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Indians to sign Johnny Damon
yahoo sports
Early in the morning hours on Thursday, April 12 a tweet from Fox
Sports’ Ken Rosenthal stating “Sources: #Indians to sign Johnny Damon.”
came across Twitter.
The 38-year-old Damon struggled to attract interest during the
offseason due to his lackluster defense abilities in the outfield
despite batting .261/.326/.418 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs in 150
games with the Tampa Bay Rays last season. He also swiped 31 bases.
Terms of the agreement have yet to be disclosed but Rosenthal reports
the deal will include an “out clause” which will allow Damon to leave
the team once Sizemore returns from injury.
For an Indians team that has struggled early on this season in
offensive production, Damon just might be the help they need off the
bench this season.
Damon has had a successful career thus far collecting 2,723 hits, 231
home runs, 1,120 RBIs, 404 stolen bases, and a career batting average
of .286. If nothing else, his veteran leadership will certainly help
the younger hitters on the club such as Carlos Santana and Jason
Kipnis, whom big things are expected in their respective careers.
The signing would also reunite Damon with former teammate Derek Lowe.
The pair played together on the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red
Sox team.
Speculation on where Damon would land has been occurring all spring. At
points in time he had been linked to the New York Yankees, Atlanta
Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and obviously the Indians.
In an interview with Casey Stern and Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio,
Damon stated, “I know I’ve proven a lot, and if the right opportunity
comes up, I’ll take it, I think the biggest thing holding me back right
now, is what if I do take a backup job somewhere, what if somebody gets
hurt somewhere else where I would probably prefer to be at? That’s why
I’m taking my time.”
The “out clause” Rosenthal reports may be for that specific reason.
Although giving a player that much power over their contract mid-season
is certainly not a normal occurrence. There is no denying Damon has
earned such a privilege, but lets hope the Indians do not get burned by
it.
It is expected the deal will officially be announced in the morning on
Thursday, April 12
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