It's been a strange road for Johnny Damon. After spurning first Kansas City and then Oakland, he arrived in Boston, grew his hair, became an icon, and won the World Series. Then his home team wouldn't bid enough to keep him around, so he went to New York, cut his hair, played better than expected, and won the World Series again. And now, once again, we're hearing that his home team won't bid enough to keep him around. These, I suppose, are the perils of signing with Scott Boras.
It's an odd situation for a guy good for 145+ games a year and who hasn't scored fewer than 93 runs since 1997.
But at 36 years old and with practically every other player of his caliber signed to a contract, Damon finds himself a man without a country. The Yankees have repeatedly denied interest in bringing him back, though it seems to be a matter of price. His former employers in Boston let Jason Bay walk, but then signed Mike Cameron and Jeremy Hermida to replace him. Boras is firmly asking for a two-year commitment, which is an awkward fit with almost any National League team. Damon's defense has deteriorated over the years, and seems destined for the DH spot. But who is there, really, left to sign him? Eliminate the National League. Assume the Sox and Yankees are out. Baltimore has a stocked outfield; so does Tampa Bay. The Royals, a longshot to begin with, have (somewhat dubiously) cast their lot with Scott Podsednik. The Tigers, Twins, and Indians appear to have their outfields set. Every team in the AL West has signed a new OF/DH this offseason: Guerrero to the Rangers, Coco Crisp to the A's, Hideki Matsui to the Angels, and Milton Bradley to the M's. It's hard to believe any of those teams, none of whom are flush with extra cash this winter, will spend enough to land Damon at market price.
That leaves the White Sox and Blue Jays. Both teams have large commitments to contracts signed by J.P. Ricciardi, and the White Sox have added Andruw Jones as a fourth outfielder. Their current left fielder, Juan Pierre, may have less than a chokehold on the position, but with Jones in the fold, adding Damon would mean getting rid of Mark Kotsay, to whom they re-committed in November.
The Blue Jays look like the best fit to me. They lack a 4th outfielder or a true DH, and Travis Snider, though he has great potential, may not be ready to hold down a corner spot in their outfield. The question is, do they have the money to pay what Damon is asking? If not, I think he'll be hard-pressed to get that second year, and may have to settle for the one-year $5m-type contract Bobby Abreu signed with the Angels last season. It would be a steal for the Jays if they got it; but at this point, how many options do Damon and his superagent really have?
MILES:
Toronto would be a good spot for Damon, if it weren't for the Roger Centre's unforgiving turf. I can't foresee Damon's balky knees holding up there for 65+ games. If they envision him as a full-time designated hitter, they might be a good match.
We should also consider the Tampa Rays. If they could come up with $5 million, and Damon's willing to be a full-time DH, Tampa would be a desirable place for Damon, especially if no other team is willing to give him an everyday job.
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