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December 11, 2005
Chances Of Damon Heating Up?
From Newsday:
The Yankees are starting to get serious with Johnny Damon, and according to a person familiar with the Yankees' plans, they'll be "very strong" players if Damon will consider a four-year offer.
The Yankees might try to get creative by offering an "out" clause, extra incentives or a higher annual salary. Discussions are intensifying, but agent Scott Boras has requested seven years, and Yankees people say they don't anticipate going past four.
Boras said yesterday, "The market's very strong for Johnny ... Our position on seven years is serious, and clubs are aware of it."
Putting aside Damon's durability and hitting for a moment, I still find this interest odd, because of Damon's defensive game. We all know that he has a rainbow-maker of an arm. And, his range will be tested in Yankees Stadium like it never was in Fenway Park. Also, listen to what Joe Torre just said the other day:
"It will be Bubba if we don't come up with something through free agency or a trade," he said. "Bubba Crosby is my option in center field. To me, defense is so important if you are trying to limit the opposition to three outs an inning."
Now, of course, one could say "Joe, if defense was that important, what were you doing running Bernie out there these past few years?" Anyway, maybe what the Yankees are thinking is: Suffer with Damon's "D" in CF for 2006, move him to LF in 2007, slide Matsui to RF, and get a real CF from the next free agent class? It's possible.
As far as batting, yes, Damon would help the Yankees out of the lead-off spot. And, I've already said that I could live with a three-year deal for him. So, if the Yankees want to go to four with out-clauses, etc., that's fine.
Lastly, one of the cases that Scott Boras makes, in his pitch for the 7-year deal is Damon's durability. And, yes, Damon is the only active player in baseball to appear in 145+ games a season for the last 10 years in a row. But, he's not the only one with a streak close to this going on now. Andruw Jones has a 9-year streak going. Shawn Green and Bobby Abreu have 8-year streaks going. Miguel Tejada has a 7-year streak. And, Derrek Lee and A-Rod have 5-year runs in progress.
Shawn Green and Bobby Abreu are close to Damon's age. And, Green is "built" like Damon - just 4 inches taller. Would you give a 7-year deal to Shawn Green today? Of course not. So, why should anyone give one to Johnny Damon?
This whole story will be worth watching over the next few weeks until it plays out for good.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at December 11, 2005 11:37 AM
Comments
I don't think I would give any deal to Damon. Your scenario sounds okay, moving him to left, but I would rather have Bubba Crosby get a legitimate shot at the job, then put him in left or right, and spend all the money we saved plus Sheff's bucks on getting Andruw Jones because that is going to cost!
Posted by: Scott Coulter ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 11, 2005 05:15 PM
Damon is the best of the CF available, but I don't think that it is a shrewd investment. Looking at the data in The Hard Ball Times Abstract, I think that Michaels is the best bang for the buck. He was a very good offensive player last year (in part time duty) and, according to David Gassko's sopisticated fielding range model (as found in the spread sheet that the book provides free access to), he had the best range of the bunch (with the exception of Granderson). Granderson would be the best of the bunch, but I don't think he's available.
Also, many people have mentioned that Jones will be available next year. But, according to this site (http://tinyurl.com/9nwqj), he's not available until after 2007. That leaves Torii Hunter and I don't really like him. This means that they should either get a young CF this year or bite the bullet and sign Damon.
Posted by: jonm at December 11, 2005 06:13 PM
I can't wait to get my hands on this book. I ordered it on Thursday. Should be in my mailbox when I return home on Tuesday night.
Bill James' win shares model labels Damon as a top-5 CF on defense.
I think a 3 year deal for Damon is the correct move. The Yankees need another bat and another glove for 2006 and 2007 if they are going to wait out the minor leaguers (who look very promising, especially from a pitching standpoint) to pan out. Damon is absolutely overpriced, but he is a massive upgrade in a position that we don't have any real good options to fill right now.
Not to mention... it hurts the Red Sox. No Damon means that they have to fill yet another position with a poor offensive player.
Bubba Crosby in center means Alex Rodriguez bats #2 again. And we still need a DH...
Posted by: DownFromNJ at December 11, 2005 07:45 PM
I also like the angle of this being a takeaway for RSN. Pretty soon all they will have left from 2004 is Varitek, Oritz and Wakefield.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at December 11, 2005 07:54 PM
Seriously... that team is being gutted. No Mueller. No Renteria. No Millar. No Bellhorn. Maybe no Damon/Ramirez.
I'm living with three Red Sox fans right now. They are so disillusioned. They actually think that they have improved this off season.
Posted by: DownFromNJ at December 12, 2005 11:49 AM
Ask them who's closing for them in 2006. For some reason, you don't hear much about that these days.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at December 12, 2005 12:37 PM
Ask them who's closing for them in 2006. For some reason, you don't hear much about that these days.
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As it stands, you have some combination of Foulke, Hansen, and Timlin. Wakefield has had closing experience, and if he goes to the pen, the Sox still have 6 starters to work with
Posted by: Raf at December 12, 2005 04:40 PM