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Olney’s Latest: Hall, Cameron, Benson

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Buster Olney’s ESPN blog is always a good read.  A few nuggets from today’s posting:

  • Olney wonders whether the Brewers and Dodgers will revisit talks about Bill Hall.  There seems to be this general vibe that Hall is upset about moving positions again, even though he hasn’t said anything publicly.  Plus, he’d have to move back to third as a Dodger anyway.
  • According to Olney: "The Yankees were never seriously engaged in talks to sign Mike Cameron."  However you can’t really say Cameron’s agent used the Yankees to pump up Cameron’s price, since he signed for just one year and $6.2MM.
  • The Phils may send people to watch Kris Benson throw next week.  I believe this would be the second time they’ve observed him, so maybe it’s getting serious.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Feliz, Ellis, Lohse

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Ken Rosenthal checks in with a new column of hot stove material.

  • Rosenthal says some suitors are popping up for third baseman Pedro Feliz: the Dodgers, Brewers, Phillies, and Giants.  Phillies Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed interest today in an MLB.com chat.  Rosenthal admits that the Dodgers don’t seem like a great fit.  He says Bill Hall would have to be traded to make room for Feliz, though Tom Haudricourt implied today that Hall would stay put.  It was said Wednesday that the Giants’ talks with Feliz were stalling over his three-year demand.
  • Rosenthal suggests Mark Ellis would be a nice fit for Colorado, though keep in mind that the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser told us that he was the best bet among veterans to remain with Oakland for 2008.  The Rockies’ current plan is to go with Jayson Nix and keep Marcus Giles around as another option.  I’d be surprised if either pans out.
  • Instead of the four or even five-year demands we were hearing about for Kyle Lohse, Rosenthal says three years with a vesting option for the fourth would now be acceptable.  He believes Lohse’s salary could near $12MM.  Lohse recently said he’s down to about three suitors.
  • Rosenthal still expects the A’s to sign a free agent outfielder, with possible target Mike Cameron headed to Milwaukee.  Take a look at our newly updated free agent list to see who’s out there.

Brewers Sign Mike Cameron

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UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 5:21pm: Tom Haudricourt has the contract details.  Cameron gets a $1.25MM signing bonus and will make about $4.22MM in ’08 (missed out on $780K due to his suspension).  The 2009 option is for $10MM, plus a $750K buyout.  As Haudricourt says, in a way it’s a one-year, $6.22MM deal.  Were the Padres unwilling to pay this amount?  By the way, the signing isn’t a precursor to a Bill Hall trade.

FROM 1-11-08 at 2:18pm:

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers have signed center fielder Mike Cameron to a one-year deal with a club option for 2009.  The amount is not yet known, but this seems like a solid move by Doug Melvin.

Rosenthal adds that one reason the Yankees may have passed is that they were unwilling to pay both Cameron and Johan Santana.  (Really?)

Once Cameron finishes his 25 game stimulant suspension, he’ll push Bill Hall to third and Ryan Braun to left field.  So the Brewers gain defensively and get a career .251/.341/.445 hitter to play center (definitely above average for the position).

Brewers, Yankees Interested In Mike Cameron

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UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 11:58pm: Ken Rosenthal checks in, adding that the Cubs and Twins are on the fringes for Cameron.  However he expects Cameron to end up with the Yankees or Brewers, before anything is determined with Johan Santana.  The Yanks could always just keep Melky Cabrera or spin him off for prospects.  The Braves and Pirates have expressed interest in him in the past.

UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 9:04pm: Haudricourt says the Yankees’ are the Brewers’ main competition for Cameron, in the event they trade Melky Cabrera.  It’s known that A-Rod has been "privately endorsing" him. 

UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 10:23am: Haudricourt adds that the Brewers could be considering trading Hall, rather than changing his position again.  He says the fact that Doug Melvin didn’t return his calls may indicate something is going on.

