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Johnny Damon Says He Will Stay In Detroit

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3:20pm: Damon says he's "not going," according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.

2:45pm: Damon spoke to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe on his way to the ballpark today, saying he's still leaning toward staying with the Tigers.  However, he would change his mind if the Tigers tell him they plan to reduce his playing time in favor of younger players.

9:05am: Johnny Damon, the Red Sox, and Tigers have until 1:30pm eastern time on Wednesday to decide whether Damon will rejoin his old team, reports WEEI's Alex Speier.  The two clubs would have to reach an agreement, and Damon would have to approve it.

Damon was ready to go to the Yankees or Rays, reports Tom Gage of the Detroit News, but the Red Sox had first dibs.  MLB Network's Peter Gammons tweets that the Tigers explained to Damon that the Red Sox claimed Damon because they want him, not as a blocking move.  Gammons says the Rays did not even make a claim.  Damon told reporters last night he's "definitely leaning" toward staying in Detroit, as he'd like to help young Tigers players develop and wants to return in 2011.  He left the door open on his decision, as he needs to talk to GM Dave Dombrowski about what would be in the team's best long-term interest.

I think Damon will approve the trade or claim, if the teams can reach an agreement.  It can't be measured, but Damon might agree that an extra $1.8MM is better for the Tigers' future than one month of his mentoring.  I agree with ESPN's Buster Olney that Damon will be mostly embraced by Red Sox fans.  Finally, Damon is a competitive player and Boston's 21% chance of reaching the playoffs sure beats Detroit's 0.36% shot.

Let's hear your prediction: will Damon accept a trade to Boston?  Click here to make your pick and here to see the results of the poll.

Poll: Austin Kearns’ Future

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Over at River Ave. Blues, contributor Steve H wonders if the Yankees will retain Austin Kearns in 2011.  Has Kearns, he asked, done enough to warrant a large raise or a chance to hook on somewhere as a starter?  If the answer to one of those questions is "yes" (particularly the first question), then the odds of him playing elsewhere next season increase.

The slugger has certainly impressed so far in New York, hitting .351/.415/.514 with 1 home run in 13 games.  When combined with his time in Cleveland, his slash line reads .281/.360/.429 with nine homers in 97 games.  Those numbers aren't too shabby for a guy making $750K this season.  In fact, using his Wins Above Replacement metric, Fangraphs estimates that he would make $6.2MM in free agency with his play this year.  No one would make the case for Kearns to command that kind of money on the open market this year, but the point remains that he has produced more than your average sub-$1MM player.

So, the question is..

Will Austin Kearns re-sign with the Yankees or go elsewhere?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Poll: Adam LaRoche’s Future

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Adam LaRoche has cleared waivers and could still be traded in the next ten days, but he reportedly isn't drawing much interest. The lack of interest is a bit of a surprise, since LaRoche's numbers are in line with his career norms, and he's traditionally a very strong player after the All-Star break. For his career, his .910 second-half OPS dwarfs his .776 first-half figure.

With LaRoche seemingly unlikely to be moved, the Diamondbacks have had preliminary discussions about extending his contract. The 30-year-old signed a one-year deal with a $7.5MM mutual option ($1.5MM buyout) for 2011. The two sides may just decide to exercise the option, but if LaRoche wants longer-term security, he could sign an extension with the D'Backs or turn down the option (forfeiting the buyout) in search of a multi-year deal elsewhere.

What does Adam LaRoche's future hold?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Poll: Brad Hawpe’s Next Team

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Brad Hawpe has played his last game in a Rockies uniform, but his major league career isn't over. The Giants, Rangers, Rays, Red Sox, White Sox and Phillies are some of the teams that could have interest in Hawpe. The Padres recently lost an outfielder to the disabled list, so let's not rule them out completely.

