Damon Wants to be a Detroit Tiger

[Titus Tiger]

Originally Posted by davidsb

He is worth every penny he demands - he said he can make us a winner!!

Whew... I just checked the standings from last year --- Tigers where 86-77, which, after running the OE% I was able to calculate that was a winning record

If Johnny 'flame on' D wanted to make the Tigers a winner, he should have come here in 2003
Detroit 43 119
T hat is when we needed an old guy who can't throw the ball, but the chicks dig

[Titus Tiger]

Al Kaline has a World Series ring, but please don't pay Al $7 million to play.

[Lbh24]

Originally Posted by oldglory1999

I say let's try him...if nothing else, at least we went to get one of the "big dogs"

If you're going out there telling teams that they should be interested in you, you're no longer a big dog.

[jaymo]

Originally Posted by Lbh24

If you're going out there telling teams that they should be interested in you, you're no longer a big dog.

Stand Firm
Expect your [free agent]'s begging to get worse before it gets better. If whining at 20 decibels doesn't result in [a contract], he'll think he isn't trying hard enough and turn it up to 40 decibels. As unpleasant as this may be for a few days, stand firm. Eventually, your [free agent] will realize that his efforts no longer work.

From: Teach Your [Free Agent] Not to Beg

[Titus Tiger]

Originally Posted by Lbh24

If you're going out there telling teams that they should be interested in you, you're no longer a big dog.

as in yo quiero taco bell

[JonBenke]

Originally Posted by keystone

Hmmm, an outfield of Guillen, Damon and Ordonez.

Our pitchers better throw a lot of ground balls.

Clearly one would DH, though I get your point. It's an option, especially since Guillen is no guarantee to last the entire season ..... not on the DL.

[Biff Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Damon is more interested in getting paid by the Tigers than playing for them. Those two things are always confused for some reason. Not that I blame him, but he wasn't coming out a couple months ago asking the Tigers to sign him. It's February and nobody else wants to pay him what he's asking.

The thread could have ended here.

[JonBenke]

Originally Posted by Biff Mayhem

The thread could have ended here.

True. I want a job making millions of dollars, but who doesn't. I'd move to Vermont, if someone would pay me enough.

[DaYooperASBDT]

What happens in Vermont, stays in Vermont.

[JonBenke]

Originally Posted by DaYooperASBDT

What happens in Vermont, stays in Vermont.

Yeah, but herpes follows you anywhere

[Titus Tiger]

Originally Posted by DaYooperASBDT

What happens in Vermont, stays in Vermont.

Insert the obligatory Bernie Sanders joke about wanting Damon to play for Burlington Lake Mosters


Is Benke a socialist?

not that there is anything wrong with that

[tiger337]

Vermont is awesome in the summer and fall.

[Eric Cioe]

Originally Posted by tiger337

Vermont is awesome in the summer and fall.

Snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing in the winter, flyfishing all spring and summer, and birdhunting in the fall, with a very low population density? Sounds like a little slice of heaven in the hell that is the East Coast.

[Titus Tiger]

Originally Posted by Eric Cioe

Snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing in the winter, flyfishing all spring and summer, and birdhunting in the fall, with a very low population density? Sounds like a little slice of heaven in the hell that is the East Coast.

I have been in VT in spring --- the blackflies were unbelievable --- and the are bad in the Adirondacks

[tiger337]

Originally Posted by Eric Cioe

Snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing in the winter, flyfishing all spring and summer, and birdhunting in the fall, with a very low population density? Sounds like a little slice of heaven in the hell that is the East Coast.

There are actually a lot of nice places on the east coast. Most of New England is nice except for a few pockets of high population high traffic areas. I'm not much of a city person but as far as cities go, Boston is a nice one. The only really bad part about living up here is that winter lasts too long.

[Shelton]

New Hampshire can't be beat.

I would love to see them sign Damon. Five competent players for four positions is a good thing. There will be injuries and slumps. I'm not worried about finding everyone a place to play.

[monkeynuts]

On Fox 2 tonight that Armanti? guy said several national news outlets are reporting late tonight that the Tigers and Damon are close. I've done some research and can't find squat - any word?

[sportz4life]

Originally Posted by Shelton

New Hampshire can't be beat.

I would love to see them sign Damon. Five competent players for four positions is a good thing. There will be injuries and slumps. I'm not worried about finding everyone a place to play.

Originally Posted by sportz4life

Between LF/CF/RF/DH there will be 135 games available for either 5 or 6 players to divide..

