According to Sean McAdam's source, the Boston Red Sox have released outfielder Mike Cameron.

This is an exceptionally preliminary report, but McAdam's wired into the Red Sox as well as anyone, so this is probably true.

If and when this news becomes official, it will

• be surprising because Cameron's making $7.25 million this season, which means the Sox are eating roughly $3.6 million, but
• be unsurprising because Cameron's been a complete waste of money and plate appearances since joining the Red Sox last year.

Cameron was signed, for two years and $15.5 million, to provide stellar outfield defense and a solid bat toward the bottom of the lineup. But last year he wasn't healthy enough to play much, and this year even when he's been able to play, he's played poorly. Currently saddled with a horrific .149/.212/.266 line in 33 games, Cameron simply hasn't shown any indication that he's a better player at this point than Josh Reddick or even Darnell McDonald.

Cameron might hook on with another club, if he seems reasonably healthy. If not, it's been a nice run.