If not Johnny Damon, then who?
by Kurt Mensching on Jan 31, 2010 11:00 PM EST
in Morning Lede
86 comments
A few days ago, Mike Rogers wrote it would be a wise move for the Tigers to go after a proven batter like outfielder Johnny Damon if they want to shore up their hopes of competing for a division title in 2010.
A report by Jon Paul Morosi at FoxSports.com says the Tigers may be interested in DH/first baseman Hank Blalock or utility infielder Adam Kennedy.
And in our comments section, Linuxit has been pounding the drum for second baseman Felipe Lopez.
Most of these moves has some sound logic behind them, and many of them for the same reason: The Tigers have little insurance behind third baseman Brandon Inge and second baseman Scott Sizemore. Inge will not be available to play in spring training games until near the end of the March, and is just one trip to the disabled list from leaving the Tigers in a precarious position. Sizemore is a rookie, coming off a broken bone in his ankle in November. Behind Sizemore in the infield rotation is ... ? Well, Ramon Santiago, but that leaves shortstop Adam Everett without a real insurance policy, depending on your feelings about Brent Dlugach.
Simply put, the Tigers are putting a pretty sizable bet in terms of payroll -- increased last month with the addition of closer Jose Valverde -- they'll be able to compete in a still-weak Central Division in 2010. But they're just one infield injury away from seeing that bet possibly wasted. Why not get a little insurance? So a player like Kennedy or Lopez makes pretty good sense. Both are capable defensively, can play multiple infield positions and bat left-handed.
Lopez (stats) is coming off a very nice season, but can he do it again? He put up several career numbers, including a BABIP 30 points higher than ever before. RJ Anderson pointed out at Fangraphs he walked a bit more and struck out a bit less, but otherwise appeared to be the same batter he always was with a bit better luck. He mainly has played shortstop and second base, but has logged time at third as well. Using CHONE predictions his value is estimated at nearly $10 million in 2010.
Kennedy (stats) surprised with his season in Oakland in 2009 as well. He started 78 games at third base for the A's and played a bit below-average defensively there. He is a worse batter than Lopez as well. But he likely fits into the Tigers' salary requirements and would accept a backup role.
Damon (stats) plays in the outfield, but would help assure the Tigers could bat the oft-injured Carlos Guillen as designated hitter, as well as giving Detroit the biggest bang for its buck at the plate. The CHONE projections have him at a .352 wOBA and .854 OPS. Damon is my top choice, although if money is no object for the team I think they may as well pick up Lopez while they're at it.
Who else is out there?
Well, looking at MLB Trade Rumors, there aren't a lot of palatable options for the infield. Detroit could try to nab Tiger-killer Joe Crede, but then he'd just find a way to kill them from within. Trojan Crede images are probably already frightening some readers, so I better move on.
In the outfield/designated hitter area, Jermain Dye offers a slight possibility, but nothing greatly interesting. Garrett Anderson? Uhm, no. Johnny Gomes? Well, for a low price maybe.
Feel free to follow that link yourself and find any names that you'd like to include in the discussion.
So clearly, Damon continues to make the most sense to me. I understand why some might want Lopez to play for the Tigers as a backup -- Sizemore should be given every opportunity to start at second -- but I am not sure I understand why he'd want to be a backup after his 2009 season. Kennedy would make a good pairing for Detroit for a bit of insurance.
Otherwise, there's just not a lot out there worth looking at.
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Damon
Barring that, Kennedy.
To be frank though, I doubt DD goes after a bat. That would make far too much sense.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
I voted Damon
I like Damon because of the bat he could give us near the top of the order, giving us a chance to ease the younger players in a bit more. Ajax is probably still our front-runner to lead off, but I would like a lineup that goes Damon, Maggs, BigMig, Guillen, Inge (if he’s back to 2009 1st half form). Then if Sizemore hits like a two-hole guy, he can break up that black-hole of ugly at the bottom of the order a bit.
That being said, I do like Kennedy, depending on the price. Another left-handed bat off the bench gives a little more flexibility to Jimmy, already having (Praise) Avila and Santiago he can go to. Nearly forgot the Cult of Clete (possibly), don’t hate me.