The Rockies could technically trade Hawpe, since they designated him for assignment, but Troy Renck of the Denver Post suggests they would not prevent Hawpe from signing a deal. With that in mind, it's time to make some educated guesses:

Which team will Brad Hawpe play for next?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Poll: K-Rod’s Contract

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The Mets placed closer Francisco Rodriguez on the disqualified list and, not surprisingly, the union has objected. After all, players on the disqualified list don’t get paid or pick up service time. The Mets will argue that they shouldn’t have to pay K-Rod to recover from a non-baseball-related injury, but the MLBPA will work to uphold the deal. The end result? That’s anybody’s guess at this point, but let’s make some predictions:

How will the conflict between K-Rod and the Mets end?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Poll: What Should The Dodgers Have Done?

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Sitting seven games back of the Padres and five-and-a-half games back in the wild card chase on deadline day, the Dodgers decided to burn up the phone lines and upgrade their roster.  Despite the impact that the McCourt divorce may have on the club's financial situation, Los Angeles surprisingly became one of the deadline's most active teams. 

After acquiring Scott Podsednik from the Royals, GM Ned Colletti decided that he wasn't done.  He swung a deal for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot from the Cubs and also grabbed Pirates reliever Octavio Dotel.  The Lilly deal would cost them Blake DeWitt, Brett Wallach, and Kyle Smit.  For some observers, the Dotel deal was the real head-scratcher as Colletti surrendered pitcher James McDonald and outfield prospect Andrew Lambo.  While each player has suffered their own setbacks, both continue to hold promise and could blossom into real contributors.

Ultimately, the Dodgers rolled the dice for a chance to gain some ground in the home stretch.  To date, the upgrades have not helped them in the standings as they are 60-58, ten games back in the NL West and six-and-a-half games behind in the wild card chase.

Should the Dodgers have been buyers, sellers, or stood pat at the Trade Deadline?

Click here to take the poll, and here to view the results.

Poll: Romero, Lester & Gallardo

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The Blue Jays reached a five-year, $30.1MM agreement with Ricky Romero yesterday, locking him up for all of his arbitration seasons and his first year of free agency. As MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith noted, the deal is nearly identical to contracts signed by Jon Lester ($30MM) and Yovani Gallardo ($30.1MM). Lester's five-year deal will run through 2013, Gallardo's through 2014, and Romero's through 2015, while each contract has a $13MM club option for one extra season.

Taking into account Lester's and Gallardo's performances so far, and looking ahead to the future for all three young pitchers, today's poll question is this:

Which team's five-year contract will provide the best value?

Click here to take the survey, and here to view the results.

Poll: Jonathan Papelbon’s Future

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Although the Red Sox's season has been sabotaged by injuries, closer Jonathan Papelbon has drawn the ire of fans dating back to his blown save in Game Three of the ALDS last season. His blown save on Thursday was already his sixth this season, a career high, and both his strikeout (8.2 K/9) and walk (3.6 BB/9) rates are the worst of his career. 

With a $9.35MM salary this season, Papelbon will easily command eight-figures next year, his final season of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent. With Daniel Bard proving himself a viable late inning arm, the Sox have a replacement already in-house should they choose to part ways with their closer. That said, Papelbon is still one of the game's best relievers and will be very difficult to replace.

What should the Red Sox do with Jonathan Papelbon after the season?

Click here to take the poll, and here to view the results. 

Poll: The Dodgers And Matt Kemp

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Matt Kemp is in the midst of a disappointing season, but he’s still just 25 and he’s already proven how well he can play. His agent, Dave Stewart, suggested to the LA Times that a trade could benefit Kemp and the Dodgers. After all, other teams in baseball surely appreciate Kemp’s talent, so the Dodgers could address other needs in a potential trade. It would definitely be selling low, however, and GM Ned Colletti says the club has no intention of dealing its center fielder. So what should Colletti do?

Should the Dodgers seriously consider trading Matt Kemp?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Poll: How Will The Braves Replace Chipper?

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Braves GM Frank Wren will meet with Bobby Cox and the team's scouts to decide how to replace Chipper Jones, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter). They could rely on Martin Prado, Omar Infante, Brooks Conrad and Eric Hinske, or they could look to acquire a player from outside the organization. Tell us what you think Wren & Co. will do:

How will the Braves replace Chipper Jones?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

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