The Detroit Tigers and free agent Johnny Damon agreed to a 1 year $8 million dollar deal today. Damon who has spent the majority of this off season on the sidelines due to his contract demands finally settled for patrolling left field in Motown this season. Damon had originally been seeking a 2 year $14 million dollar deal and wanted to return to the Bronx, but Brian Cashman went another direction and signed outfielder Randy Winn to replace Damon. There was quite a bit of confusion as to what was actually offered to Damon by the Yankees. Scott Boras said that the Yankees never submitted a formal offer to his client.The Chicago White Sox were actually rumored to be involved in negotiations with Damon but with the history of bad blood with Boras I doubt the interest was ever really there. Kenny Williams was probably just doing his due diligence.
We had previously posted about Damon’s value this off season. His numbers definitely will not improve this year playing at Comerica Park. Damon’s defense is already not much to write home about and he will be moving to a larger park. Damon’s home run totals are bound to go down as well without being able to take advantage of the short porch in right field that the new Yankee Stadium provides.
I see this as a fan friendly move and as nothing beyond one season. The Tigers are in a transitional phase at the moment. They don’t have a very well rounded team and they potentially have many bloated contracts that they will be shedding next year with the likes of Nate Robertson, Magglio Ordonez and Jeremy Bonderman to name a couple. I think Damon is just looking to make the most money and then try to catch on with another team next year.
