Kevin

Cameron

Rust is a perfectly valid excuse here. Cameron, a Rule 5 pick, had pitched 16 1/3 scoreless innings despite walking 15 batters.

Cameron has pitched well with a 3.44 ERA and 1.145 WHIP in 18 1/3 innings, but the A’s needed his roster spot for Tuesday’s nights starter Vin Mazzaro. Cameron may have deserved a better fate, but manager Bob Geren said he prefers to have Edgar Gonzalez available to pitch multiple innings at a time.

Cameron takes one of the roster spots opened up by Nomar Garciaparra and Mark Ellis hitting the DL. He had a 3.27 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 11 innings at Triple-A, but doesn’t figure to play a prominent role in the A’s bullpen.

Cameron has been out since early May with a sprained right elbow and the Padres apparently can’t find room for him in the bullpen despite a 1.69 ERA in a dozen minor league outings and a 2.91 career ERA in 58 big league appearances.

The Padres are calling in a first-degree sprain, so it’s possible he’ll return before the end of the month. Enrique Gonzalez could replace him in San Diego’s bullpen.

He’ll pitch out of the bullpen and take the roster spot of Kevin Cameron, who’s headed for the disabled list with a sprained elbow ligament. Estes is 4-2 with a 3.67 ERA in six starts at Triple-A and had the ability to opt out of his contract if he wasn’t in the majors by May 15, but won’t be a fantasy factor.

The middle reliever can throw on the side and could be ready to go by early next week.

Cameron was set back by a mild hamstring pull last week.

Cameron was struck while walking in the outfield during batting practice. He threw a bullpen session Thursday with someone else catching return throws for him. Although he’ll be able to keep his arm in shape, it’s unclear when he’ll return to game action. He’s already missed time with a hamstring strain this spring, so he might begin the year on the DL.

Cameron had a shortened spring because of the fractured left thumb he surrendered earlier this month, and it didn’t help his case that he had options left and Enrique Gonzalez didn’t. Cameron is still the far better bet for the season, and he might have a chance to get his spot back by the end of April. Rodriguez’s departure guarantees that Callix Crabbe will have a spot.