Dude, They Just Signed Away the "Face of the Organization" Yes, I wanted to resign Damon. I did say that 4 years at $40 million would get it done and, by all reports, thats what the front office offered. Coincidentally, this is also what got Varitek, another Bora$ client, resigned last winter. The difference, as always, is that when the Yankees need to fill a position through free agency, they are usually bidding against themselves.
Damon signed with the Yankees for 4 years at 52 million. Reportedly - as Damon curiously revealed during his interview with WEEI yesterday - he TURNED DOWN an offer for five (5) years with less annual average value (I forget the amount). I'm not sure why a guy signing what could be his last deal at age 33 turns down an additional year. He also said he turned down a sixth year from another team a "non-contender" (ahem, Tigers, cough) but declined to reveal who. Damon never came back to the Red Sox for a counter-offer. Thanks, dude.
Yesterday kinda sucked because Damon was the guy who seemed like he understood what it takes to put up with losers like me obsessing over a game that's impossible to explain to the disinterested. Red Sox fans are not afraid to tell you when you suck. They don't mindlessly cheer like fanboy automatons (I'm looking at you, Packer and St. Louis Cardinal fans) but when you give the effort Johnny gave for four years, they worship you like a god. Johnny Damon will never be regarded as highly in NY as he was in Boston. In NY, he'll be another high-priced free agent signing for Steinbrenner - a guy determined to taste as much of the 2004 Red Sox champion team as possible (see: Belhorn, Mark; Embree, Alan; Myers, Greg).
But what I don't get is ESPN obsessing (go link it yourself - should be easy to find) over: 1) the "disarray" of the Red Sox front office and the offseason, in general, and 2) the need to award the 2007 World Series title to the Yankees.
There's work to be done, but "disarray"?! Here's what makes me reluctant to call this offseason a total failure:
1. Trading Doug Mirabelli, the backup catcher, to the Padres for 2B Mark Loretta, a starter. This move fills an immediate need at 2B, created last year when Belhorn started to suck. Prospect Dustin Pedroia may need another 1/2 season in AAA before he's ready for major league at-bats. Mark Graffanino, last year's mid-season trade, probably can't be expected to continue to hit like he did down the stretch last year. Interestingly, Graffanino accepted the Sox offer for arbitration, which means he'll either stay with the team as a sub, or be included in an upcoming deal.
2. Trading Edgar Renteria and his salary to Atlanta for Andy Marte, the consensus best prospect in baseball. Edgar unsuccessfully tried to replace Orlando Cabrerra - the charismatic SS who somehow made everyone forget about Mr. Mia Hamm - in 2005. Marte is a 3B who is projected to produce somewhere in the neighborhood of Scott Rolen's numbers. He's also been mentioned as a chit that could be flipped for a CF or a SS. The downside of this move, a downside that's been mentioned in the media, is this move created an immediate hole at SS. Look for a push to get Cabrerra back from the Angels.
3. Traded prospects for P Josh Beckett and 3B Mike Lowell. You might remember Beckett as the guy who finished the Yankees in Game 6 of the 2003 WS. He's 25, under contract for two more years and has electric stuff. Mike Lowell was included as a salary dump. If he remembers how to hit, he'll allow Marte to get additional at-bats in AAA. Lowell could also be used as a 1B, but is reportedly too good defensively to waste at 1B.
4. Built bullpen depth. Signed Rudy Saenez from the Padres. Last year Saenez struck out 84, walked 22, while holding batters to a .222 AVG in 60 innings. Saenez - if he doesn't resume sucking (he's 37 and has occasionally sucked in recent years) - could be a guy who can come in and coax a strikeout with runners on base. You know, the guy the Red Sox lacked last year once Embree started sucking. They also signed Jason Van Buren - a guy the Cubs have inexplicably given up on despite posting solid K/BB ratios in AAA. Van Buren is a guy who is capable of getting outs in the majors if used properly. Guillermo Mota was included in the Beckett deal. Mota is another setup guy with decent K/BB. Timlin resigned.
5. Haven't taken less value for Manny. If Manny also wants out, fine. But he has a contract with $57 million left that he won't walk away from. If Manny nets Miguel Tejada or Mark Prior (two rumors), then I'd pull the trigger.
As far as the Yanks: they haven't won a title this century even though they've been spending money like drunken sailors. Before the 2004 offseason, they supposedly trumped the Red Sox by signing ARod and signing the corpse of Kevin Brown. We know how that turned out. Before last season, they were given the WS title by trading for Randy Johnson and overpaying for Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. This year, they sign Damon - who will now makes more than Miguel Tejada. Yep. Damon's average value will pay him $3 million more per year than the best SS in baseball. Initially, I thought it was a good deal for the Yanks, but I think had the Red Sox signed Damon for those terms, they'd get crucified. Rob Neyer, one of my daily reads at ESPN.com before he went 'Insider', called Damon the most overpaid player in baseball when the Sox signed him from the A's in 2002. I'm not saying I agree, just wondering why the Yankees suddenly got such a good deal.
...This Blog, However, Is Not Dead
