After reportedly being placed on waivers along with third baseman Brandon Inge, Tigers slugger Johnny Damon could be traded to a contender before the year is through. However, even if he is sent elsewhere, Damon wants to return to Motown in 2011, writes Terry Foster of The Detroit News.
"I like it here," the 36-year-old said. "I have a bunch of friends that live in Detroit. Spring training (Lakeland, Fla.) is 45 minutes from home. There are a lot of benefits for me and hopefully I get to stay with this club. I love it so far. It is as simple as that."
Damon signed a one-year, $8MM deal with Detroit and will be a free agent at the end of the year. The two-time All-Star says that if he finishes out the season with another team, he will tell his representatives to get in touch with club president Dave Dombrowski and owner Mike Ilitch about returning.
That representative is Scott Boras, who has one objective with all his clients- money. He’ll hold out, hold out, and hold out for more money no matter what the player wants. That’s why Kenny Rogers fired Boras after he told Boras to get a deal done with Detroit, and Boras started shopping.
Same thing with Magglio. The biggest obstacle to either of those players returning to the Tigers is their agent and his tactics. Even though the Tigers clearly need to add speed, OBP and some pop to the lineup, both veterans are able to help the club at the top of the batting order, and at this point won’t cost as much as many other free agents. The Tigs need the level of production that they got from Damon and Magglio PLUS another big bat to protect Cabrera. Preferably, they get a player that can get on base like Damon’s .364 OBP, but with some speed as well, and then Damon will go elsewhere or come back at a discount and drop down in the order. Lots of money coming off the books and lots of vacancies to fill.
I’d take that with a pinch of salt. Damon said he wouldn’t sign with the Yankees when he hit FA with Boston (he eventually took more money from the Yankees, said he wanted to stay with the Yankees (he played chicken with the Yankees for more money and lost) and now says he wants to stay in Detroit.
As much as I like Johnny, he is what he is: a mercenary bat.
Agreed. Damon hurt the Yankees by leaving. I know they have the best record in MLB, but he made that line-up thrive. He fouls off pitches, works the count, runs decently when not hurt,steals bases, pops homers and is clutch.His only problem is that he’s not so smart and he totally trusts Boras, he hated to leave NY and they miscalculated terribly last year. The day after he signed with Detroit, he came on a NY radio show and actually said that he expected the tigers to be out of the race in late August and to be put on waivers and return to NY. I’m sure he’s going to demand a pay raise again this year, a while the Tigers can afford it, that remains to be seen if they’ll pony up. Odds are he won’t play for the Tigers.