Will the Brewers pick up Mike Cameron's $10 million option next year?  On the surface it seems obvious that they would... however Cameron may earn Class B free agent distinction, allowing the Brewers to pick up another draft pick in next year's compensation round.  Can the Brewers decline Cameron's 2009 option and instead offer him arbitration?  If he doesn't accept and signs with another team, the Brewers will get a compenstation pick.  If he does accept, his salary would probably be less that $10 million. 

This site is supposvely attempting to reverse-engineer the Elias rankings according to MLBTR, and currently lists Cameron near the middle of the Class B pack.

http://tigers-thoughts.blogspot.com/2008/08/projected-elias-rankings.html

If Cameron can produce anywhere near the level he has this year, that $10 million is gravy, and probably worth more in the Crew's line up than a B-compensation pick.

With the void left in starting pitching I don't see how the brewers pick up Cameron's option....10 million! No effing way, but the only problem is there really aren't other options.

When is the deadline to pick up this option?

 A lot of agents put clauses into contracts with options that keeps teams from offering arby if there is a declined option. Not sure if that is the case here, but I've heard it before.

Regardless, I think Cam's option is probably going to be picked up. I would use him as a starter for most of next year, while working either Braun or Hart (preferably Braun) in at CF in ST and when the situation presents itself to get ready for 2010.

How's that sound?

I don't see any other option for CF having an OBP of better than .350.  Gwynn could sniff this if he had a career year, but he wouldn't have nearly the number of xBH's and runs created potential.  Keep him for a year.  I'm thinking that the organization will rethink Gamel at third and put him in LF for next year in Nashville.  That would allow a Gamel/Hart/Braun outfield for 2010.  Cameron will play through next year and get a heart-felt thank you as he goes somewhere else that needs him as a veteran 4th outfielder. 

Not to look too far ahead, but I think next year's team will look, well, the same as this year's with an exception at 3B.  So 2010 will be:

Salome
Prince
Weeks
Hardy
3B ?????
Gamel
Braun
Hart
Yo/Parra/Bush/Jeffress/Soup (the rotation will be mixed up, IMO, but this is my first thought)

That seems scary if they can get progressively better for each player on offense and defense. 

belding:

With the void left in starting pitching I don't see how the brewers pick up Cameron's option....10 million! No effing way, but the only problem is there really aren't other options.

belding:

When is the deadline to pick up this option?

UWWhitewaterGrad:

I don't see any other option for CF having an OBP of better than .350.  Gwynn could sniff this if he had a career year, but he wouldn't have nearly the number of xBH's and runs created potential.  Keep him for a year. 

UWWhitewaterGrad:

I'm thinking that the organization will rethink Gamel at third and put him in LF for next year in Nashville.

UWWhitewaterGrad:

  That would allow a Gamel/Hart/Braun outfield for 2010. 

UWWhitewaterGrad:

Cameron will play through next year and get a heart-felt thank you as he goes somewhere else that needs him as a veteran 4th outfielder. 

UWWhitewaterGrad:

Not to look too far ahead, but I think next year's team will look, well, the same as this year's with an exception at 3B.  So 2010 will be:

Salome
Prince
Weeks
Hardy
3B ?????
Gamel
Braun
Hart
Yo/Parra/Bush/Jeffress/Soup (the rotation will be mixed up, IMO, but this is my first thought)

Either Salome or LuCroy or both should be able to hold down the C job by 2010. I really like LuCroy.

Jeffress to open 2010 in the bigs seems like a stretch to me given the control issues, but not impossible. I still think that a trade/FA signing will play a big part in the mid rotation next year and for the next few, but we'll have to see.

