Mike Cameron's agent told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that his client does not hope to leave the Red Sox for a team that can offer more playing time. Cameron wants to win and has not requested a trade, Mike Nicotera says.
The Red Sox have discussed potential deals with other teams, but Nicotera says Boston did not initiate the discussions. The Red Sox will listen to offers for the outfielder, but a team source told Speier that a trade would be surprising since “there isn’t a deal out there that makes sense.”
The Phillies have kicked the tires on Cameron and the Braves could also use a right-handed hitting outfielder who can handle center field.
Cameron missed significant time with kidney stones and an abdominal tear in 2010, as the Red Sox finished third in the AL East. This year, Cameron wants to win and stay healthy. He’ll likely get lots of playing time against left-handed pitching since Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew and David Ortiz all bat from the left side and Cameron, a right-handed hitter, handles southpaws well.
Cameron, who turns 38 this week, earns $7.25MM for 2011, the final year on his contract.
Cameron’s got ultra-supersub written all over him. He’s a luxury in that the Sox could carry on without him and should entertain offers should the right one come along, but with their payroll capabilities, absorbing his salary and keeping him as a defensive substitute/right handed bat off the bench is a good way to go.
At least he see’s where he’s at in his career and realizes he’s got a very cushy, well paid gig. He’ll probably play in 60-90 games this year and perhaps more if Frailsbury can’t stay healthy.
Yes, he’s frail because he took knees right to his ribs and they broke.
Agreed. I’m so sick of people hating on Ellsbury when all he’s done is play his heart out for Boston and then slide into Beltre’s knees and break his ribs.
He sure has. It’s getting extremely annoying. He’s still not 100% according to reports a few months ago. It was said he still has some discomfort in that area. It is not an easy injury to overcome especially when you steal bases and dive around in the outfield the way he does. The thing with Red Sox management and Ellsbury having issues with each other was so overblown because if it was that much of an issue someone would have swooped in and grabbed Ellsbury from them.
He sure has. It’s getting extremely annoying. He’s still not 100% according to reports a few months ago. It was said he still has some discomfort in that area. It is not an easy injury to overcome especially when you steal bases and dive around in the outfield the way he does. The thing with Red Sox management and Ellsbury having issues with each other was so overblown because if it was that much of an issue someone would have swooped in and grabbed Ellsbury from them.
Heck of a guy to have as a 4th outfielder. I wouldn’t trade him either. Let Kalish get regular at bats in Pawtucket and see how the season unfolds.
Well said. Kalish looks like he has EVERYTHING to become a great major leaguer but he still needs to get the reps in. Having him get a full season of AAA in after having a taste of the big leagues last year should fair well for the Sox. He projects to take over for Drew in 2012 so there is no rush. Let the kid develop.
Just a thought… imagine the speed in the outfield with Crawford, Ellsbury, and Kalish. That would be a very difficult outfield for hitters to find a gap in
Just a thought… imagine the speed in the outfield with Crawford, Ellsbury, and Kalish. That would be a very difficult outfield for hitters to find a gap in
Yeah the Sox can wait till mid season and if healthy im sure some NL contender who needs some speed and a lil pop in the outfield will overpay for him. Heck if not then yeah great defensive replacement for els or if needed drew(always a risk). So no rush theo find the right deal
Why would the Sox trade a good defensive outfielder, with power, that crushes lefties? Who could they replace him with via trade?
Because he’s 38 and if they can move him and get a great haul for him whether they get prospects and salary relief or some other really good package why not. Kalish is ready to be the 4th in the outfield. some one might really want him for a playoff push and pay through the nose.
You’re not going to get prospects and salary relief (and certainly not a “great haul”) for a player who is 38, under control for only a few months, and is paid too much money. As far as Kalish is concerned, while he could technically be the 4th outfielder, it makes zero sense to have another lefty on the bench. It also make no sense to sit Kalish on the bench in the majors instead of getting him consistent playing time in AAA, if he sits on the bench 4 days a week all you are accomplishing is stunting his growth and that’s certainly not what the Sox want to do with him.
completely agree. thats why i think only way you move him is if the package is great. not saying anything anyone would offer would be. but keep him, love him coming off the bench esp. with everyone being a lefty in the line up. and would love to see kalish play alot in the bigs but your right he needs pt and AAA is where he can get it next yr
Keep in mind if they do end up dealing Cam, I believe they still have McDonald under contract for another season too. Although I’d rather have Cameron on this team for the full season, McDonald did well filling in for us last year. He hit .294 vs LHP last year while playing every OF position. I wonder if he’s going to start the year in AAA as well. Either way you look at it you gotta love the depth the Sox have right now.
yeah with Nava too(i think). the injuries last yr gave us some depth in the outfield your right. never a bad thing. last yr proved that
It would also start his arbitration clock running.
