Yesterday, the lovable Scott Boras took to the media in order to try and find his client, the 36-year old outfielder, Johnny Damon, a well furnished home. Speaking to Lynn Henning of the Detroit News, Boras connected Damon to the Tigers, who could presumably use a reliable left fielder. “Johnny believes the addition of him to Detroit’s lineup would make the Tigers a winner,” said the agent. “I can make the Detroit Tigers a winner,” Boras stated, quoting his still homeless outfielder. Strangely, though, while Boras often utilizes an assortment of media channels in order to talk up his customers, doing so to a geographically specific news outlet – one that is based in Detroit – was somewhat atypical. In this instance, Boras attempted to peddle Damon to one particular party rather than to a series of parties, and, when one asks why, exactly, this occurred, the reasoning seems fairly clear. While they would be loathe to admit it, Johnny Damon is currently desperate to find a new team for 2010 and Boras’ latest is representative of that.
As stated by ESPN’s Buster Olney, “The fact that Boras told the Detroit News how much Damon wants to play for the Tigers is being read, within the industry, as a sign that Damon isn’t exactly flush with options right now.” The Rays, Jays, Braves, and Tigers, in no particular order, are perceived as the only teams with any sort of interest in Damon, however, given Boras’ conversation with Lynn Henning, one wonders just how enthusiastic the cited parties really are about the 36-year old outfielder. The apparent lack of legitimate interest in Damon has sparked hope in those who still wish to see a Yankees-Damon reunion. Joe at River Ave Blues wrote about the idea yesterday while Joel Sherman of the NY Post contemplates the situation in his latest piece. While such a scenario is extremely unlikely, it is certainly not impossible (just improbable). The Yankees would presumably have to trade one of Randy Winn or Chad Gaudin, or perhaps both, in order to make such a deal happen, although this is easier said than done. In addition, Brian Cashman seems rather pleased with the flexibility provided to Joe Girardi by the team’s current roster, therefore, I think it is safe to say that such a remarriage is more than doubtful. After all, Damon is the desperate one, not the Yankees.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
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13 Responses to Desperate Damon
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TIQ IQ
One year, 1.5 million dollar contract. How great would that be? He’d be making less money than Randy Winn
Hahahaha!
The best part is then the Yanks COULD offer him arbitration where he’d get a raise up to $3M (he’d surely decline it) and the Yanks would get their picks.
Having said that, signing Damon now would be ridiculous. The Yanks would be forced to make a trade and it’s never good to be dealing from a position of need/weakness.
I was thinking the same, and I would have absolutely no problem being forced to make a trade. I mean at worst you give Hoffmann back to the Dodgers and run with a bench of Pena, Cervelli, Gardner and Winn which is a crazy good defensive bench.
It’s sad… I was so sure that he was returning. Now? He is just… sad.
Everyone needs to remember, even 1 million is 1.5. So, unless Gaudin gets dealt (Winn can’t without his permission, making it all the less likely), this isn’t happening. And dealing the teams pitching depth just isn’t a real smart idea.
Eh, I would deal Gaudin in a second if it meant getting Damon back. The Yankees have a lot of depth and I don’t feel as though Gaudin would be missed.
You can never have too much pitching, as we learned last year when our #2 starter (Wang) was done by May and our #5 starter’s spot was a revolving door of Chamberlain, Hughes, Mitre, Gaudin, Aceves, etc.
I don’t think the Yanks woud be wise to trade away pitching depth at the moment…
I see that, but if it means getting a consistent offensive producer in return, I’m for it. It’s easier to find another depth-only arm later on than it is to find another bat like Damon’s. The Yankees have guys in the minors who can step up, guys in their bullpen who can step up, so I’m not very concerned about the pitching.
According to ESPN.com, Reed Johnson signed with the Dodgers for 1Y/$800K. Wow, that is a serious bargain-basement price.
His medicals must be pretty bad. Forget about the Yankees, the fact that no club offered him more when guys like Ankiel are pulling down big dough suggests people are afraid of his health. That said, I would have considered bringing him AND Winn in for depth (Im not too attached to Hoffmann).
Agreed.
Damon was so played by Cashman. He and Boras watched his market value drop from 13M to Bargain status!
How I wish all GM’s would study Cashman’s model of handling of a stupid fool of an agent Boras!!
Boras should be sued for malpractice, for sending his client to early retirement!
Salty! Nice to see you round these parts, don’t be a stranger!