OT - Tigers sign Damon
Big Signing
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4931560
Johnny Damon has agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, pending a physical, a league source told ESPN's Karl Ravech. Damon is expected to take the physical on Sunday. Dombrowski confirmed the offer in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Friday after telling reporters in Lakeland, Fla., that the Tigers were interested in signing the outfielder. The 36-year-old Damon hit .286 with 24 homers for the New York Yankees last season. He likely would bat leadoff for the Tigers, filling the void left when Detroit dealt Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. Damon also gives Detroit a left-handed bat it needs and a veteran in the outfield, where his savvy is an asset and his arm a liability.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
Works for me.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:23 PM ^
Now we have 3 aging outfielder/DH's. Fantastic.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
unless it's because people wanted analysis, because you're right. Guillen (34), Ordonez (36), Damon (36). Ordonez had his lowest SLG since his first full season in the bigs, Guillen his lowest with Detroit.
Inge had an unimpressive season at the plate and Laird and Everett are weak as well. We need better production from the corners, not more of the same ... does anyone think Damon is going to repeat his 2009 numbers? He had a career-high OPS+ of 126 ... I'll take the under.
Maybe Ilitch didn't want to spend big, big bucks on a better player, fine, and maybe 81 wins is all you need to win the Central (Baseball Prospectus seems to think so), so maybe Damon is just enough of a boost to get the Tigers there, but I don't think he is going to produce significantly more than Raburn would have, and there are going to be some serious extra-base hits to left when Damon is out there.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:24 PM ^
I like that it's only a 1-year deal, I didn't think he would go for that. Now we can always get rid of him at the deadline if we need to.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
I like him as a hitter. But I still have no idea why we traded an all-star centerfielder, especially since the Tigers have one of the largest outfields in all of baseball to cover.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^
Granderson, while better than Damon, was vastly overrated as a defender by Detroit fans.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^
Was it one or two that he badly misjudged in the play-in game? I kind of thought those were anomolies but you may be more knowledgeable than I. He was a great individual off the field, though.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
The Metrodome is a terrible place to try and play baseball. There are these light circular patches of roof that look like baseballs. It's really easy to lose a ball there.
The Metrodome was probably the best home field advantage in baseball.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:54 PM ^
changed from a reasonable switch-hitter (stronger against RHP) to a platoon-player's bat. 199 PAs against LHP, .183/.245/.239. For a Gold-Glove-caliber CF, that's a concern. For an average CF who's going to expect a large contract, it's a deal-breaker. The Tigers have enough players who don't have all the pieces, there was no sense in paying a lot of money for another player who might have the same problem now.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:54 PM ^
I was hoping the Mets would sign him, but I think this makes more sense for an AL team, specifically the Tigers. I hope he does well and the Tigers have a great season.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:00 PM ^
Making a good signing would be too much for the Mets. They are arguably the dumbest organization in baseball.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
Very probable. I don't trust their decision making in anything, especially with how they handle their current players (see the Beltran surgery situation for example #1. For example #2, look at the JJ Putz situation. They didn't even have a medical evaluation of him.)
Another example: Jerry Manuel suggesting Jose Reyes could be a 3 spot hitter.
Bobby V... come back home!
February 20th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
Jason Bay was a dumb sign...
February 20th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
I wouldn't say it was dumb per se, but I'm not a huge fan of the deal. Especially considering a) they could have probably gotten him to sign for less and b) I don't like the concept of going after a "home run" hitter who played at Fenway, especially when your park isn't a home run park. The Mets should be seeking flat out good hitters with speed.
February 20th, 2010 at 6:56 PM ^
+5 UZR over the last three seasons, and that was mainly in centerfield. He's nowhere near as bad a defender as some are making him out to be.
Cabrera could be in for a monster year depending on who is at the top of the order. Polanco and Grandy only combined for about a .330 OBP last season. I think Damon and Sizemore can outdo that easily. Contrary to popular belief, a leadoff hitter really only needs to get on base consistently to be valuable. Hitting 30 homers only goes so far when you are only on base at a .300 clip.
