Baseball Digest Daily

The San Diego Padres today announced that the club has exercised the 2007 contractual options for outfielder Mike Cameron and infielder/outfielder Russell Branyan. In addition, the team has declined to exercise the options for catcher Mike Piazza and infielder/outfielder Ryan Klesko. Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers made the announcements.

Cameron, 33, hit .268 (148-for-552) with 34 doubles, nine triples, 22 home runs, 83 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 141 games for the Padres in 2006. His 88 runs scored and 65 extra-base hits led all San Diego batters, while his 83 RBI were tied for the club lead. Over parts of 12 Major League seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1995-98), Cincinnati Reds (1999), Seattle Mariners (2000-03), New York Mets (2004-05) and Padres (2006), Cameron has a career batting average of .252 (1228-for-4881) with 272 doubles, 48 triples, 195 home runs, 708 RBI, 778 runs scored and 254 stolen bases in 1,409 games. Cameron, who earned Rawlings Gold Glove Awards in 2001 and 2003, was originally acquired by the Padres in a trade with the New York Mets on November 18, 2005.

The 30-year-old Branyan batted .292 (21-for-72) with six home runs and nine RBI in 27 games for San Diego in 2006. Acquired by the Padres in a trade with Tampa Bay on August 24, Branyan combined to hit .228 (55-for-241) with 18 home runs and 36 RBI in 91 games between the Padres and Devil Rays in 2006. In 627 career Major League games over parts of nine seasons with the Cleveland Indians (1998-2002), Cincinnati Reds (2002-03), Milwaukee Brewers (2004-05), Devil Rays (2006) and Padres (2006), he has a .232 batting average (395-for-1705) with 83 doubles, 111 home runs, 274 RBI and 237 runs scored.

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White Sox Pick Up Options on Buehrle, Dye, and Iguchi

by Joe Hamrahi on Mon 30 Oct 2006 02:21 PM EST

The Chicago White Sox have exercised the 2007 club options on the contracts of left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle, outfielder Jermaine Dye and second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. The White Sox also declined the 2007 club option on right-handed pitcher Dustin Hermanson.

Under terms on the contracts, Buehrle will earn $9,500,000 in 2007, Dye will receive $6,750,000 or $7,000,000 pending results of American League postseason award balloting, and Iguchi will earn a $3,250,000 base salary. Hermanson will receive a $500,000 buyout on the $3,650,000 club option.

Buehrle, 27, went 12-13 with a 4.99 ERA (113 ER/204.0 IP) in 32 starts for the White Sox in 2006. He suffered his first career losing record but became the first pitcher in Sox history to make 30 or more starts in six consecutive seasons.

Buehrle also became one of seven pitchers in franchise history to record 10 or more victories in six straight campaigns, and he is one of four active pitchers to throw at least 200.0 IP in each of the last six seasons.

Dye, 33, was named to The Sporting News All-Star Team after hitting .315 with a career-high 44 home runs and 120 RBI in 146 games. Dye’s 44 home runs are the second-highest total in Sox history behind Albert Belle’s 48 in 1998.

Courtesy of the White Sox Media Relations Department

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Free Agents Hit the Market

by Joe Hamrahi on Mon 30 Oct 2006 12:27 AM EST

Here is the list of 83 players who have filed for free agency. Eligible players may file through Nov. 11 (c-filed provisionally pending decision by club on 2007 option):

AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE (3) - Chris Gomez, ss; Russ Ortiz, rhp; Chris Widger, c.

BOSTON (3) - Gabe Kapler, of; Doug Mirabelli, c; Trot Nixon, of.

CHICAGO (2) - Sandy Alomar Jr., c; David Riske, rhp.

KANSAS CITY (1) - Doug Mientkiewicz, 1b.

LOS ANGELES (3) - Darin Erstad, c; Adam Kennedy, 2b; J.C. Romero, lhp.

MINNESOTA (3) - Phil Nevin, 1b; Shannon Stewart, of; Rondell White, of.

NEW YORK (3) - Miguel Cairo, 2b; Octavio Dotel, rhp; Craig Wilson, of.

OAKLAND (2) - Jay Payton, of; Frank Thomas, 1b.

SEATTLE (1) - Gil Meche, rhp.

TEXAS (5) - Rod Barajas, c; Mark DeRosa, ss; Adam Eaton, rhp; Gary Matthews Jr., of; Eric Young, 2b.

TORONTO (3) - Frank Catalanotto, of; Ted Lilly, lhp; Justin Speier, rhp.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA (1) - Luis Gonzalez, of.

ATLANTA (4) - Danys Baez, rhp; Todd Pratt, c; John Thomson, rhp; Daryle Ward, 1b.

CHICAGO (3) - Henry Blanco, c; Juan Pierre, of; Kerry Wood, rhp.

CINCINNATI (4) - Royce Clayton, ss; Todd Hollandsworth, of; Jason Johnson, rhp; David Weathers, rhp.

COLORADO (2) - c-Ray King, lhp; Tom Martin, lhp.

FLORIDA (4) - Joe Borowski, rhp; Wes Helms, 3b; Matt Herges, rhp; Brian Moehler, rhp.

HOUSTON (1) - Aubrey Huff, 3b.

LOS ANGELES (3) - Nomar Garciaparra, 1b; Julio Lugo, ss; Ramon E. Martinez, 2b.

MILWAUKEE (3) - Jeff Cirillo, 3b; Tony Graffanino, 2b; Tomo Ohka, rhp.

NEW YORK (7) - Cliff Floyd, of; Orlando Hernandez, rhp; Ricky Ledee, of; Steve Trachsel, rhp; Michael Tucker, rf; Jose Valentin, 2b; Chris Woodward, ss.

PHILADELPHIA (5) - Aaron Fultz, lhp; Mike Lieberthal, c; Arthur Rhodes, lhp; Rick White, rhp; Randy Wolf, lhp.

PITTSBURGH (1) - Joe Randa, 3b.

ST. LOUIS (1) - Gary Bennett, c;

SAN DIEGO (6) - Geoff Blum, 3b; Alan Embree, lhp; Shawn Estes, lhp; Dave Roberts, of; Rudy Seanez, rhp; Todd Walker, 2b.

SAN FRANCISCO (7) - Moises Alou, rf; Barry Bonds, lf; Todd Greene, c; Shea Hillenbrand, 1b; Steve Kline, lhp; Jason Schmidt, rhp; Mike Stanton, lhp.

WASHINGTON (2) - Tony Armas Jr., rhp; Alfonso Soriano, 2b.

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