Fund Raiser for Yankees?
With news the Yankees have signed Johnny Damon to a 4/$52 million contract, I suppose everyone is going to have to start raising funds for those poor Yankees.
After all, with news they lost $50-$80 million this past season, I can only conclude they took away Cashman's kids college fund, eliminated health benefits etc... to get Damon. I mean, where else could they come up with this kind of money while losing millions of dollars every year?? Right?........ ok, sarcasm off.
This is a great move for the Yankees, and a fairly disastrous move for the Red Sox, at least for now. The Yankees went into this offseason with only two holes; CF and the bullpen. They just signed the best CF on the market, and didn't have to surrender any current talent to do so. They also didn't commit to any long term deal. Seven years would be a disaster... 4 years will be over before you know it.
And before anyone starts complaining about Damon and his age in 4 years, just remember there is only 7 months separating Damon and Jeter. If you believe players fall off the cliff in their mid-30's, start worrying about Jeter's $18 mil/year first!
Damon is durable, marketable and is actually GOOD. He just made the Yankees better, at the expense of their most hated rival. If Damon really does decline in a few years, Cashman can simply throw some cash at the problem and send him off. The Yanks just picked up 4 wins with this deal, and are the favorites to win the East.
For the Red Sox, things aren't so simple. Why in the world the same franchise that gave middlin' players like Renteria $10 mil/yr suddenly refuses to match Damon is a mystery. Damon was the face of the franchise- he was marketable, their leadoff hitter, contributed to the WS win in a big way etc... and the Sox let him walk.
This would be like the M's letting Ichiro walk two years after winning the MVP. You simply don't let players like this go from your franchise. However much the Yankees valued Damon, the Red Sox should have valued him more. The Red Sox were basically valuing Damon only slightly more than what the M's are paying Washburn!! Unbelievable!
We know the Sox are not stupid. This is the same group that pulled off the brilliant trade with Florida and improved their pitching staff tremendously. So what are the Sox up to?
Don't we have to assume the Red Sox feel they can get Jeremy Reed by letting Damon walk? It's the only thing that makes sense. Obviously the Boston FO feels either Crisp or Reed will replace Damon.
Bavasi is in a good position. The Yanks didn't have anything we want if Damon stays with Boston. But the Sox have plenty of prospects. We saw what Juan Pierre cost the Cubs... 3 good young players. Reed should be bringing back at least 2 super prospects. No less.
If Bavasi plays this right, Damon going to the Yankees could be a good thing. If Bavasi turns around and dumps Reed for Clement, this is a disaster.
The Boston press will be going crazy trying to figure out the next move. We may hear more about the Sox plans in the next several days.
I'm sure we'll all stay tuned to this story...
With news the Yankees have signed Johnny Damon to a 4/$52 million contract, I suppose everyone is going to have to start raising funds for those poor Yankees.
After all, with news they lost $50-$80 million this past season, I can only conclude they took away Cashman's kids college fund, eliminated health benefits etc... to get Damon. I mean, where else could they come up with this kind of money while losing millions of dollars every year?? Right?........ ok, sarcasm off.
This is a great move for the Yankees, and a fairly disastrous move for the Red Sox, at least for now. The Yankees went into this offseason with only two holes; CF and the bullpen. They just signed the best CF on the market, and didn't have to surrender any current talent to do so. They also didn't commit to any long term deal. Seven years would be a disaster... 4 years will be over before you know it.
And before anyone starts complaining about Damon and his age in 4 years, just remember there is only 7 months separating Damon and Jeter. If you believe players fall off the cliff in their mid-30's, start worrying about Jeter's $18 mil/year first!
Damon is durable, marketable and is actually GOOD. He just made the Yankees better, at the expense of their most hated rival. If Damon really does decline in a few years, Cashman can simply throw some cash at the problem and send him off. The Yanks just picked up 4 wins with this deal, and are the favorites to win the East.
For the Red Sox, things aren't so simple. Why in the world the same franchise that gave middlin' players like Renteria $10 mil/yr suddenly refuses to match Damon is a mystery. Damon was the face of the franchise- he was marketable, their leadoff hitter, contributed to the WS win in a big way etc... and the Sox let him walk.
This would be like the M's letting Ichiro walk two years after winning the MVP. You simply don't let players like this go from your franchise. However much the Yankees valued Damon, the Red Sox should have valued him more. The Red Sox were basically valuing Damon only slightly more than what the M's are paying Washburn!! Unbelievable!
We know the Sox are not stupid. This is the same group that pulled off the brilliant trade with Florida and improved their pitching staff tremendously. So what are the Sox up to?
Don't we have to assume the Red Sox feel they can get Jeremy Reed by letting Damon walk? It's the only thing that makes sense. Obviously the Boston FO feels either Crisp or Reed will replace Damon.
Bavasi is in a good position. The Yanks didn't have anything we want if Damon stays with Boston. But the Sox have plenty of prospects. We saw what Juan Pierre cost the Cubs... 3 good young players. Reed should be bringing back at least 2 super prospects. No less.
If Bavasi plays this right, Damon going to the Yankees could be a good thing. If Bavasi turns around and dumps Reed for Clement, this is a disaster.
The Boston press will be going crazy trying to figure out the next move. We may hear more about the Sox plans in the next several days.
I'm sure we'll all stay tuned to this story...
posted by Tom at
11:03 AM
