Should the Tigers Sign Damon?

[THECATMAC]

Easy question to answer....

[THECATMAC]

Remember when the Tigers signed Fred Lynn, was that worth it?

[DaYooperASBDT]

I'm giving a conditional "Yes". I would do it if the price is right - but I would want some rotation of Guillen, Jackson, Ordonez, Raburn, Damon through the OF/DH spots. Basically play the hot hands and give Raburn as many AB's as possible. Definitely I'd make Ordonez earn his playing time in 2010.

[Eric Cioe]

One year: yes. Two years: no.

[Johnny Mac]

I need to know the contract details before I can give a for sure answer to the question. Since we wouldn't know that, I just voted based on whether I would want Damon on this team or not, so I voted YES

[ToledoTigerFan]

I voted "no". If he would DH full-time, I wouldn't mind having him on a one-year rental, but I doubt that he wants to be a DH. So, I chose "no". Plenty of outfield candidates already on the roster.

[Titus Tiger]

if I start a thread "Do we need another Johnny Damon Thread"

should the poll be an essay?

[Beat]

sure they should, yes

[ScrubBeaterUpper]

Yeah sure, just as long as the contract is 4 yrs/ 40 mil. Good players like Damon need to be locked up for as long as possible. And if you insult them by signing them to a cheaper contract, expect problems in the ole clubhouse. Maybe even throw in some incentives and a large signing bonus.

[ScrubBeaterUpper]

Originally Posted by Titus Tiger

if I start a thread "Do we need another Johnny Damon Thread"

should the poll be an essay?

LoL

[rhino]

I found the question to be incom.......

[Titus Tiger]

Originally Posted by rhino

I found the question to be incom.......

for plete sakes

[DaYooperASBDT]

Originally Posted by Titus Tiger

if I start a thread "Do we need another Johnny Damon Thread"

should the poll be an essay?

All of our threads here are one question. In forty-three parts.

[THECATMAC]

Damon has averaged over 600 at bats and 184 hits in 15 seasons, not to mention 66 walks per season. He is still a full time player.

[tiger337]

I think it will take a two year deal which I don't like. Otherwise, I think he would have signed already. I'm going to say yes though because their lack of left-handed bats is a big issue which needs to be addressed.

[Sports_Freak]

I didn't vote for the same reason others have questioned. The contract. And I wonder if he really has anything left in him? I mean, we all know he can't throw and his numbers at the new Yankee stadium are misleading. I would take a good long look at his road numbers and maybe offer him a 1 year deal, at the cheapest price possible. With Boras as his agent, that's already one strike against him.

[Vonlenska]

Originally Posted by ToledoTigerFan

I voted "no". If he would DH full-time, I wouldn't mind having him on a one-year rental, but I doubt that he wants to be a DH. So, I chose "no". Plenty of outfield candidates already on the roster.

You'd put Guillen in LF over Damon?

[Eric Cioe]

Originally Posted by Vonlenska

You'd put Guillen in LF over Damon?

He also judges pitchers' mechanics by how much they look like Tom Seaver.

[Shelton]

Yes. I also don't really care how much it costs and whether it is for two years. We don't exactly have any sure things coming up.

[Eric Cioe]

Originally Posted by Shelton

Yes. I also don't really care how much it costs and whether it is for two years. We don't exactly have any sure things coming up.

That's true. But even assuming Magglio's option doesn't vest, signing Damon to 2 years would mean that Guillen and Damon at ages 35 and 37 will be taking up two roster spots in 2011. It's pretty risky to give someone with Damon's skill set two years at his age. He might be okay by that point but he might not.

Plus, how can he expect two years at this point? What's he going to do, hold out when no one will give him two years, and retire? He can't.

[Casimir]

Like Eric said, there'd be two years of Guillen & Damon. Realistically the roster doesn't support that.

In 2010, CF, backup CF, backup 1B, and backup 3B need to be sorted before considering Damon unless they can go with 11 pitchers or move an existing OF. Plus, how much of Damon's 2009 is fool's gold?

[sbcaptain2]

I'd be very happy with Damon on a one-year deal, but I don't want him if it takes more than that to get him signed.

[Eric Cioe]

This team's roster issues could be pretty much avoided if they could go with an 11 man staff. Most teams could probably say the same thing. Seattle might do just that this season.

Really, there is no reason for 12 pitchers. If you do burn through all the bullpen arms, you can always call someone up for the next day's game. Especially on this team, you could almost work out a sort of second rotation of relievers to pitch after the starter leaves. Imagine Porcello going 6 strong, Schlereth coming in for two innings, and Valverde finishing it. Or without a lead, just have Schlereth finish it. Rest him for two days while Zumaya and Perry do the same thing if there are high-leverage innings in the next two games. Have each guy available every third game for as many innings as necessary. Valverde could keep the 9th for himself. The others could eat lower-leverage innings.

