Mike Cameron signs with Red Sox

[Tyler Durden]

 

Cameron in serious talks with Red Sox on two-year deal. CF or LF unclear.

[Tyler Durden]

Buchholz and Ellsbury to San Diego?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Dammit.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Hermida/Cameron platoon. Cameron hits LHP and Hermida hits RHP

[Tyler Durden]

Is it ME or does it seem like this is opening up for the Yankees to swoop in a nab Holliday for LF.

[yankees228]

Is it ME or does it seem like this is opening up for the Yankees to swoop in a nab Holliday for LF.

 

If his price comes down, I certainly think it's possible. I suggested this in one of the Yankees' threads.

[Plumpamania]

Is it ME or does it seem like this is opening up for the Yankees to swoop in a nab Holliday for LF.

 

Funny thing about the Yankees announcing they are unloading payroll only to add on another minimum $18 million/year player....good job with logic sir.

[ORS]

Hard to "swoop" when there's been little reporting of Sox/Holliday negotiations and meetings.

[italstallianion]

Hard to "swoop" when there's been little reporting of Sox/Holliday negotiations and meetings.

 

And when everyone expects the highest dollar players to sign with the Yankees, I don't think anyone can ever be surprised with a top dollar FA signing in NY.

[yankees228]

While he choice of wording my be a bit off, I think TD's point has some merit. While it doesn't really seem like the Yankees are players for big free agents this offseason, if the price comes down, I think it's possible.

[CoachC.]

Is it ME or does it seem like this is opening up for the Yankees to swoop in a nab Holliday for LF.

 

I could see him landing with shorter money than expected if Cameron does indeed sign with the Sox but would they really do it with Crawford a FA in 2011. I think Damon is more likely.

[ehaz]

I'd be in favor of this signing. I don't think the Sox are willing to spend the money for Bay/Holliday after signing Lackey, so why not go after Cameron? Cameron has had 4 straight seasons of 20+ home runs so he still has some pop in his bat, and he's the best defensive center fielder in the game. He's posted UZR's of 10, and 12 the past two years IN CENTERFIELD while in comparison, Bay has posted UZR's of lower than -10 with the Sox while in left field. Every run that Cameron doesn't make with the bat, he saves with the glove. WAR, even places him as a better player than Bay, having Cameron worth 4.0 wins in 3 of the past 4 seasons. While in comparison Bay's around 3. As a stopgap for a year or two to wait for a better option (Kalish, or future FA), Cameron's a great option.

[MNSoxChief102]

I really like this move if it indeed goes down. As many others have said, Cameron's defense is a tremendous asset to have. Having him play a majority of games in Fenway won't hurt either as his power is to left field and he hits plenty of line drives that will bang off the Monster for singles or doubles.

 

A Hermida/Cameron platoon is a much cheaper and simpler solution than dumping a ton of cash on Bay or Holliday, who both have defensive issues. Now it's time to package together a great offer for AGon and let the fun begin.

[CoachC.]

Buchholz and Ellsbury to San Diego?

 

Just because Cameron may play CF, doesn't mean Jacoby would be traded. He would be moved to LF. No way they trade their starting centerfielder, leadoff hitter, and stolen base threat just because they signed Cameron - in addition to Buchholz. They can stick Cameron in left too.

 

I'm assuming it's Ellsbury in CF and Cameron/Hermida in LF. I don't know if they would trust Hermida being an everyday player.

 

Unless the Sox can turn Jacoby/Kelly/B Prospect into Adrian, I don't see him being traded.

 

With that being said, an OF defense of Cameron, Ellsbury, and Drew is unbelievable.

[Cocos Disciples]

Interesting. Cameron has played nothing but CF since 2000 and he's a very good defender there, so it's hard to imagine him moving to LF. Could Ellsbury be moving to left? I'm honestly asking because this move confuses me.

[TheMino007]

Buchholz and Ellsbury to San Diego?

 

Cameron would be the every day LF or CF. The Sox are keeping Ellsbury and without a doubt Cameron would be starting most games and he wouldn't be platooning with Hermida. If the Sox can't improve offensively, then why not improve the defense and the pitching? It appears that Bay is all but gone, so I think the Sox should focus on Holliday as a play A, but Cameron is a solid plan B, espically if the Sox trade for Adrian Gonzalez.

[yankees228]

Interesting. Cameron has played nothing but CF since 2000 and he's a very good defender there' date=' so it's hard to imagine him moving to LF. Could Ellsbury be moving to left? I'm honestly asking because this move confuses me.[/quote']

 

Cameron did play some right field in 2005 with the Mets. Regardless, I believe that some of the other posters above are correct. This sets up a platoon in left between him and Hermida.

 

EDIT: Obviously, if they wanted to, when Cameron plays against lefties, he could play center and Ellsbury could play left. And then against righties, Ellsbury could play center and Hermida could play left.

[CoachC.]

