When the offseason began, Johnny Damon was not interested in seeing offers for deals that would pay him less than the $13MM he made in 2009, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. The Yankees offered Damon $14MM over two years ealier in the winter and lowered the offer to $6MM for a single year recently.
Olney says those two offers are similar to or better than offers Damon has seen from other clubs. Several prominent teams were interested in Damon, but some decided to pass since they weren't confident he could maintain his level of production outside of Yankee Stadium.
The A's, who were connected to Damon this week, are moving on from Damon to address other needs, Olney writes. They're pursuing Gabe Gross, for example.
Is the 1/6 deal still on the table?
If it is, he should accept that, it’s the best offer by far that he’ll get.
pretty sure that was their last offer before they signed Winn and now its off the table.
Why should the Yanks even bother to sign him at this point though? They’re going to be better than fine without him.
If the headline doesn’t say something along the lines of
Johnny Damon signs with ______
I personally don’t care anymore.
Tell me about it dude, if Johnny Damon was such hot property on the open market as he and Scott Boras thinks he is, he would have been signed, sealed and delivered by now to some team.Wonder why he is reduced to saying he will play for any and every team whose name pops up and why Boras is using his minions to replay the same stories about Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Tampa, Toronto, Oakland, etc interested in Damon.Even if those teams are interested they aren’t likely to pay Damon more than 5 million for 1 season, yet he wanted2 years – 26 million from the Yankees at the start, then2 years – 20 millionand found the Yankees 2 years 14 million originally to be beneath him.Hey I’m Johnny Damon, I got a family to feedWell watch what he signs for folks, it won’t even be the 1 year 6 million offer the Yankees last had on the table.The fact that the Yankees overpaid for him 4 years ago, to the tune of 52 million for 4 years, fattened his eyes as to his true worth on the market.I for one am glad Cashman didn’t lose a wink of sleep about Damon and Boras. He just got on with the offseason business.
Is there any way he comes back to the Yankees? What about if we trade N. Johnson. His deal looks terrible now, because that money could have been used to bring back Damon. That said, he still has some value to a team like the White Sox, who need a DH.
“His deal looks terrible now, because that money could have been used to bring back Damon.”
How? They offered him 2yrs/14m and 1yr/6m and Damon said NO.
And NJ cant be traded until June 1st (or sometime in June) anyways because all signings come a no-trade protection until that date.
Yanks won’t trade Nick Johnson. They love him for his affordability and for his OBP. We have the best offense by far and are atleast in consideration for one of the top 4 pitching rotations in the game.
Perfect # 2 hole guy for Tex and A-rod.
Speed is only issue, but it doesn’t quite matter.He won’t get another ‘freak’ injury because he will DH. Ton of his injuries were either flukes or on field related, like being plunked in the head, or crashing with someone in the outfield.
Damon is gone unless it’s a deferred payment contract. In my opinion though, he’s a goner. He will be missed however.
Exactly the Yanks have every intention of having Nick Johnson in the 2 hole, the guy sawThe 3rd most pitches per at bat in baseballHad the 7th most walks in baseballHad the 3rd highest OBP in baseballSwung at only 14% of pitches out of the strike zone, one of the lowest in baseball (Damon swung at 23%)He has a 90% contact rate on pitches in the zone that he swings at, which is primarily all he swings at, he will work every count to 3-2 if need be.He walks more than he strikes out (99 walks / 84 K’s), Damon had 71 walks, 98 K’sJohnson is a very good situational hitter Lead Off An Inning – .392 AVG, .505 OBP, .554 SLG, 1.059 OPSNone On – .282 AVG, .414 OBP, .386 SLG, .800 OPSRunners On – .301 AVG, .439 OBP, .426 SLG, .865 OPSScoring Position – .313 AVG, .488 OBP, .482 SLG, .970 OPSBases Loaded – .364 AVG, .429 OBP, .364 SLG, .793 OPSScoring Position and 2 Outs – .362 AVG, .545 OBP, .532 SLG, 1.077 OPSAs a #2 hitter last season batting in front of Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn in Washington and Hanley Ramirez in FloridaIn 369 at bats Johnson had a .298 AVG, 7 HR, 52 RBI’s, .433 OBP, .425 Slugging, .858 OPS, 22 2B, 81 BB, 64 K, 110 Hits
although i strongly dislike the Yankees with a passion, i have to give you props for looking up all those stats!
This is the downside to the Scott Boras way / strategy / arrogance. Damon will get an “incentive laden” deal, 1 year, base salary of less than 5M.
Yeah it is, and personally I’m OK with it. Boras pushes his act waaaaay too far. There have to be some limits somewhere…sometime.
Look how the almighty Boras has fallen on his butt… Let’s see if he can get back from that and get Damon a half decent contract, which I doubt he will. I say he signs for $3-$4 million plus incentives with Seattle as a DH/OF/1B. Give Griffey some breaks, and Kotchman will need at least 2-3 days off a week. I’m also going to add a $4-$7 million option for 2011 plus incentives with a $1 million buyout.
Too late for that. They have Bradley and Byrnes.
cubs could be a dark horse here. they have a bit of money to spend, (didnt get sheets), and need a guy that can get OBP and hit for a bit of power. they need a fourth OF and speed. And they tend to overpay.
he could put to his name that he broke the two worst baseball curses ever and could retire happily or be offered a huge contract after that season with anyone.
by huge, i mean high-annual, not more than 1-2 years, similar to manny but less.
Its funny to see guys that think there so cool, they turn down good deals only to take whatever they can get down the stretch .. ala Adam LaRoache and soon Johnny Damon.
Its funny to see guys that think there so cool, they turn down good deals only to take whatever they can get down the stretch .. ala Adam LaRoache and soon Johnny Damon.