Of course, if Kennedy is cheap enough to sign for your bench, why stop there? Dream scenario: sign them both.
by TennesseeYooper on Feb 1, 2010 12:19 AM EST reply actions
Voted for Kennedy, but I love the idea of Damon's bat in the line up
Our 2nd and 3rd basemen coming off injuries scares the hell out of me. I agree though if we are going to wish/hope lets get both:)
FA signing
I prefer Damon’s bat and he could lead off too. He hits well on the home field as well. The only thing that would nix it would be if his demands were too extreme. If that’s the case go for Kennedy and let the young outfielders battle it out. The guy that finished last season out there impressed enough for a chance as well even though he is a defensive liability on occasion.
The answer is Damon
He would give Detroit a true lead off presence at the top of the order, something it hasn’t had in a long time. I liked Granderson, but it was a waste of his power to bat him leadoff. I’m thinking Tony Phillips was the last great OBP guy the Tigers have had in that spot. Even if Damon’s a little worse than last year, he’ll get on base and make the middle of the order better.
by Detroit Exile on Feb 1, 2010 6:06 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
do we want kennedy...
when in the pic above it appears he is about to drop the baseball?
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stupid question but,
Are the Tigers still are thinking that Carlos Guillen is an option for an emergency infielder, or is he strictly an OF/DH? Because if that’s the case, well we’re pretty much boned.
by rock n rye on Feb 1, 2010 10:21 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I voted Damon.
But Kennedy could play 2B, 3B, and LF, so if he (magically) hits against RHP like he did last year, it would also be a wise signing.
Qualification...
I need to qualify my vote for Johnny Damon.
1) Damon would need to sign a one year deal with the Tigers for a “reasonable” amount.
2) The Tigers would then trade Ryan Rayburn (right handed batter, of which they have in abundance) and Bobby Seay (left handed reliever, of which they have in abundance) to someone/anyone in the National League for someone/anything of value… other than another reliever.
3) We all keep our fingers crossed for Damon to have a solid year, attain Type A or Type B free agency status, show him the door, usher in the Clete Thomas era, and look forward to David Chadd having a couple of more high picks in 2011.
Damon was a type A this year,
but the Yankees declined to offer arbitration because they thought he might accept. The Tigers would likely have to do the same, because teams are probably not going to sign a 37 year-old type A.
by StringTheory on Feb 1, 2010 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
True, but...
I also don;t think that Damon would accept arbitration after taking a “reasonable” one year deal. If I have a basic understanding of the arbitration rules, then he could only expect a minimal raise over whatever he signed this year.
Based on his actions so far, I think he’d be very reluctant to do that.
I think.
I thought Damon was a type B?
I thought A as well but then Detnews reported B in a recent article.
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by JoelZumayaKegStand on Feb 1, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
link to Detnews article
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100201/SPORTS0104/2010369/1361/Agent—Damon-wants-to-play-for-Tigers
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by JoelZumayaKegStand on Feb 1, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
thanks, thats what I was confused about
*
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by JoelZumayaKegStand on Feb 1, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
I'll take Raburn over Clete to be honest...
more of a personal preference probably but my gut says that Raburn has more upside and greater potential than Clete.
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Even though Clete is left handed?
I agree though that Rayburn has more trade value at this time though.
Being left handed is only an upside if your a good left handed bat.
Clete has yet to prove that he’s good enough to be more than a bench player in this league. Raburn has showed great improvements in his game last year.
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Damon's options continue to narrow
He was linked with the A’s, but Oakland just signed Gabe Gross. This is good news.
by Detroit Exile on Feb 1, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
Sign Damon
And make Carlos the full time DH/backup 3b.
The Guillen OF experiment needs to be shut down.
A lifelong Tigers fan
by ewild on Feb 1, 2010 11:16 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
+1
I though I was the only one. Of all the crazy things that have happened this off season, #1 on my list is Leyland giving Guillen the full time LF job for 2010.
This
Makes sense. Then you go with this as your bench
DH/3B Guillen
UTIL Raburn
IF Santiago
C Avila/Diaz
OF Thomas
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by David Tokarz on Feb 1, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
nice R/L balance off the bench
and majorly versatile with raburn santiago and clete playing at least 2 positions a piece
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by JoelZumayaKegStand on Feb 1, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
There's R/L balance?
Did not notice that…
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Slightly TIC with our starting lineup, but upon further review
guillen (S- if his other side comes back)
Raburn ( R )
Santiago (S)
Avila (L)
Thomas (L)
Not awful
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by JoelZumayaKegStand on Feb 1, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
Well, Oakland seems to be officialy off the table, having signed Gabe Gross
It’s looking increasing like Damon is either going to be a Tiger or nothing at all.