10 million seems astronomical to me, he would be the highest paid player on the team!  Let him go, especially if you think he would only be utilized for half the year.  What about Kapler?  He has had a great year and could easily get 60-70 starts next year.  What about weeks?  Can he play outfield?  Escobar, Hardy and Gamel sound much better in the infield, just another thought....I know outfield was talked about when he was drafted.

belding:

10 million seems astronomical to me, he would be the highest paid player on the team!  Let him go, especially if you think he would only be utilized for half the year.  What about Kapler?  He has had a great year and could easily get 60-70 starts next year.  What about weeks?  Can he play outfield?  Escobar, Hardy and Gamel sound much better in the infield, just another thought....I know outfield was talked about when he was drafted.

It'll be picked up for the following reasons:

1. There is no better CF option.

2. The Crew should already get 4 comp picks.

3. He should have no problem obtaining B status after 09 and can maybe move up to A. After all, he missed 25 games this year.

It just dawned on me that Cam and Sup would be grossing 25% of the brewers payroll.  Good grief.

Einsteinhood:

 A lot of agents put clauses into contracts with options that keeps teams from offering arby if there is a declined option. Not sure if that is the case here, but I've heard it before.

Regardless, I think Cam's option is probably going to be picked up. I would use him as a starter for most of next year, while working either Braun or Hart (preferably Braun) in at CF in ST and when the situation presents itself to get ready for 2010.

How's that sound?

Sounds fantastic.  Imagine the value of Ryan Braun if he could play a plus defense in CF...  

It was also noted that Cameron is playing so well this year that he could move up to a class A free agent next year, which I could see happening given his current tear.  Cam would be a hands down class A if Elias would Un-*** their ratings and stop grouping CF in with RF, LF, and 1B. 

Einsteinhood:

 A lot of agents put clauses into contracts with options that keeps teams from offering arby if there is a declined option. Not sure if that is the case here, but I've heard it before.

Regardless, I think Cam's option is probably going to be picked up. I would use him as a starter for most of next year, while working either Braun or Hart (preferably Braun) in at CF in ST and when the situation presents itself to get ready for 2010.

How's that sound?

Let me get this straight.  You are advocating mike Cameron for $10M, but you threw a hissy fit at the thought of Aaron Rowand for $12 M per year???  Rowand is a FAR superior player to Cameron.  4 year deal or not, Rowand has a long way to drop to get to Cameron's level.

brewhawk:

Einsteinhood:

 A lot of agents put clauses into contracts with options that keeps teams from offering arby if there is a declined option. Not sure if that is the case here, but I've heard it before.

Regardless, I think Cam's option is probably going to be picked up. I would use him as a starter for most of next year, while working either Braun or Hart (preferably Braun) in at CF in ST and when the situation presents itself to get ready for 2010.

How's that sound?

Let me get this straight.  You are advocating mike Cameron for $10M, but you threw a hissy fit at the thought of Aaron Rowand for $12 M per year???  Rowand is a FAR superior player to Cameron.  4 year deal or not, Rowand has a long way to drop to get to Cameron's level.

uh oh, not this again...

Cameron has been a very pleasant surprise.  Though I wasn't thrilled with the deal at the time, he definately has delivered.  I still wish we had more diversity in our lineup and thought CF would be a perfect position in which to get some of that (you know, maybe a high OBP guy that doesn't K all the time intead of the same "3 outcomes" guy that dominates our lineup).  Cameron's defense and clubhouse leadership has been undeniable.  I just hope we can squeeze one more good year out of him because I don't see a reasonable replacement.

Rowand is so far superior that his 2008 OBP is .006 lower than Cam's, and his 2008 SLG is .095 lower!

Cam also has a shot at a 20/20 season -- he's already above 20 HR, and has 15 SB.

Rowand? 12 HR / 2 SB.

Their career lines?

Rowand: .285/.344/.458

Cameron: .251/.341/.450

You're right, Rowand has a long way to go to fall to Cam's level -- a full .011 OPS points.

And of course, Rowand doesn't have a single 20/20 season. Cam? He has 5 of them, and 3 other seasons that are at least 15/15...

For players in such a close range of production for their careers, Cam's power / speed sets him well apart from Rowand.