I am assuming that

Jackson 132 games (30)
Ordonez 127 games (35)
Raburn 127 games (35)
Guillen 127 games (35)

Either Damon or Thomas or a combination of both will divide these AB's.

Agreed..

[IdahoBert]

If Mr. I wants Damon he will get him. Sometimes the gut overrules the head and this is the kind of thing where Mr. I's guts could tell him to do this regardless of what Dave's head says to do.

[mtk1210]

he can come play...if he plays for free. Deal?

[tiger337]

I agree with those who say there will be plenty of at bats to go around if Damon comes to the Tigers. Thinking that they don't need another outfielder/DH is like thinking they don't need another starting pitcher because he'll take innings away from Bonderman and Robertson. I just have a feeling they are more concerned about the health of Sizemore/ Inge than they are letting on and will add another infielder for insurance.

[pyrotigers]

I agree they need another outfielder. My problem is that Jim Leyland is the Tigers manager. Ryan Raburn will sit on the bench so Johnny Damon, Austin Jackson, and Carlos Guillen can all play every day.

That is not a good move.

[Titus Tiger]

Originally Posted by tiger337

I agree with those who say there will be plenty of at bats to go around if Damon comes to the Tigers. Thinking that they don't need another outfielder/DH is like thinking they don't need another starting pitcher because he'll take innings away from Bonderman and Robertson. I just have a feeling they are more concerned about the health of Sizemore/ Inge than they are letting on and will add another infielder for insurance.

Maybe a Casey Blake kind of guy

[sportz4life]

Originally Posted by tiger337

I agree with those who say there will be plenty of at bats to go around if Damon comes to the Tigers. Thinking that they don't need another outfielder/DH is like thinking they don't need another starting pitcher because he'll take innings away from Bonderman and Robertson. I just have a feeling they are more concerned about the health of Sizemore/ Inge than they are letting on and will add another infielder for insurance.

If they structure Damon's contract correctly they can easliy do both, Kennedy will not cost much. I agree he is every bit as important as Damon especially early in the year, Inge and Sizemore are defintie injury concerns.

[keystone]

Originally Posted by sportz4life

If they structure Damon's contract correctly they can easliy do both, Kennedy will not cost much. I agree he is every bit as important as Damon especially early in the year, Inge and Sizemore are defintie injury concerns.

I'd rather have Felipe Lopez than Kennedy. Switch hitting lead off man who can play 2b/ss/3b.

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by oldglory1999

Imo...yes the guy isn't getting any older, but hey he has to world series rings within the last decade...that outta say something.

I say let's try him...if nothing else, at least we went to get one of the "big dogs"

It doesn't say anything. That's one of the dumbest things I've read on this board, and I've read a lot of things.

[roarintiger1]

Fred Lynn, Lloyd Moseby, Gregg Jefferies, & Keith Moreland........need I say more????

[DaYooperASBDT]

I don't know Vermont, but I would pay big money to live in Maine, loved it there.

If signing Damon takes away at-bats from Ordonez (which it won't), man that would save the Tigers some serious dough!

[84 Lives!!!]

Originally Posted by Shelton

New Hampshire can't be beat.

I would love to see them sign Damon. Five competent players for four positions is a good thing. There will be injuries and slumps. I'm not worried about finding everyone a place to play.

Off-Topic...

Shelton, shouldn't your "Location" be "Null & Void"? Or "Nullification"?

Or are you simply happy with null?

Too dull.

Liven up buddy!!! (I better put a wink in here so my intent is not misread... )

Oh... PS: I agree with what you said above with 5 players for 4 positions... just let it work itself out.

[84 Lives!!!]

Originally Posted by keystone

I'd rather have Felipe Lopez than Kennedy. Switch hitting lead off man who can play 2b/ss/3b.

Is Lopez a FA, or do we have to trade for him?

[TheCouga]

Originally Posted by IdahoBert

If Mr. I wants Damon he will get him. Sometimes the gut overrules the head and this is the kind of thing where Mr. I's guts could tell him to do this regardless of what Dave's head says to do.

Hence the Boras statement. He's not aiming the comments at Dombrowski, he's aiming them at Illitch. And knowing Illitch, it has a good chance of working.

[CMRivdog]

I think Boras was misquoted...he actually said Damon would make the Tigers a weiner if they signed him.

[irishmick79]

I live in Burlington. It's fantastic here! Really check out Stowe and Waterbury for some great skiing. The people here remind me a lot of the midwest.

[keystone]

Originally Posted by 84 Lives!!!

Is Lopez a FA, or do we have to trade for him?

FA.
He'd cost less than Damon and fill an area of need with a better glove.