It sounds ridiculous
But assertions like the one you made are kinda inaccurate- the front office has said that it’s not interested in Damon and there are other teams that would sign him if the price was right as well (some that have shown interest, like the Braves). So I’d disagree with your statement on the basis that DD won’t sign Johnny Damon.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
I think the flaw in your assumption is that Damon will, if the market dictates it, sign someplace on the cheap
I don’t think he will. If it comes down to it, and nobody will meet his price, I think he’ll just sit on his hands, hoping the Yanks get an injury and want him. Hence my assertion. I don’t believe he’s going to sign with Atlanta or the Rays for 3 million. I think if the Tigers don’t sign him, nobody will give him the money he wants, and he signs nowhere. That’s where the “nothing at all” part comes in. The Tigers are the only team I could see convincing themselves that Damon is worth the asking price, especially given their frequent signing of Boras clients and obvious need for a left handed bat.
See
I’m not so sure the Tigers would. They’ve indicated they’re looking for an INF and they’ve indicated they’re on a budget. I don’t see it, unfortunately.
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He only needs to look at Kenny Lofton. He didn’t sign anywhere cheap and never played again.
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I have a hard time believing that someone that is greedy (as all athletes should be) will walk away from any contract.
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Now I write at Bless You Boys.
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It comes from the fundemental arrogance that all athletes also have.
“I am worth this much money and not a penny less, somebody will eventually see this if I wait long enough.”
It happens so rarely, though, that for 99% of athletes: Money > their arrogance.
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3,000
He wants his 3,000 hits to reach the Hall Of Fame…………………He will sign………..
by TigersFan1957 on Feb 1, 2010 11:04 PM EST up reply actions
I like Damon
A rotation of him, Guillen and Maggs between the outfield corners and DH could make sense. Raburn could back up all three of them and end of getting a decent number of ABs between days off and DL visits.
by Ryan in Brooklyn on Feb 1, 2010 1:28 PM EST reply actions
Damon for me. Though, if ego and money were no objects, I’d grab Russell Branyan too and put Guillen on the bench/RH-DH.
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Lopez
He’d be cheaper, is more versatile and would fit nicely in the clubhouse. I’d love to get Damon, but Lopez would definitely be cheaper.
But relative to the value that both would give, Damon is probably the better buy — especially if his price keeps dropping and he signs a Bobby Abreu-like deal ($5 mil last year if I’m not mistaken). Lopez would still be cheaper than Damon at $4-5 mil, but the amount of talent Damon would bring for that price versus Lopez would give Damon the win for me.
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Don't kill me but....
Shouldn’t that be “whom”?
I didn't want to scare people away
you know how the internet feels about grammar!
by Kurt Mensching on Feb 1, 2010 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
Ha ha ha!
Desperation is setting in for Bora$$ to get Damon the most money.
by DetroitTigersGeek on Feb 1, 2010 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
I'd be thrilled to have Kennedy, Lopez, or Damon
2 out of the 3 would be even better. Hopefully we get someone.
WHAT ABOUT GUILLEN @ 2B?
Guillen be at 2B, his orginal position ..when coming to the tigers..he played 2B…my opinion…he stats is are decreasing by the year, only because, he isn’t at 2B..why I say? venture to say,what happen to guiilen playing 2B?…When he plays 2B ,he number are very good with HR power, make sense , I think!…Guiilen wasn’t happy with the discision to make him OF! so judge for yourselfs, I say put Guiilen at 2B, his orginal position!
oops, I did again, very sorry, I can’t believe I made a mystake,guiilen his orginal position SS!
by '' spiderman '' on Feb 1, 2010 8:18 PM EST up reply actions
I'd rather see him DH/backup 3b...
like stated above.
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Too..........................................................
Old, Fat & Slow to Play anywhere on the field……..
by TigersFan1957 on Feb 1, 2010 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
Guiilen plays his best game @ [ss] no other position will do, including OF or IB, 3B…we tried that at OF, IB, 3B, it doesn’t in fact,,disatrous, so, my wise well put him at SS, his orginal position
Guillen's range at SS is of the lack...
He had a terrible ‘07 season at short. He’s not great at 3b but he can definitely be a decent backup for Brandon Inge.
Guillen’s best position right now no matter what is DH. That is where the majority of his playing time needs to be at.
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Notice . . .
. . . that all this talk about Damon signing with Detroit comes from Scott Boras. Haven’t heard a word out of the Tigers supporting the notion.
