Veteran Outfielder Mike Cameron Announces Retirement

Last season, an aging Mike Cameron was absolutely terrible with the Red Sox, and he talked about retirement. He wound up on the Marlins, with whom he improved, but then he was released in September after allegedly getting into an argument with a flight attendant. It was not the greatest of Cameron's 38 years.

But Cameron's 2011 gets to end on a positive note, now, as - according to Ken Rosenthal - the free agent outfielder has signed with the Washington Nationals. You know, those Washington Nationals that everybody likes to talk about as a potential sleeper.

The Nationals were recently said to have interest in Cameron. Over the weekend, the Indians emerged as the apparent favorites, but here it looks like the Nationals have won out. While Cameron is getting a minor league contract instead of a major league contract, the Nationals' current outfield situation is thin enough that Cameron should make the team.

Cameron turns 39 in January, which is an issue. He's obviously not the defender that he used to be, and the last two years he's posted an 82 OPS+. There's a reason - a few reasons, really - why a guy with Mike Cameron's track record had to settle for a minor league contract. But a healthy Cameron should be a better Cameron, and he can still hit lefties and cut it in center. As outfield depth goes, you could do a lot worse.