The Indians announced that they designated Johnny Damon for assignment. The move creates 25-man roster space for outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, who has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus.
Damon signed a minor league deal with the Indians in April after an extended stint on the free agent market. The 38-year-old didn't provide much offense, hitting just .222/.281/.329 with four home runs in 224 plate appearances as a left fielder and designated hitter. Damon now has 2769 hits, 235 home runs and 408 stolen bases in his 18-year career. He ranks in the top 50 all-time in runs scored (1668, 31st) and doubles (522, 41st).
What a way to go – getting DFA’d by the Indians.
I’m sure the pride of a solid MLB career will take care of that sting.
Not to mention those World Series rings.
Or the tens of millions of dollars he made.
$110,439,000
Even better.
And the nickname ‘caveman.’
And inspiration to the dopest sports related t-shirt ever.
Now that Lowe and Damon have been let go, its Duncan’s turn next to be DFA. At least I hope.
And that pretty much effectively ends the potential debate on Damon making the HOF. It would have been different if he got 3,000 hits.
I think, regardless of 3000 hits, he was in the “hall of very good”. It’s no knock on him, I’m just not sure he’d ever really be a HOF.
Kinda the point. Of the 28 players who broke the the 3,000 hit barrier only Rose, Biggio, Jeter, and Palmiero are not in the HOF. Rose is banned for gambling, Palmiero will probably get the cold shoulder for steroids, Jeter is a lock once he retires and is eligible, and Biggio is highly likely to get in within a few years.
Edit – Sorry I misread.
I think Biggio is right with Damon in the Hall of Very Good.
Biggio – Hall of Very Good, IMO.
Biggio is 5th all-time in doubles. A Biggio stat I really like, although won’t hold much weight in his quest for the HOF, is that he grounded into zero double-plays in 744 PA’s during 1997. He also gets bonus points for being the leader in almost all Houston Astro’s/Colt .45’s offensive statistical category.
double post derp
Exactly. You can’t crawl and scratch your way to 3,000 hits. You have to glide through and surpass it with ease.
I think i speak for a lot of Clevelanders when I say FINALLY
I think his being a multi world series winner can get him in the hall of fame. his stats are close, he is iffy. Too bad this could be the end of the line for him.great player in his prime
If that’s all it takes then Chuck Knoblauch should be in the HOF.
Damon is iIffy PLUS multiple World Series rings. Knoblauch was never even iffy.
(didn’t mean to post twice, sorry…)
Better yet, Steve Garvey
Seen that name brought up here multiple times by LAD fans and there are better people than him not in.. Dwight Evans.. better hitter and fielder..
4 more GG, higher OPS, more HR, higher .SLG, higher OBP…Not even a close comparison.
Biggio will most likely be a hall of famer eventually because of the 3000 hits. Plus, he spent a good chunk of his career at 2b and when you factor his stats against others at the position then he will get in. I think eventually all of the steroid era guys will get in, with the possible exceptions of bonds/clemens due to their trials. Fact of the matter is people were cheating left and right during that era and they were the best of the bunch. As for Johnny Damon, I think he could get in eventually. Kind of like Jim Rice. Rices numbers aren’t really HOF worthy but he did eventually get in. Damon led off alot so has less rbi than Rice. His batting average is still really good and he has alot more hits.
I wish Damon would have provided more while with the Indians but oh well.
Not Damon related but just to chime in on hof milestones. Adam Dunn is a mortal lock for 500 home runs. I think there will be a lot of players who prove that certain milestones no longer punch your ticket
Time to look for a coaching job, Johnny…
I think he is looking to get to 3,000 hits somehow first. He could be a bench player for the next 2 years for a young team that needs veteran leadership. Sort of like a coach/player role.
Seattle Mariners would be a good pick up to sign him on a minor league contract as he would provide veteran leadership w/ Ichiro now wearing the Yankees uniform.
Back to Boston for the remainder of the year so he can retire as a Redsox
Not hardly.. They finally got rid of Darnell McDonald and no reason whatsoever to take on another 100% useless OF.
his play might not have been up to what we needed in the lineup, but i will say he was a class act while in cleveland. He was not intending to play in the field near the amount he did but he still went out there and gave what he had. If you spent any time at a game around the left field seats you know he loved the fans, he was always one of the few indians out signing autographs and interacting with the fans. If you saw him in town he was very pleasant and accomodating. True he was well past his prime but the man was still what you hope all professional players would be like, humble, thankful for his opportunity, and very fan friendly.
@Patrick Buckley
now you know what a lot NY fans know also. Damon does a lot of events for the Wounded Warriors and during his time in NY, I had the pleasure to do volunteer work for them and came in contact with Damon. I always found him to a great human being with EVERYONE he came in contact with. Always positive, humble and respectful.
I was angry and sad when he decided to play hardball with the Yanks when he contract ended and left to play with Tigers. What he’s accomplished on the field is not as great as what he’s quietly done off the field.
I wish him nothing but the best!
That was more Boras tactics there as recall, him holding out for more money.
I also think Damon would have never left Boston either had Boras never been involved with Damon.
In fact? Damon probably wouldn’t be out pan handling for a job now if it wasn’t for his agent and its a shame. Granted, he wouldn’t have made the money, but not nearly as many uniform changes and having to go around begging for jobs lately either.
Nice guy as well.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but I’ll bet you he would have liked to re-think his off-season negotiating strategy. He would have been better served taking less money and getting a gig from spring training on. Too bad-a fun player to watch. Not a Hall of Famer, but very good.
Johnny Damon should helped provide some veteran leadership by signing a minor league deal w/ the Seattle Mariners since the M’s have been struggling against the Orioles lately and Ichiro no longer w/ the team. He could end up on the coaching staff to shake things up for the assistant coaches after the season. Please sign Damon to play at Safeco Field.