I remember the 68 tigers no potooning,every player as his position,same as 84 tigers, no potooning, exeption, injuries, other wise a player goes in same position.what has happen to the tigers organization, crazy………I remember, the line-up for the 68; freehand©,norm cash[IB],tony taylor[2B],airilo rodegdouz[3B], willie horton[LF],micky stanlely[CF],of course , al-kaline[RF]..all time favorite player……that line-up was the best in baseball then, with no putooning,same as 84 tigers!
Reply 68 Tigers.....
in 1968 the Tigers had to acquire Tom Tresh to play SS twords the end of the season, but he could not play in the World Series….Mickey Stanley had to leave Center Field to play SS in the W/S, and he had never played that position before…..
by TigersFan1957 on Feb 1, 2010 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
68 Platooning
The Tigers platooned Stanly & Northrup in Center Field all season…..They also platooned Wert & Matthews at 3rd….Ray Oiler (SS) was injured late into the season…..
by TigersFan1957 on Feb 1, 2010 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
What he said.
There’s nothing wrong with platoons or creative usage of backups- if anything, this is my main argument against a seven man bullpen (I prefer either six or five), because it stifles creative approaches when it comes to bench usage.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by David Tokarz on Feb 1, 2010 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
I'd feel better about this school of thought
if Leyland were more of a thinker, and less of a throw stuff against the wall kind of manager.
actually, it's kind of scary when he thinks
maybe what we need is more random!
by Kurt Mensching on Feb 1, 2010 10:40 PM EST up reply actions
Well, yeah
You need a decent manager to do it… Jim does not fit the bill. Good clubhouse leader though.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by David Tokarz on Feb 1, 2010 11:32 PM EST up reply actions
one bad year doesn’t make a players,so ,he had a bad year in 07 big deal! The fact remains, he already, I am comfortable with playing SS……everyone has a bad year in the major leagues so, we agree to not disagree, but, I still think it will be better that Guiilen plays short stop, my huge opinion,the stats back -up those calms, better than Everett or santaigo, altho, santaigo will fit in so,Everett should sit on as bench warmer,he was the worse hitter on the tigers last year,santaigo, on the hand, different story so
If only I could rec this more than once.
by StringTheory on Feb 1, 2010 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
I gave it rec to help out.
even though I don’t particularly get the joke, anything that references Warren Harding entertains me really.
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Sign Damon Now & Trade a Pitcher to the Mets For.....
Sign Damon Now….Trade a pitcher or two to the NY Met’s after Spring Training is in full swing for Switch Hitting, Ángel Pagan….Raburn can backup 3rd & 2nd bases just fine……Carlos Gillian should be our everyday DH…..
The Met's need what we have too much of Relief Pitching..........
by TigersFan1957 on Feb 1, 2010 11:25 PM EST up reply actions
He's a pretty good player though
Don’t think that they’d bite on a package like Seay/Miner… he’d probably cost us a good prospect.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by David Tokarz on Feb 1, 2010 11:34 PM EST up reply actions
They would bite
They have too many Center fielders when Beltran returns……
Outfielders
Outfielders No Player Pos Bat Thw Ht Wt Age Exp Birthplace 2009 Salary
44 Bay, Jason LF R R 6-2 205 31 7 Trail, British Columbia $7,800,000
15 Beltrán, Carlos CF S R 6-1 205 32 12 Manati, Puerto Rico $19,243,682
54 Carter, Chris RF L L 6-0 230 27 2 Fremont, California $400,000
6 Evans, Nick LF/1B R R 6-3 210 24 2 Glendale, Arizona $403,000
12 Francoeur, Jeff RF R R 6-4 220 26 5 Atlanta, Georgia $3,375,000
26 Martinez, Fernando LF/CF/RF L R 6-1 190 21 1 Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic $400,000
24 Matthews Jr., Gary CF/RF/LF S R 6-3 225 35 11 San Francisco, California $10,400,000
16 Pagán, Ángel CF/RF/LF S R 6-2 195 28 4 Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico $575,000
Way too many Outfielders….They would work a deal for some of our pitchers….Starters or relief…….
by TigersFan1957 on Feb 1, 2010 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
My Tigers Line up
1_Pagan / CF
2_Damon / LF
3_Mags / RF
4_Cabrara / 1B
5_Gillian / DH
6_Inge/Raburn / 3B
7_Laird/Avila / C
8_Evert/Santiago / SS
9_Siezmore/Raburn/Satiago / 2B
Pretty Strong I think…….If we had my top two……
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