Mets Sign Cameron



If nothing else, the Mets' defense should be seriously improved up the middle in 2004 with the signing of CF Mike Cameron to a 3 year, $19.5 million contract. Along with the addition of Kazuo Matsui, New York are making steps to improve one of the team's most glaring deficiencies, ie. their inability to catch the fucking ball.



Given recent reports that owner Fred WIlpon had given GM Jim Duquette only another $7 million or so for the 2004 payroll following the Matsui signing, the acquisition of Cameron is a bit of a surprise. The former Gold Glove CF was also being courted by the A's, though his stated preference to play on the East Coast has apparently worked in the Mets' favor.

Oakland's plan B, to sign Saddam Hussein to play CF, appears to be in jeopardy.

I'm curious where Cameron will figure in the batting order. Matsui and Reyes are the most obvious options at 1-2, and Piazza and Floyd figure to follow. Cameron's occasional displays of power mark him as one of the Mets' few long ball threats, and I'd guess he's a likely candidate to hit 5th. Cameron strikes out an awful lot --- 137 times in 534 AB's last year, 176 times in 545 AB's in 2002 --- as ESPN's Jerry Crasnick noted, it would be a bit of a stretch to expect him to suddenly develop patience at the plate at the age of 31.

Posted: Sun - December 14, 2003 at 07:38 AM      

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