Damon Finally Signs with a team...

[Canocollector#1]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/02/t ... damon.html

Damon signed a one year deal worth about 8 million with the Tigers. Pretty much expected that because it seemed as though they were the only team really interested.

 

[AmishDave]

I don't think he'll have the same year as he did last year. I also believe this'll hurt the Yankees more than the know ...

 

[beefycheddar]

I told my mother about this and she said "Well we don't have to hate him anymore."

 

[blanning71]

I was a little shocked to see him sign with Detroit. While I will miss him as a Yankee, I have to think that he is now in the decline of his career and perhaps last year was a last hurrah. I wish him well in Mo-Town. I wish things would have worked out to keep him in NY but I just didn't figure that the Yanks would part with the 11 million that he was asking for.

I just hope now that the Yanks can find someone to fill the void left behind in his wake.

 

[kdailey4315]

I was a little shocked to see him sign with Detroit. While I will miss him as a Yankee, I have to think that he is now in the decline of his career and perhaps last year was a last hurrah. I wish him well in Mo-Town. I wish things would have worked out to keep him in NY but I just didn't figure that the Yanks would part with the 11 million that he was asking for.

I just hope now that the Yanks can find someone to fill the void left behind in his wake.

With Granderson in center it shouldn't be that hard to fill the LF position to get the same output as last year.

 

[pujolsjunkie]

I happen to think Winn and Thames platooning in left with Gardner mixed in is fine.

 

[SilverandBlack]

What a stupid move by detroit trade one of thier best young players and fan favorites for unproven prospects and then say you were trying to cut salary, then go sign a guy who many would say is on the decline and bring the salary right back. nice move detroit.

 

[Pine Tar]

Who weird the Whitesox pull back there offer since it was a one year deal and he wanted a two year.
And I think that was what the Sox were offing him. Oh well no JD in a WhiteSox Uni.

 

[All The Hype]

This just pisses me off, they said they're trying to go with their home-grown talent and cut some salary in the process. Sure he's a solid player and should be a somewhat decent bat...but instead of following out their own plan to use the cheap, young talent in the system (which would work just fine) they sign a guy for $8 mill whose production last year was almost certainly a product of the new Yankee Stadium's ability to carry balls out of the park. Not to mention he probably has the worst outfield arm in the majors.

Great pickup, Detroit ::facepalm::

 

[Mudcatsfan]

Well assuming this is a one year deal, they still cut their obligation to Granderson significantly.

Granderson's coming off one of his worst years in his career, and if Detroit believed he's on the down swing, then they needed to get out from under his contract ASAP.

Damon is then simply one year partial insurance against AJax not being ready.

 

[archiebunkerjr]

What a stupid move by detroit trade one of thier best young players and fan favorites for unproven prospects and then say you were trying to cut salary, then go sign a guy who many would say is on the decline and bring the salary right back. nice move detroit.

Truer words never spoken. The Tigers everyday outfield in 2010 will be Damon, Ordonez and an unproven player in CF (Jackson? Clete Thomas?) They will have the worst MLB outfield defense in 2010 in a ballpark that places a premium on having a great defensive outfield. Knapp better have his pitchers looking for a lot of strikeouts this year to help out the defense or else the other team's third base coaches are going to break their arms waving in baserunners.

 

[stu]

The new Yankee Stadium was a launching pad. There is no way Damon comes close to putting up the same numbers in Detroit. He is iffy at best now on defense. It just seems like a lot of money for a 4th outfielder.

 

[shephech]

From what I read... it sounds like he might possibly be the DH, not really that bad in my opinion.... we needed a lead off man for this year and someone who can provide alittle more offense...

myself I am not to upset at this move..

Shep :ugeek:

 

[All The Hype]

I'd love to see Raburn get a more consistent chance to play. He's been pretty tough for the Tigers overall and has come up big in some clutch spots as well. I think he would be really solid if he could have a spot in the lineup every day.

 

[chrome_ball]

This move gives the Tigers plenty of veteran depth to cover any struggles of young players and/or injuries. Sure, all Detroit fans hated to see Granderson go, but the Tigers got more than unproven prospects in that deal. Their bullpen will be vastly improved this year as compared to last year and their rotation should be better than last year as well assuming Bonderman is back and Scherzer does what he is capable of. In a weak AL Central this move could be the one that gets them into the postseason.

 

[UMich92]

Well assuming this is a one year deal, they still cut their obligation to Granderson significantly.

Granderson's coming off one of his worst years in his career, and if Detroit believed he's on the down swing, then they needed to get out from under his contract ASAP.

Damon is then simply one year partial insurance against AJax not being ready.

I've been a big fan of Granderson and I'm not particularly a fan of Damon. I want to hate on the move, but you pretty much summed up why I'm ok with it. It's insurance for AJax and Carlos Guillen can't really play much outfield. And if the Tigers tank, he'll get traded at the deadline for a no-name MILBer so it's really only about a $5 million gamble.

Alex

 

[markakis8]

In the AL or NL East, even the AL or NL West, these moves the Tigers are making would seem idiotic. But consider the division they are in and they may just seem frugal.

Nothing really adds up right now but the Tigers may have something up their sleeve.


Off topic question: If Damon, miraculously (even with ~550 hits to go), gets to 3,000 hits, is he the worst 3,000 hit player of all time? My vote would be yes.

PREDICTION: He plays with the Tigers for 1 year, some other team for one year, and then the Royals for his final 2 years to get 3,000 hits.