Anyways, I know the Angels signed Abreu to a one-year deal last year and it turned out to be a huge bargain. I think Damon and Abreu are almost identical type players except Damon is actually better in the OF.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
His arm is hideously awful.
I like this deal. Under normal circumstances, I would think $8 million is too much, but it's a one year contract and it's Illitch's money, so whatever. Hopefully this pans out.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Matt or Johnny?
February 20th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
This just reinforces that the Tigers will not be getting any of my money this year.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
the fact that the tigers actually went out to sign a pretty good offensive player and great clubhouse guy on a team that actually got worse in their lineup, after a season where they were awful on offense means that your not going to spend your money on them?
February 20th, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
I would love to hear why.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
1) Magglio comes back at $18 mil this season
2) Goodbye Granderson
2.5) His defensive playmaking abilities will be missed once people see the old men that will be running around centerfield at Comerica this summer
3) Scott Sizemore, who I am assuming will be at 2nd, has never played in the majors before
4) There is a reason why so many teams were not offering Damon
5) How has this team become any better up the middle?
I have never knocked the Tigers, and I was there for many games during all of the poor years, but many of the decisions have not made sense to me. I would love to be wrong...
February 20th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
1. I'll give you this one even though Maggs hit .375 after the ASB last year, highest in the majors.
2. A post I made on here about a week ago concerning the trade:
The trade was a great long-term move for the team. I say this somewhat regretful as Granderson was an excellent player and perhaps an even more excellent person. Despite that, trading him while selling high on Jackson should yield us a future setup/closer (Schlereth), a top-flight starter (Scherzer) and a leadoff hitter in Austin Jackson who might end up being a better all around player than Granderson was. Anything we get out of Phil Coke is icing on the cake. The best part is that they are all locked up long term for incredibly low prices.
Personally, I think the FO is seeing an opportunity to compete in a weak division by making a couple short term moves that will hopefully appease the appetite of the average fan with Damon and Valverde. This will carry over into next offseason when we unload a massive amount of yuck with the Guillen, Ordonez, Robertson, Inge and Bonderman contracts all coming off the books. Then we can become even more active in FA and continue to build around Cabrera, Verlander and Porcello. I think their future is a lot brighter than most would think. Anytime you have a top-5 hitter and pitcher locked up long term you are in good shape.
3. I hope you weren't advocating a Polanco re-signing. There's no way he was worth committing to for three years...we've already wasted enough money paying players at the end of their careers. Philly can afford to give an over the hill player three years because they are in a win-now mode (it was still a bad signing). There are times you have to give your young players a chance and there's a lot to like with Sizemore. Even if he doesn't work out we still have Santiago (who I think should be starting at shortstop, but oh well)
4. I'd love to hear that reason. He's coming off arguably the best offensive season of his career and again is not nearly as poor a defensive player as he is made out to be. I'd check out this article (http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/damons-value) for more information.
5. Again, I hate Adam Everett too and would start Santiago, but I am not the manager.
Anyways, I don't think this team is worse than last year's team. In fact, if Jackson is as good as advertised defensively, they might be better this year given Scherzer is better than Edwin Jackson and Porcello's continued progression
/ Damon and Tigers talk for a while
February 20th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
with everything you said. damon is a good band aid for a year. i think scherzer is the key to the trade. though i'm not real optimistic given is fragile arm. and with all the money falling off the books after this year, DD can evaluate which kids are panning-out, identify team needs, and have a lot of money to fill those needs with free agents.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:30 PM ^
will actually prolly be back next year as well I think. I'm pretty sure he has another ab's or games played clause in his contrace that i cant see him not making
February 20th, 2010 at 7:17 PM ^
The fact that it is only a one year deal seals it for me. I like this move. With our pitching, I think we'll be in most games. There is some serious salary coming off the books after this year too, so we should be a player in next year's FA market as well.
Go Tigers.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:25 PM ^
Reportedly the deal includes a no-trade clause which is a little annoying but I guess he probably wouldn't veto a deadline deal to a contender.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
Assuming the Tigers won't be in contention for the division come trade deadline time.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
8 million kinda sucks but Damon will help this lineup being a left handed bat and a top of the order guy. Tigers will have a lot of money coming off the books next off season.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
It boggles my mind to some extent that prior to today the highest offer (the entire offseason) was 7mil/yr for 2 years from the Yankees, and somehow the Tigers managed to bid against themselves (and the phantom deal from the White Sox) to pay Damon 8 million.
