OT: Tigers May Try to Sign Johnny Damon
http://blog.mlive.com/cutoffman/2010/01/report_tigers_may_try_to_sign.h…
From Mlive.com citing SI.com
Kill me now, This move would be brutal, it would be expensive, it would not make any sense.....which seems to follow the Tigers' offseason trend so far.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:35 AM ^
Why would this make no sense? Damon is a proven outfielder, who can swing the bat.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:43 AM ^
It wouldn't make sense because we're trying to shed salary, not add on... Yes he's a pretty good player, but if we can't hang on to Grandy and the like, why would we sign Damon?
January 15th, 2010 at 3:14 AM ^
is the backloaded nature of Granderson's contract. He would have been earning substantially more in the coming years. Damon would serve as a plug in the outfield (with experience and a bat but no defense) until Austin Jackson is ready for the bigs. Currently though his price tag is probably hovering at 2 years 9 million a year. If it gets any lower, I don't think the Tigers would sign him. Expect the Braves to make a push.
January 15th, 2010 at 5:50 AM ^
his arm strength is pretty awful. This would not be a great option for the Tigers outfield.
Here are the numbers a blog put together on his arm compared to others:
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=of&stats=fld&lg=al&qual=y&typ…
January 15th, 2010 at 1:31 AM ^
Do we really need an aging expensive centerfielder who's best years are way behind him?
January 15th, 2010 at 1:45 AM ^
This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Damon is asking for more money than Granderson, is older, has less range in the outfield, has a weaker arm, and wont hit nearly as many home runs in Comerica as he did in new Yankee stadium. Please tell me this isn't going to happen. If it does, I will begin to seriously question Tigers management.
January 15th, 2010 at 2:10 AM ^
His numbers will DIVE at Comerica. That short porch at Yankee Stadium gave him an additional 10 homeruns. Easily.
January 15th, 2010 at 4:26 AM ^
Agree on Damon.
The Tigers don't need HR hitters, they need consistent extra base power. You know, like what Maggs used to be able to do. Still love him though.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^
He will not hit the home runs, but he has lit up CoPa (yes, I still call it CoPa) in his career:
.363/.412/.550 with a .961 OPS.
So, I think his numbers will be fine there. That said, I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the move. The team is better with a rangey defense in that outfield, and I'm not convinced his range is that great anymore. As for the arm, that goes without saying but it's really a wash because Granderson et al were not gunning many runners from CF either.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:52 AM ^
are terrible. Take it from me and watching him play everyday. He simply doesn't have it anymore. That being said, a corner outfield spot is doable. He just looks awkward sometimes when he's fielding. His arm is worse than mine.
His numbers are good at Comerica but consider that, at his age, those will see decline as well.
I just can't believe that they would trade granderson away, only to pick up damon.
January 15th, 2010 at 7:32 AM ^
Grandy for Damon......OMG it is just makes me sick to my stomach. Gonna be another long year as a Tigers fan.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:12 AM ^
I know it did not end well, but c'mon... how bad can being in fist place virtually all season be? Last season was enjoyable. This season will be enjoyable too. We are still the most talented team in the division, and DD is working sustainability.
As for Damon, I don't understand the interest either. He'd need to be way cheaper the 2 yr/9mil. Ideally, if they signed him, they'd only sign him to a 1 year deal. That said, he would hit leadoff and be a positive force in the locker room.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:54 AM ^
You should expect the Yankees would match that and simply keep him in Left since they have a spot open there still.
Most baseball execs expect him back in the Bronx anyway. That being said, if the Tigers offered him 9 million for 1 year, he might accept that.
January 15th, 2010 at 8:23 AM ^
Can you imagine Johnny Damon chasing a ball to the wall in Comerica and then noodle-arming it in to the cutoff man? Better get two cutoff men!
January 15th, 2010 at 9:46 AM ^
imagine this:
Left Field: Carlos Guilen
Right Field: Magglio Ordonez
Center Field: Johnny Damon
WORST OUTFIELD IN BASEBALL HISTORY. none of them can run or throw and at Comerica Park.........this is why i said kill me now when I posted this.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
...alot of Dombrowski hate on this board
January 15th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
He'd really be a great help to the team!
I hope this will happen.
Samuel.
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January 15th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
I would think Damon has to be a DH for the Tigers. The Yankees were trying to reduce his role in the outfield as a left fielder in Yankee Stadium...WTF would he do as a center fielder at Comerica? Now I can understand if they want to DH him and have him lead off, since the Tigers are one of the weakest baserunning teams in the majors.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:57 AM ^
went from 29 in 2008 to 12 in 2009. Granted, he was moved from lead-off to the two slot which could explain part of the decrease in that figure. However, that's still a substantial drop. Don't expect more than 20 out of him in 2010.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
When he was with the Royals, a group of about 20 people in the Tiger Stadium bleachers were screaming "YOU'RE A JACKASS!" at him the whole game. In the bottom of the 8th he finally turned around and glared at us.
So if he doesn't come to the Tigers, that's why. My bad.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
i have no problem with this as long as it's a one year deal
January 15th, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
oh and rememeber he wants 2 years of 12 Million plus.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
If Tigers get Damon.
January 15th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
Yankee fan here. Damon would be terrible for Detroit. He's one of the worst defensive OF's out there now. We all know he has no arm but the last 2 years he's also had way too many instances of looking over the wrong shoulder when going back on a fly. Then tries to recover and spins himself in a circle. It's frightening. Plus his leg issues are propping up more often where he needs multiple days off from the OF. No complaints about his bat though.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:12 AM ^
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweeted that the Tigers have not actually expressed interest in Damon. They are counting on Austin Jackson to mature quickly.
I could go into a whole other thread on my issue with Jackson for next season. His strikeout rate is ridiculously high and has not seen the expected decline of a maturing prospect.