FROM 1-09-08 at 9:20pm:

Both Ken Rosenthal and Tom Haudricourt are saying this evening that the Brewers are interested in free agent center fielder Mike Cameron.

Haudricourt is surprised, since the Brewers were supposedly targeting a left-handed hitting left fielder like Kenny Lofton or Luis Gonzalez.  Instead, they could shift Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left to make room for Cameron.

Rosenthal calls it "serious interest," but notes that moving Hall again might be a "delicate situation."  I’m sure Hall would understand if the signing made the team better.  Rosenthal says Cameron is drawing interest from at least two other clubs, which could include the Reds.

Brewers Interested In Green, Wilkerson, Feliz

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We know Brewers GM Doug Melvin has interest in Mike Cameron, Luis Gonzalez, and Kenny Lofton.  Tom Haudricourt spoke to Melvin today, and learned of some additional free agent options on the radar.

The other possibilities: Shawn Green, Brad Wilkerson, and Pedro Feliz.  Kind of a smattering of uninspiring veterans.  Acquiring Green or Wilkerson would mean Ryan Braun and Bill Hall staying in their current positions.  None of these acquisitions are a slam dunk, even for us armchair GMs.  Melvin told Haudricourt he’d like to resolve the situation soon. 

Marlins Interested In Luis Gonzalez

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A new suitor has emerged for free agent left fielder Luis Gonzalez: the Marlins.  According to Ken Rosenthal, they like the idea of bringing him aboard as a mentor and using him at first base and in left field.  Gonzo will have to choose between playing time or a contending team.

Rosenthal notes the Brewers and Mariners as other possibilities.  The Giants and Twins could also consider him.  Gonzalez hit .278/.359/.433 for the Dodgers in ’07, earning $7.35MM.  Rosenthal notes that he’s 498 hits shy of 3,000, but that would take four seasons of semi-regular playing time at the least.

Brewers Rumors: DeJesus, Lofton

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Tom Haudricourt recently spoke with Brewers’ GM Doug Melvin.

He learned that Melvin spoke with the Royals about David DeJesus at the Winter Meetings, but the Royals have backed off on those talks after signing Jose Guillen.  Melvin doesn’t expect DeJesus to be traded.  I talked to the Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton recently about DeJesus’ trade value, if you’re interested.

Meanwhile the Brewers are still considering Kenny Lofton.  They’re just debating whether they want to use him in left or move Bill Hall, neither of which appeals to them.

Brewers Considering Luis Gonzalez, Kenny Lofton

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The Brewers are in the hunt for a left-handed hitting left fielder.  Luis Gonzalez and Kenny Lofton remain under consideration.  With Gonzo, the interest is mutual.

I’m thinking Gonzalez would be happy with $4MM or so, maybe some incentives too.  I think he just wants to get 400+ ABs somewhere.  He could only play left field, which would seemingly lock Ryan Braun in at third.

Lofton could play left and Braun could stay at third.  Or, Lofton could shift to center, Bill Hall to third, and Braun to left.  I’m not sure which alignment is optimal.  Thoughts? 

Brewers Like Lofton?

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UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:50am: Brewers GM Doug Melvin says he hasn’t spoken to Lofton’s agent for weeks.

FROM 12-20-07 at 11:51am:

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that the Brewers have their eye on free agent center fielder Kenny Lofton.  Such a signing would allow them to shift Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left field.  How much of a defensive gain would they get from this?  One reader suggested to me that the Crew might instead just use Lofton in left and leave Hall and Braun where they are.

Lofton is terrible against southpaws, so the Brewers would need to find a platoon partner.  Corey Hart could be that guy but that would open up right field.  The Brewers’ interest in Lofton dates back to July, according to Evan Grant.

Crasnick says the Brewers are also considering Luis Gonzalez, if they decide not to move Braun.  Previously we’ve heard the Giants, Rangers, Twins, and White Sox could be interested.

Odds and Ends: Santana, Cabrera, Kapler

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A few good reads that I didn’t know how to fit elsewhere.

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