameron, but I don't think they will be able to sign both.

12.4.07 7:31PM PST
A couple of updates on what the Padres are doing....

Buster Olney reports that the Padres and Astros are talking about a deal that would send Luke Scott to San Diego, but no report on what San Diego would send to Houston.

The Padres have talked to free agent pitchers Shawn Estes and Glendon Rusch and are expected to sign both after the Rule 5 draft.