Centerfielder Mike Cameron and catcher Jason Kendall produced as expected, tempering their offensive shortcomings with their defensive prowess and leadership.
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It is important to be strong defensively up the middle to be a playoff contender. Cameron and Kendall handled those positions effectively but made $10.7 million and $5 million, respectively. Both players are free agents and would have to agree to significant pay cuts to fit the budget for next year. Cameron will be 37 next season and Kendall turns 36 in June, so it might be time to look for younger options.
I understand for argument's sake that it is convenient to lump the two veterans that are going into free agency this year together, but that's about it for any comparisons that could be made between the two.
Jason Kendall is a non-entity at the plate and for all his supposed great leadership skills he did catch for the worst pitching staff in baseball this year. For someone who is praised for calling great games he should shoulder part of the blame for the collapse this year.
Cameron, meanwhile, had a season that was just a little worse than last year and completely in line with his career averages -
2008 - .243/.331/.477
2009 - .256/.353/.450
career - .250/.341/.448
He has been, by all accounts, an above-average center-fielder and could be considered a bargain at $10 million. Lucky for the Brewers, Cameron has said he'd take a sacrifice to stay in Milwaukee. Considering, as Haudricourt notes, that there aren't any in-system replacements for Cameron the Brewers might want to think about taking him up on that offer.
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