New York Mets General Manager Jim Duquette inked his second free agent of the offseason this weekend, signing former Seattle Mariners centerfielder Mike Cameron to a three-year contract to play in Flushing. But while the Mets seem convinced that Cameron is the answer to an outfield defense that has been outright scary for a few seasons, reaction in Mets Nation has been decidedly mixed -- like this passage from Betty's No Good:
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this deal. Sure, Cameron's defense in center field should be mighty helpful to the Mets' pitching staff. But aside from the fact that he meets the less than lofty standard of being more productive than either Roger Cedeno, Timo Perez or Jeff Duncan, Cameron doesn't really seem to put a significant dent into the Mets' offensive difficulties.
There was a time when SaberMets had doubts about Cameron, but a closer look at his defensive upside turned him around. The signing gets a thumbs up from Flushing Local as well.
The best summing up probably comes from Ducks On The Pond:
Mets fans...repeat after me: Mike Cameron is not the answer, but only a piece of the puzzle. Too often the Mets bring in a guy like Cameron and he's expected to bring home a ring in October. He's a good ballplayer, and his defense is unquestionable, but I don't want to hear the boo birds in July and August when he's hitting .250. Expect it, and you won't be disappointed.
The best take on Cameron I've seen came from my friend Peter White over at Mariners Musings. He was pretty sad to see him go, and Mets fans ought to feel lucky he's coming to Flushing. If you're a Mets fan, read his take and feel better about it.