[JonBenke]

Originally Posted by tiger337

I think it will take a two year deal which I don't like.

I don't think it will. Who else wants him? Don't believe the Braves rumors, that's not going to happen. So who else wants him?

It'll come down to dollars and cents, but Damon's getting a one year deal. That said, I'll give him whatever Mike I wants to give .. for one year.

[ToledoTigerFan]

5 million total for a one-year contract, 4 million total for a two-year deal.

[tiger337]

Originally Posted by JonBenke

I don't think it will. Who else wants him? Don't believe the Braves rumors, that's not going to happen. So who else wants him?

It'll come down to dollars and cents, but Damon's getting a one year deal. That said, I'll give him whatever Mike I wants to give .. for one year.

If nobody wants him, then I don't want him either. I think there are several teams that would want him for one year but they are waiting Boras out. So, if the Tigers only offer one year, they might not get him.

[PantheraTigris]

I'm going to have to say no, because I don't think I can stand a full season of listening to Johnny Damon.

[Bambino Lino]

Absolutely

[Scottwood]

If it is a 2 year deal, it won't be that expensive. At most, it sounds like he will make $6 to $7 million a year. If he's not worth the money/roster spot in 2011, they will just eat the money like they did with Sheff. The same could happen to Guillen next year if he stays injury riddled and locked in at DH. We have a lot of money coming off the books after this season and more money to play with. That gives us more wiggle room for 2011 to eat some money if a player doesn't deserve a roster spot. I see minimal downside to signing him. Worse comes to worse, we just eat 6 to 7 million in 2011 and wish him well. We've done it before and we'd do it again.

[Hongbit]

I don't like these apples.

[macedonian bengal]

yeah...just because everyone insists it would only work if it's a one year deal...thanx for the jinx.. it's almost a certainty now that he'll sign for two years, 12 million..with the Tigers..because of history proving itself over and over again..'..Damon will be money in 2010..then, during an injury riddled 2011 everyone will be complaining about his bad 6 million dollar contract.
It will be written in ink two weeks from now.

[CapitalTigers]

Hmm... let me think, .363 in Comerica Park, great speed, smart veteran player, and left-handed. ABSOLUTELY.

[RedRamage]

I voted yes, but like others it's a conditional yes. If he could be had for the right price, then do it. If he's asking for a huge contract, then no.

[baseball3]

Did you see THIS in the Freep today ?

Is it as apparent to you as it is me that Damon/Boras are getting nervous?

Johnny Damon likes Yzerman, Tigers | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Don't look now, but, seems to me like Damon/Boras are getting nervous having no suitors. Selling hard in Detroit --they're trying hard to sell, sell, sell

With NO other buyers out there, this IS Boras' job, but will Detroit bite and at what price?

[Oblong]

Tomorrow we're going to see at the Sam Riddle trial.

[DaYooperASBDT]

Originally Posted by macedonian bengal

yeah...just because everyone insists it would only work if it's a one year deal...thanx for the jinx.. it's almost a certainty now that he'll sign for two years, 12 million..with the Tigers..because of history proving itself over and over again..'..Damon will be money in 2010..then, during an injury riddled 2011 everyone will be complaining about his bad 6 million dollar contract.
It will be written in ink two weeks from now.

If he takes at-bats from Ordonez instead of Raburn, then the Tigers would save a boatload of cash
(due to termination of Maggglio's deal), even if they give Damon two years.

[DaYooperASBDT]

Originally Posted by CapitalTigers

Hmm... let me think, .363 in Comerica Park, great speed, smart veteran player, and left-handed. ABSOLUTELY.

I decided to give this stat a closer look, but unfortunately the recent sample sizes are horrible:

2009 - he was 3 for 13 (.231 BA, .593 OPS, only 3 game sample)

2008 - 5 for 10 (.500, 1.383, 3 games)

2007 - 5 for 17 (.294, .882, 4 games)

2006 - 2 for 10 (.200, .500, 3 games)

2005 - 10 for 33 (.303, .767, 7 games)

2004 - 5 for 13 (.385, 1.005, 3 games)

He definitely used to tear it up here when he was a Royal, and the big gaps likely would help him, but let's not fall in love with that career figure too much, either - it has been many moons since then - and as noted by others our pitching really sucked back then.

However, it should be noted that my sample sizes are horrible here, and we don't know what pitchers he faced during these games - a huge factor.

[cruzer1]

I was against it, but I've warmed up to it. His offense is well worth the risk.

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by THECATMAC

Easy question to answer....

No, it's not. It depends on the terms.

[oldglory1999]

Originally Posted by DaYooperASBDT

I'm giving a conditional "Yes". I would do it if the price is right - but I would want some rotation of Guillen, Jackson, Ordonez, Raburn, Damon through the OF/DH spots. Basically play the hot hands and give Raburn as many AB's as possible. Definitely I'd make Ordonez earn his playing time in 2010.

100% agree