Damon is horrible in the outfield. Has been for years, and it's only going to get worse in a new stadium. Couple that with a decrease in speed, durability, and inflated home run and avg total due to the new Yankee Stadium and you have another overpaid DH on the team.
The positives here are that his offense is consistent and he is a good clubhouse guy.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^
I'll agree with this assessment to an extent although it's still a good signing overall. There's no clear cut article or piece of information that was specific about how much Atlanta was really putting on the table though. That being said, Boras definitely knows where to go when there's no market for his players.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
The Yankees supposedly offered 2 years at $14 million; Damon wanted more, so the Yanks pulled the offer off of the table.
He will get on base at the top of the line up. That has been rare on this team. We traded Granderson for a lot of valuable pieces but we still need a lead off hitter. Damon can fill that role for a season.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:56 AM ^
The Yankees offered him 7 million per year for 2 years. The Tigers signed him for 8 million for one. That makes perfect sense - they had to pay him more to take a shorter contract. What doesn't make sense about this?
February 20th, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
The Tigers sign an 36 year old outfielder who throws parabolas higher than my graphing calculator for $8 million.
Our outfield this year is going to be comical
February 20th, 2010 at 8:29 PM ^
There is one big difference between 2008 Abreu and 2009 Damon, however, and that’s on defense. Abreu was victim of the backlash against bad defensive corner outfielders. From 2004 to 2008, his UZR/150s as an LF were -10, -5, -14, -3, and -25. At the very best, you could surmise that he was below average, and realistically, he was more likely to be terrible. He was a borderline DH, the kind of defender who shouldn’t play much outfield except in case of emergency.
Damon, on the other hand, throws like a girl but is otherwise a decent defender. It’s true that his 2009 UZR is not good, but his total UZR over the last three years at the position is a +5, and as we try to remind people frequently, larger sample sizes are needed when evaluating defense.
Damon is clearly a better defender now than Abreu. He’s not great, and he may even be reaching the point in his career where he’s below average, but he’s simply not a guy that costs your team a ton of runs in the field.
Abreu was a bargain on a one year, $5 million deal with the Angels, even as he proved that he didn’t really belong in the outfield anymore. Damon, though, is basically the same hitter, just with better defensive skills, and he might have to settle for less than what Abreu got? This is a market correction gone way too far.
Even with the reduced costs of wins, Damon is easily worth $8 to $10 million for 2010. Just like with Abreu last year, teams will be kicking themselves in a few months if they let him sign for peanuts. There are enough clubs out there that could use a +2 to +3 win left fielder that this level of disinterest is simply a market failure.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:46 PM ^
Good thing its only one year. Now we'll have space for Lebron next summer.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:46 PM ^
Nice stop gap by Davey boy. Pitching baby, young stud pitchers, Tigs got em, that what makes them exciting.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
But good signing for the Tigers. Still looks like the franchise is going backwards, but this should help them for a year.
February 21st, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^
Jesus. Some people would rather just complain about shit, than read or learn a thing about baseball. Damon is a good hitter. He will be the 2nd best hitter on this year's team. Even if Granderson had stayed, he would be the 2nd best hitter on this year's team. Granderson is not an elite defender. Damon is not as bad as many of you seem to think.
February 21st, 2010 at 1:52 AM ^
I'm trying to fight the good fight.
February 21st, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
but your well thought out explanations have changed my mind.
Thanks aquaman.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:51 AM ^
That's why he got traded... I loved him, and some of his plays were amazing out there. But, Dombrowski has unloaded Jackson and Granderson who had bad second halves last year. Maybe he knows something we don't... Kinda like Brandon Lyon now looking in pretty bad shape.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
I think just about anyone watching baseball could have told you Jackson had a lucky first half of the season and was not as good as his numbers made him look like. Trading Jackson at the peak of his value was the primary driver for the entire trade.
Trading Jackson for Max Scherzer is ridiculously awesome.