Brewers Sign Mike Cameron

Cameron deal in place, pending physical
By Tom Haudricourt
Friday, Jan 11 2008, 04:47 PM

The Brewers won't be officially announcing the signing of free agent centerfielder Mike Cameron today because the deal is contingent on him passing a physical. It's my understanding that physical will be Monday.

But I've talked to people familiar with the deal and here's what I know. Cameron will get a $1.25 million signing bonus and a $5 million salary in 2008. But, because he is suspended for the first 25 games of the season for testing positive for a banned stimulant, he won't be paid for those games.

So, instead of the $5 million, Cameron actually will make around $4.22 million in salary. A season is based on 180 days of play and Cameron will miss 28 days ($27,778 per day). Barring postponements, he'll be eligible to play his first game on April 29 in Chicago.

The Brewers hold a $10 million option on Cameron for 2009 with a $750,000 buyout. So, if he plays for them one year, the Brewers' financial commitment will be the $1.25 million signing bonus, $4.22 million in actual pay and the $750,000 buyout, which comes to $6.22 million.

And here's something else that was made clear to me by folks in the know. This is not the precursor to another deal. The plan is to move Bill Hall from center to third and Ryan Braun from third to left field, and both players have been told that.

In the first 25 games without Cameron, look for the Brewers to use backup outfielders such as Tony Gwynn Jr. and Gabe Gross in center. Corey Hart will stay in right and Braun in left.

This makes the Brewers a very right-handed-hitting team but they just couldn't find a left-handed hitter they felt did as much for them as adding Cameron. The major emphasis of this move is to improve a defense that ranked 13th in the NL last year, which certainly didn't help the pitching staff.

Check out my story in the JS tomorrow morning for more details.

Monday, January 14, 2008
Cameron, Brewers finalize contract
Detroit News Wire services

MILWAUKEE -- Mike Cameron and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized a $7 million, one-year contract Monday.

The sides had reached an agreement Friday that was subject to the 35-year-old outfielder passing a physical.

"Mike has a rare combination of defense, power and baserunning along with the ability to work the count," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "He is also a leader in the clubhouse."

A three-time Gold Glove winner, Cameron hit .242 with 21 home runs and 78 RBIs last season for the San Diego Padres.

Milwaukee has had a void in the outfield since longtime Brewer Geoff Jenkins left for a $13 million, two-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. In addition, Kevin Mench became a free agent when Milwaukee failed to offer a 2008 contract.

Cameron is suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant. He blamed the positive test on a tainted supplement.