[tiger337]

The problem with Lopez is that he doesn't really address their need for a left-handed hitter. He's a switch hitter but both Damon and Kennedy have better stats versus RHP over their careers.

[ballmich]

Originally Posted by sportz4life

It's affordable if the structure is as follows 1year/6.5MM with/1.5MM deferred to 2011. with a 1MM option for 2012 at 6MM (either vesting or non vesting they can work that out).

If at the trade deadline July 31, the Tigers were to move him, they tigers would have only paid him 3,350,000 with the tacquiring team absorbing the remainder. (5MM prorated over 2/3 a season)

If the Tigers are contenders, 5MM and deferring his salary to 2011 when payroll is low..makes the deal cash flow friendly and risk adverse..

Well, as I've stated, I'm not a fan of signing Damon, but I do enjoy talking about contracts...

I think if we were to sign him, you are proposing to spend way too much. Who are you bidding against? There is no market for the guy, and the 2-3 teams that might have a need have no money to spend on him... So let's not shoot the moon here.

And I think the difference between a vesting, player, club, or mutual option year is huge. In particular because, if the "out" is trading him at the deadline, you are burdening yourself with a vesting option because it will hurt his trade value. This is because it will limit the number of teams that can trade for him, because no one wants to deal for someone (and their salary) and then not be able to give them PA's for fear they will vest the next year.

I'd counter that this is a pretty reasonable contract:

1 year at $3 million
Club option for 2nd year at $6 million
$1 million buyout of option year

Or Damon can elect a Mutual option, in which if he opts out, the buyout is only $500k, and if the team opts out, the buyout is $1 million

Obviously, if we can get him to defer some payment until 2011+, all the better because it eases cash flow concerns in 2010 and lowers the present value of the contract. But I won't make any assumptions along this line.

This basically makes the contract either 1yr/$4 million or a 2yr/$9 million deal, or maybe 1yr/$3.5 million if he elected a mutual option and he declined the option year.

Really, what more can Damon expect? And frankly, I still wouldn't want him at this deal, I just think it's a pretty reasonable given we are at (roughly two weeks until pitchers/catchers report).

[sportz4life]

Originally Posted by ballmich

Well, as I've stated, I'm not a fan of signing Damon, but I do enjoy talking about contracts...

I think if we were to sign him, you are proposing to spend way too much. Who are you bidding against? There is no market for the guy, and the 2-3 teams that might have a need have no money to spend on him... So let's not shoot the moon here.

And I think the difference between a vesting, player, club, or mutual option year is huge. In particular because, if the "out" is trading him at the deadline, you are burdening yourself with a vesting option because it will hurt his trade value. This is because it will limit the number of teams that can trade for him, because no one wants to deal for someone (and their salary) and then not be able to give them PA's for fear they will vest the next year.

I'd counter that this is a pretty reasonable contract:

1 year at $3 million
Club option for 2nd year at $6 million
$1 million buyout of option year

Or Damon can elect a Mutual option, in which if he opts out, the buyout is only $500k, and if the team opts out, the buyout is $1 million

Obviously, if we can get him to defer some payment until 2011+, all the better because it eases cash flow concerns in 2010 and lowers the present value of the contract. But I won't make any assumptions along this line.

This basically makes the contract either 1yr/$4 million or a 2yr/$9 million deal, or maybe 1yr/$3.5 million if he elected a mutual option and he declined the option year.

Really, what more can Damon expect? And frankly, I still wouldn't want him at this deal, I just think it's a pretty reasonable given we are at (roughly two weeks until pitchers/catchers report).

We don't have any idea who they are bidding against, I mean who in their right mind thought Valvaerde would cost 7MM.

Plus you have to find a hapy meduim between what it will take to get him to signednd fiscal responsibility,the dererral allowed for some payroll relief..the option has multiple ways to be crafted, but if Detroit is good and Damon plays well, you want the option of contract certainty for 2011..

[Walt]

Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports believes that the Tigers have moved into the non-denial stage regarding Johnny Damon (via Twitter).

Via MLBTraderumors

What does this mean?

[84 Lives!!!]

Originally Posted by Walt

Via MLBTraderumors

What does this mean?

That means they're not denying rumors that they are talking to him any more.

Which might mean that they ARE talking to him...

Maybe.

[sportz4life]

So I asked Dave Dombrowski if the #Tigers have plans to pursue Johnny Damon ... He said he wouldn't comment on specific players ...
and

Then he said: "We are always open to improving our club." Sure sounds like a non-denial. Detroit fans, feel free to speculate.


From Twiiter..