Padres end center-fielder search with Cameron

By Jim Callis
November 18, 2005

The Padres have been looking for a center fielder they can count on since moving into Petco Park, and they believe they finally found their man on Friday. San Diego acquired Mike Cameron from the Mets in exchange for Xavier Nady.

Cameron, 32, gives the Padres their best defensive center fielder since they moved into spacious Petco before the 2004 season. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Cameron spent most of his 2005 season in right field, in deference to Carlos Beltran with the Mets, but can chase fly balls into the gaps with anyone. On offense, he offers power and speed, though he makes inconsistent contact and thus doesn't hit for high average. His walk rate declined in two years with the Mets, though it remains decent. Cameron batted .273/.342/.477 with 12 homers, 39 RBIs and 13 steals in 76 games in 2005. His season ended after a frightening outfield collision with Beltran at Petco on Aug. 11, in which he broke his nose, cheekbone and the orbital socket around his right eye. He'll make $6 million this season, the last in a three-year $19.5 million contract that includes a $7 million club option or $500,000 buyout for 2007. Cameron is a career .249/.340/.442 hitter with 173 homers, 625 RBIs and 229 steals in 1,268 games.

Nady, 27, never was able to establish himself as a full-time regular in San Diego after signing a five-year, $2.85 million major league contract as a second-round pick in 2000. Power is his best tool and nothing else in his game stands out as a plus. His long swing has led to strikeouts and mediocre batting averages, and his speed and defense (at both first base and the outfield corners) are just so-so. Nady hit .261/.321/.439 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 124 games for the Padres in 2005. He may platoon at first base with lefthanded-hitting Mike Jacobs for the Mets. Nady is a career .263/.320/.414 hitter with 25 homers and 91 RBIs in 269 games.

Nady doesn't seem like a tremendous return for Cameron, who fills a need for the Padres. But the Mets couldn't play Cameron at his best position and will use the savings on his contract to pursue free agents this offseason.