FRIDAY: Duquette told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com "maybe" when asked if Damon was a possibility. Another Orioles person said "not yet" (Twitter link).
THURSDAY: Orioles executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette told reporters, including Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com, that he doesn't expect to sign Johnny Damon (Twitter link). Even though the free agent continues to be linked to the Orioles, Duquette doesn't anticipate a deal.
"I don't think so. I already signed Johnny Damon when he was 28," Duquette said in reference to Damon's deal with the Red Sox.
Damon hit .261/.326/.418 with 16 homers and 29 doubles in 582 plate appearances for the Rays in 2011. He was Tampa Bay's primary DH last year, but maintains he could still play the field if necessary. Agent Scott Boras recently suggested the market for his client will pick up within a few weeks.
I'm sure there's a lot of clubs that are looking at youth, and by the time spring training ends they may be looking at it differently," Boras told MLBTR's Tim Dierkes last week.
If Damon were a 17-year-old South Korean non-prospect, Duquette would be happy to illegally sign him.
He’s really going to have to take a serious paycut if he wants to continue his quest to 3000…. and probably play for a team that isn’t high on his list..
Probably take a Minor League contract.
I hope Damon gets a job.
The Source is Jon Heyman who speculates all washed up former Yankees and Red Sox will go to the Orioles. See Damon, Posada, Ortiz and Varitek going to the Orioles this offseason.
From Aaron Greenman of NBC Sports:
Well, that didn’t take long. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette laughed and then replied “I don’t think so” when asked about Heyman’s report that they “haven’t ruled out” signing Damon. Shocking.
Aaron Gleeman (not Greenman) says that Duquette laughed and replied “I don’t think so” when he was asked about Heyman’s report.
Side note: Who is Aaron Gleeman?
Another report, from MASN’s Roch Kubatko, who is actually at O’s camp, says that Duquette laughed and replied “I don’t think so” when he was asked if he was going to sign Damon.
So either Gleeman misinterpreted the report or Duquette gave two contradicting responses within minutes.
Or I just misinterpreted this entire thing.
That’s most likely the right answer.
You interpreted it right. At Fanfest Duke told the season ticket holders “I don’t see that happening” when we asked about going after Fielder, and then later that day told the fans Fielder “or someone like Fielder (presumptively on a trade)” was in the works.
The dude contradicts himself constantly.
Or I just misinterpreted this entire thing.
That’s most likely the right answer.
“I don’t think so. I already signed Johnny Damon when he was 28,” Duquette said in reference to Damon’s deal with the Red Sox.
haha duquette trying to remind everyone of a good signing he made in the past.
its funny because he did that with manny earlier this offseason too. saying something like, “i already signed him once”
So I take it Mark Portugal won’t be an Oriole, either.
That is a safe assumption. You can also cross Pedro off the list. Duquette: “I’ve already traded for Pedro Martinez twice, and signed him when he was 25.”
I thought the new CBA was good for veterans hahahahaha.
What a joke that was.
” It’s over, Johnny”
I guess we’ll find out if Damon really wants to play since he’s not going to get signed at his asking price.
Hindsight is easy, but the Yankees offered him 2 years and $14MM when his contract was done after 2009. He and Boras were insulted. He would have been better off taking it (and maybe Boras could have had them throw in a few incentives)-made a little more, probably had somewhat better stats, and wouldn’t have had to move around. He’d probably be in a better position now
I believe the expression is “Hoisted with your own petard”.
I think Duquette does not call all the shots here. Buck Showalter has a big say, and the owner of course.
Damon was the 3rd best DH last year and was killed by the Trop. He would be a perfect fit in Baltimore on a 1 yr deal.
Maybe Damon is being blackballed. He is only asking for 5 million so money should not be that hard to work out
I disagree with you. It makes 0 sense for the O’s to sign any DH right now, especially one with no future on the team. Betemit was a terrible signing, but having two DH’s would just be one step worst.
So having a DH who can actually hit would be a terrible thing?. Also, if he has a good 1st half, he can be dealt for a decent prospect who can help in the future.
I’ll say it again. The O’s would have 2 DH’s on their team, which is ridiculous for any team. In fact based on the O’s team right now, they should have 0 pure DH’s (and Betemit and Damon should NOT be in the field).
Secondly, the O’s have no chance of competing this year, so that spot should be reserved for a ‘younger,’ guy, aka a guy with some sort of future on the team.
The dealt for a decent prospect thing is flawed. We’ve tried to follow that model with a lot ton of hitters (Huff, Lee, Wigginton, Vlad, Atkins). Out of those, only 2 were successfully traded, and for players that really have contributed squat. Vlad, the only true DH on that list, had no market.
I get the feeling that Boras is hoping the Indians come calling. With Grady out til Memorial Day and possibly even til the All-Star break, LF (or CF) is wide open (depends where they play Brantley). Right now it’s a battle between Shelley Duncan, Aaron Cunningham, Eziquel Carrera, Ryan Spillborghs, and Russ Canzler (among a few others). I’m guessing that boras is looking at that amazing list and hoping the Indians are willing to take a gamble on Damon in the OF again. Bat did play very well against lefties and away from the Trop. Would put up numbers equal to or better than what Grady was likely to do.
Damon has to realize he has to take a paycut to continue to play. His fielding is below average so he is an DH now. Just like Jermaine Dye a couple of yrs ago, nobody wants to spend $6 million on a DH.
David Ortiz makes more then twice that…
Baseball free agency is changing. Agents like Boras are responsible. Sabermetrics and the purging of so called older players will change game forever. The quality of ballplayers at the young level is outstanding. Cheap stars will be in overabundance. It’s too bad because aging stars are awesome.
Older players are more expensive but guys like Damon are better than most young players. The fact he is not signed makes me wonder if MLB is playing at collusion again.
Everything is relative. If you reduce the talent pool by forcing older players (hitters) into retirement, younger players (pitchers) look better than they are.
Frankly, I don’t see a lot of good young hitters in the AL, which makes the lack of interest in a guy like Damon so interesting given they have the DH.
I could see if he was asking for 10 million, but 5-6 million?
Older players are more expensive but guys like Damon are better than most young players. The fact he is not signed makes me wonder if MLB is playing at collusion again.
Everything is relative. If you reduce the talent pool by forcing older players (hitters) into retirement, younger players (pitchers) look better than they are.
Frankly, I don’t see a lot of good young hitters in the AL, which makes the lack of interest in a guy like Damon so interesting given they have the DH.
I could see if he was asking for 10 million, but 5-6 million?
“Where’s Johnny!!??” – The Whining