Thursday, November 12, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mike Cameron

The Reds finally have their center fielder.

Soldifying one of the paramount needs of their rebuilding process, the Reds on Wednesday acquired 25-year-old speedster Mike Cameron, whom they hope to be their center fielder of the future.

Cameron, a highly-touted five-tool prospect coming off a rocky sophomore season in the majors, came in a trade from the ChicagoWhite Sox in exchange for 23-year-old first baseman Paul Konerko, a power-hitting prospect who lost out to Sean Casey in the first base derby.

The trade capped an extraordinary two days for Reds General Manager Jim Bowden, whose furious activity at the general manager's meetings in Naples, Fla., resulted in the addition of a top-quality starting pitcher (Denny Neagle), a proven right fielder (Michael Tucker) and an impressive pitching prospect (21-year-old Rob Bell) and a young center fielder with defensive prowess (Cameron).

"I think we have a better team. We've definitely improved the club," Bowden said. "We filled some holes. One of our goals was to get another top starter, and we wanted to improve our defense and speed. With our payroll limitations the way they are, we're giving the fans a good team to watch. I think if these guys produce the way they're capable, we can surprise some people."

CAMERON FILE

Bats/Throws: Right/right Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds Position: Center field Age: 25 Hometown: LaGrange, Ga. Telling stats: Has struck at least 100 times in each of his last six seasons. In the minors: Drafted in 18th round of June 1991 Draft . . . Never hit above .249 and had a total of minor-league 20 home runs, entering 1996 . . . Had a breakthrough year in 1996. Hit .300, led Southern League with 120 runs score, also had 28 home runs and 77 RBI . . . Was selected as Southen League's best basestealer and most exciting player by Baseball America after '96 season. In the majors: Spent most of '97 with the White Sox. Hit .259 with 14 home runs and 55 RBI. Stole 23 bases in 25 tries. Struck out 105 times in 379 at-bats . . . Slipped statistically in '98. Hit .210 with eight homers and 43 RBI. Stole 27 bases in 38 tries.

Unlike Bell, who is still a couple steps from the majors, Cameron will step in immediately in the Reds' outfield competition, which is a five-way battle right now. That could change if Bowden makes more deals.

Bowden, however, cautioned that Cameron has yet to prove he is in the elite class of center fielders with the likes of Kenny Lofton, Marquis Grissom or Andruw Jones. But Cameron has the potential, and the Reds believe he'll get there. They had been pursuing him for three years, since they first spotted him at a Double-A All-Star game, but the Sox weren't willing to deal until now.

"He has everything we like," Bowden said. "He's quite a good athlete, he has power, tremendous speed, all the raw tools. Michael's a good defensive center fielder who's not afraid to climb over the wall."

Cameron, playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, said he was shocked to be traded but is excited to come to a team with other talented young players.

"It's a great opportunity for us to build a foundation," he said. "We were young in Chicago, now we'll be young in Cincinnati. It's great for me. Hopefully I can use my speed to cover a lot of ground over there on the artificial turf.

When told the Reds have been searching hard for a quality center fielder, Cameron said, "Now they've got one. I just need to turn myself around offensively, and if I do, maybe I can be an All-Star over there."

Cameron has been one of the most highly touted young center fielders in baseball since his impressive rise through the White Sox's minor league system. He earned brief flashes with the Sox in 1995 and '96, and his rookie year, 1997, was a smashing debut as he hit .259 with 14 homers, 55 RBI, 23 stolen bases and 55 walks in just 379 at-bats.

But last year was tough on the still-developing talent, who managed to raise his average to a paltry .210 by season's end with eight homers and 43 RBI, though he did steal 27 bases and continued to play stellar defense.

"Hopefully I can start over and get off to a good start in Cincinnati," Cameron said. "I put too many expectations on myself, too much added pressure. I wasn't doing the things Mike Cameron can do, I was doing what other people wanted me to do."

CROWDED OUTFIELD

Adding Mike Cameron to the mix gives the Reds eight outfielders. Here's a look at the Reds' crowded outfield (with 1998 statistics): HR RBI SB AVG. Dmitri Young 14 83 2 .310 Jeffrey Hammonds 0 11 1 .302 Reggie Sanders 14 59 20 .268 Pat Watkins 2 15 1 .265 Chris Stynes 6 27 15 .254 Michael Tucker 13 46 8 .244 Mike Cameron 8 43 27 .210 Tony Tarasco 1 4 0 .208

Cameron has a problem with strikeouts; he has whiffed 105 and 101 times in his two big league seasons.

"We feel he has a way to go, but when you look at his first 800 at-bats in the big leagues, they were impressive," Bowden said. "In '97, he had a great year, and last year he made some adjustments that didn't work. He needs to make some adjustments. He's going to have to compete for a job. How great a player he is depends on how far his bat goes."

Reds Triple-A manager Dave Miley, who is managing Cameron in winter league ball in the Dominican Republic, says: "All the tools are there. He's a great kid."

Cameron will compete with Jeffrey Hammonds for the center field job next season, with Dmitri Young in left and either Hammonds, Tucker or Reggie Sanders in right. Sanders, the one-time star Reds prospect, seems to be getting pushed out and could be dealt this winter.

Bowden won't reveal his plans, but the 30-year-old Sanders is the odd man out. Young is 24 and Cameron 25 and Hammonds and Tucker 27. Hammonds, though, has more trade value than Sanders, whose $3.7 million contract is tough to dump.

"We're going to let them fight it out to figure out who's going to play," Bowden said. "That's better than us figuring it out. I like competition in spring training."

Konerko, obtained with Dennys Reyes in the July trade for reliever Jeff Shaw, is expected to be a solid power hitter in the majors, but did not impress the Reds' brass the way Casey did. Konerko may hit more homers, but the Reds believe Casey and Young, also a first baseman, are the better overall hitters.

With the Sox, Konerko will get a shot at the first base job, with Frank Thomas permanently moving to designated hitter.

"We felt Casey really demonstrated he was going to hit at the major league level, and he has tremendous leadership in the clubhouse," Bowden said. "Plus, he's a left-handed bat and you can't win championships without left-handed bats. We're confident those are the guys (Casey and Young) we want to build around."