For Damon, it’s Detroit or bust
February 9, 2010, 4:30 pm by iYankees · 3 Comments
Desperation can be extremely embarrassing.
From Scott Boras’ favorite newspaper, the Detroit Free Press:
If Steve Yzerman wasn’t busy running Team Canada for the Olympics, perhaps he could help persuade free agent Johnny Damon to sign with the Tigers despite a lower offer than he’d like.
Damon has rooted for the Red Wings for years. He started doing so because of how much he likes Yzerman. Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, talked Monday about Damon’s fervor for the Red Wings.
“When he and I go to a Greek restaurant, he always orders octopus,” Boras said.
But if Damon goes to work for Mike Ilitch, it will be because of how he feels about his baseball team, not his hockey team.
“Johnny came to me about Detroit,” Boras said in a telephone interview. “He told me, ‘If I can’t play for the Yankees, I want you to let the Tigers know I want to play for them. I can make that team a winner.’ ”
Although Damon, 36, has been a free agent since November, Boras said the market for him really didn’t develop until it became clear the Yankees wouldn’t re-sign him. Then, said Boras, “We got four or five offers right away.”
Basically, Damon’s only attractive option – the team willing to pay the most money – seems to be the Tigers. Boras has all but confirmed that by this more than likely artificial display of Detroit affection and, by doing so, he has effectively cornered he and his client as they have gone all in on owner Mike llitch’s wallet. It is very clear that if Damon does not sign with the Tigers, he is due for a huge pay cut with another organization, one that would possibly leave him with an annual guaranteed salary of $2-5 million with the Braves, Rays, or Blue Jays (the Reds are reportedly out). In retrospect, I bet the last-ditch $6 million deal (half deferred) the Yankees offered is looking pretty good right now.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
I have read that Damon is broke and simply needs the money, even though he has earned $98 million as a major league player.
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How can anyone who has earned $98 million be BROKE ??…It’s almost financially impossible….If you break down the finances (taxes, agent’s cut, etc.), he would still have to spend 50% of his earnings. That’s about $49 million over 14 years…What could they be spending their money on ??
Are these ballplayers that irresponsible ??
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pretty sad, Johnny.
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