Johnny Damon maintains that he may retire after 2011, but he told MLB.com's Jason Beck that he wants to return to Detroit for a second season before retiring.
"I'm hoping to stay,” he said. “I'm hoping after this season they want me back.”
Damon, who, considers himself something of a “player-coach,” hits free agency this winter. Rookie outfielders Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch figure to play prominent roles on next year’s team, but Magglio Ordonez’s ankle fracture will prevent his 2011 option from vesting, so the Tigers can choose not to bring him back.
The Tigers have faded from contention this season, so there has been speculation that they could trade Damon, Brandon Inge and other veterans approaching free agency. Even if he plays the rest of the season for another team, Damon says he would be “very interested” in returning to Detroit after the season.
The 36-year-old currently projects as a Type A free agent under the Elias rankings. Damon has a .278/.361/.425 line in 442 plate appearances this year and while he's hitting fewer homers, he does have 30 doubles.
I would be all for Damon signing another one year deal worth about 4 million to DH part-time and occasionally play outfield. I don’t see Damon wanting to sign to have that kind of role.
No, sorry Johnny. Didn’t want you this season and don’t want you next season. Really want you to be replaced with Crawford but since that probably won’t happen I’ll settle for Werth.
I don’t like Werth for what he will probably end up signing for. He’s a very streaky player and his overall numbers are in part due to the park he plays in.
Yup, they’ll over pay, which you’re right I don’t like. But I think he’s a good player that can help this team. Hands down better than JD.
I agree that he’s better than Damon. He just isn’t werth putting that much money into.
Imagine Johnny Damon saying he wants to stick with a team, First it was the Red Sox and how he loved them and wanted to stay , and then New York he said he wouldnt wanna be anyother place but yet rejects there 2 years offer cause he didnt want to take a paycut and now he wants to stay with tiger. Hopefully he gets a full time job somewhere cause he can still play and stay long enough to get those 3000 hits
I’d happily take him back for less than $8 mil.
Less than 5 million in my book.
Johnny Damon’s going to demand a pay raise. He will not accept a pay cut. Say good bye to Detroit John!!
He plays everyday now. I think his attitude in the clubhouse would help the team more than what he can do on the field at this point. I like him more as an insurance policy than a guy we depend on everyday. He can’t hit well enough to be an everyday DH and his arm in the outfield is too much of a liability to play there everyday.