Giants First Team to Show Interest in Damon
By Mike Silva ~ November 12th, 2009. Filed under: Rumor Mill.
Scott Boras believes Johnny Damon is worth a four year deal. Perhaps the San Francisco Giants agree since Jon Heyman reports they have emerged as a suitor for Damon.
Damon is going to be an interesting case because he had the best season of his career statistically, but can you count on him giving you four more productive years at 2009 levels, better yet, can he give you 2008 production? I think he is a classic case of a player that will ask for four years and be lucky to obtain two.
The Yankees are not a desperate team and Brian Cashman already seems to be taking a “don’t call us we will call you” approach by not chasing after any agents at the GM meetings in Chicago. Hey, they are world champs and players should be falling over themselves to put on pinstripes- right?
The wild card with Damon getting a multiyear deal is a team like San Francisco. I am only speculating, but I doubt they have the resources to be serious about Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. That leaves the second tier players and Damon very well could be the best offensive outfielder out of that group. The Giants were an anemic offensive team in 2009 and need to beef up the lineup if they have any hope of reaping the benefits of their young arms. Damon very well could leverage a weak free agent class into a multiyear deal with San Francisco. I can’t see the Yankees going higher than two years. Remember, I still think they will get serious about Bay or Holliday. I can’t imagine the Yankees sitting on the sidelines the entire offseason.
Some believe that Damon is a product of the new Yankee Stadium. He did hit 17 of his 24 homers in the Bronx, but if you look at Hit Tracker Online none appear to be cheapies. He had an OPS over .900 at home, but still put up respectable numbers on the road. Hitting at AT&T Park will not be easy, but it’s unfair to say his season was completely enhanced by a hitter friendly park. My bigger concern would be durability and defense, although his weak arm isn’t as big a deal if he is playing left field. Right now a team like the Giants can’t be choosy when it comes to offense.
Something tells me that Damon is going to have to take a discount if he wants to stay in pinstripes. History indicates that is probably not going to happen.