Because he’s 38 and if they can move him and get a great haul for him whether they get prospects and salary relief or some other really good package why not. Kalish is ready to be the 4th in the outfield. some one might really want him for a playoff push and pay through the nose.
Cameron, at 38, is way over the hill. Like 2010, he won’t hold up physically. Expect him to play less than 40 games again. His mind may be willing but his body is not….
Limited role? Pretty sure he’ll do well in that. Platooning him and Drew in RF will be almost as good as having Werth playing full time.
Werth career OPS vs LHP – .944 (.881 last year, 1.080 in 2009)
Werth career OPS vs RHP – .807 (.937 last year, .806 in 2009)
Cameron career OPS vs LHP – .866 (1.128 last year, .954 in 2009)
Drew career OPS vs RHP – .921 (.875 last year, .932 in 2009)
Pretty similar numbers if you ask me.
Oh, and Cam put up those numbers last year playing with a torn abdomen.
You very well may be right, and he could end up injured again next season. But to this point there isn’t any trend to base an actual prediction that it *will* happen on. The guy had kidney stones and tore an abdominal muscle. There’s a pretty good chance that that doesn’t happen again next season.
You very well may be right, and he could end up injured again next season. But to this point there isn’t any trend to base an actual prediction that it *will* happen on. The guy had kidney stones and tore an abdominal muscle. There’s a pretty good chance that that doesn’t happen again next season.
He is one of the best conditioned althletes in all of sports. He’ll hold up just fine.
he actually played in 48 games last year n only got hurt because he collided with a train in Beltre
yea. How devastating would it be to the Rangers if Beltre takes out Andrus, Hamilton, and Murphy
Balls, the Sox are stacked. They’re going to be hard to stop this year.
It’s payback time! 🙂
Balls, the Sox are stacked. They’re going to be hard to stop this year.
Mike Cameron OPS vs LHP – 2010: 1.128, 2009: .954, Career: .866
JD Drew OPS vs RHP – 2010: .875, 2009: .932, Career: .921
To put Cam into perspective, Victor Martinez had a .844 OPS last year, so that’s about what you’re getting with Cam vs LHP.
To put Drew into perspective, Adrian Beltre had a .919 OPS last year, so that’s about what you’re getting with Drew vs RHP.
That’s a sick platoon.
kinda have to play drew though. 7 mil for cam to back up the outfield reasonable, 14 for drew little much for a reserve. your right though great platoon option but pricey
kinda have to play drew though. 7 mil for cam to back up the outfield reasonable, 14 for drew little much for a reserve. your right though great platoon option but pricey
Yeah it’s expensive, but at the same time, Drew and Cam are both getting to the point in their careers where they need limited roles, and even if we are paying $21mm for the two of them, I say get the absolute most you can out of them, and to get the absolute most, it looks like a platoon would be perfect.
Drew would get about 110 starts, Cam would get about 50 in RF, and then add another 25 between CF, LF, and DH, so they’re still both getting solid playing time.
Drew is pretty fragile, too. I would expect him to perform better than his career norms if he’s rested, which would increase his value.
that would be a great plan and i guess 21 mil not bad for RF platoon, esp if they keep healthy all year.
AGon is a lefty as well. So Cameron will provide precious right-handedness for the Sox.
AGon is a lefty as well. So Cameron will provide precious right-handedness for the Sox.
Agon actually hit LH pitchers better than RH pitchers. But yeah, with all the lefties Cameron’s right handedness and ability to hit lefties well will certainly come in handy.
AGon is a lefty as well. So Cameron will provide precious right-handedness for the Sox.
AGon is a lefty as well. So Cameron will provide precious right-handedness for the Sox.
ellsbury gets gets hurt..cameron goes from being backup to being starter
Somebody wants a WS ring! Fairly clear from this report that Cameron prefers a shot at the ring over an every day spot. And at his age, why not? +He’s a good fit for BOS anyway. They’re wise to keep him.
The only way I can see the Sox trading Cameron is if someone gives up a good prospect and takes all his salary (which would be reasonable for a starting CF) so they can get under the cap. Not that likely actually.
If you think a Cameron/Drew Platoon is wise, why not go with the same system at Catcher and DH. Check the spreads for Ortiz….McDonald could take up to 200 PAs away from Papi and we would have an OPS over 1.000 at that position. Its a cood fit for Varitek batting right and Salty Left too as we could get them in the 750-800 OPS range. The three Platoon could contribute in team OPS rising from 790 in 2010 to over 820 in 2011. That would add about 30 runs and 5-6 wins.