Interesting. Cameron has played nothing but CF since 2000 and he's a very good defender there' date=' so it's hard to imagine him moving to LF. Could Ellsbury be moving to left? I'm honestly asking because this move confuses me.[/quote']

 

I would have Jacoby play more at Fenway (familiarity/comfort) and against RHP (Hermida in LF). I think Cameron would play more on the road and against LHP. Ellsbury has played both positions as recently as 2008.

[jacksonianmarch]

Strange. A platoon doesnt make a ton of sense since Cameron has been an .800+OPS guy for a few yrs now and plays absolutely stellar D. Maybe this is a Cameron to CF, Jacoby to left with him now being expendable. That being said, if this is truly it, then the sox offense has come up short.

 

I also thought the same thing about Holliday. With Boston presumably out of the mix, could Cashman get them to pony up one more time for a 29 yr old power and contact hitting LFer? I wouldnt put it past em. That would be one hell of an emphatic ending to put on an offseason

[MNSoxChief102]

Cameron did play some right field in 2005 with the Mets. Regardless, I believe that some of the other posters above are correct. This sets up a platoon in left between him and Hermida.

 

EDIT: Obviously, if they wanted to, when Cameron plays against lefties, he could play center and Ellsbury could play left. And then against righties, Ellsbury could play center and Hermida could play left.

 

The second part of your post is how I see it breaking down. Cameron is likely to play center most of the time with Ells in left. Jacoby didn't play the best defense in CF last year anyway, so a move into the tiny LF at Fenway would only help.

[Cocos Disciples]

Cameron did play some right field in 2005 with the Mets. Regardless' date=' I believe that some of the other posters above are correct. This sets up a platoon in left between him and Hermida.[/quote']

 

Yeah, just caught that on BR. Still, RF isn't open.

 

EDIT: Obviously, if they wanted to, when Cameron plays against lefties, he could play center and Ellsbury could play left. And then against righties, Ellsbury could play center and Hermida could play left.

 

This is what I was thinking. It maximizes Hermida and Cameron's value in terms of splits.

[MNSoxChief102]

Strange. A platoon doesnt make a ton of sense since Cameron has been an .800+OPS guy for a few yrs now and plays absolutely stellar D. Maybe this is a Cameron to CF, Jacoby to left with him now being expendable. That being said, if this is truly it, then the sox offense has come up short.

 

I also thought the same thing about Holliday. With Boston presumably out of the mix, could Cashman get them to pony up one more time for a 29 yr old power and contact hitting LFer? I wouldnt put it past em. That would be one hell of an emphatic ending to put on an offseason

 

Meh... I think it's much more likely that the Yanks will sign Damon and go to work with relatively the same lineup (plus Granderson) that won them a championship. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...

 

St. Louis is going to go balls out to keep Holliday... the fans out there will riot if they don't do something to make that team better this off-season

[Dojji]

Roght now we have three lefthanded outfielders and are looking at Cameron, a righthander who can play 3 outfield positions.

 

I see the logic here.

[TedWilliams101]

I'm thinking they mention CF because they are thinking of moving Ellsbury over to LF when Cameron plays.

 

Ellsbury in CF:

2009: -18.3 (UZR/150)

2008: 6.9

2007: -10.5

 

Cameron in CF:

2009: 10.3

2008: 15.6

 

Ellsbury is a career 21.8 UZR/150 in LF. I'd say Cameron should be in CF over Ellsbury when he plays.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

sign Mike Cameron, sign Matt Holliday, sign Aroldis Chapman (replaces Clay Buchholz)

 

trade Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz in a package for Adrian Gonzalez

[TedWilliams101]

sign Mike Cameron, sign Matt Holliday, sign Aroldis Chapman (replaces Clay Buchholz)

 

trade Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz in a package for Adrian Gonzalez

 

Why would they sign both Cameron and Holliday? If they sign Cameron there is practically no chance they even think about Holliday.

[Soxbb]

yuck, just resign bay.

 

I'm sick of this s***, they have the money.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Why would they sign both Cameron and Holliday? If they sign Cameron there is practically no chance they even think about Holliday.

 

How much do you think Cameron is going to cost at 36 years old?

[Dojji]

37.

[Cocos Disciples]

Strange. A platoon doesnt make a ton of sense since Cameron has been an .800+OPS guy for a few yrs now and plays absolutely stellar D. Maybe this is a Cameron to CF, Jacoby to left with him now being expendable. That being said, if this is truly it, then the sox offense has come up short.

 

I also thought the same thing about Holliday. With Boston presumably out of the mix, could Cashman get them to pony up one more time for a 29 yr old power and contact hitting LFer? I wouldnt put it past em. That would be one hell of an emphatic ending to put on an offseason

 

I can absolutely see the Yankees signing Holliday, re-signing Damon, trading Gardner and using Melky as a 4th outfielder. Sign a guy like Sheets on top of that, that's a damn good offseason for NY. But in that scenario they could also just keep Gardner, pass on Holliday and wait for next offseason.

 

How much do you think Cameron is going to cost at 36 years old?

 

If it's for two years as reported, I would say 7-8M per year.