Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Sports Geek about which still unsigned player is the best remaining on the hot stove in major league baseball.
Johnny Damon is the best remaining free agent on the market. Yes, he is old. Yes, he is overpriced. And yes, he displays all the defense of an awkward 12-year-old girl. But the guy can still hit. While he is not a threat to lead any of the categories of baseball’s Triple Crown (homeruns, runs batted in, and batting average), he is going to produce at a high level offensively across the board. Last year his line looked like this:
| AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 550 | 107 | 155 | 24 | 82 | 12 | .282 | .365 | .489 |
Johnny boasted three year bests in runs, doubles, homeruns, and walks. His stolen bases were down last year, but that can be explained by his move to batting in the number two spot behind Derek Jeter, whose stolen base totals rose as the Yankees 2009 leadoff batter. While stats alone make Damon a majorly sought-after commodity, it is his intangibles at the plate that make Johnny Damon so darn good. He is a patient hitter. He sees a lot of balls before swinging, which not only helps him but also allows his whole team to see what pitches the pitcher has in his arsenal. Damon is an experienced batter that has proven he can produce under pressure. Johnny has been successful in two of the biggest media markets in baseball – Boston and New York, and he has had some clutch at bats in serious big game situations. Yankee fans remember the clutch hits he had against the Yankees (i.e. the 2004 ALCS) and for the Yankees (i.e. the 2009 World Series).
Adding to Johnny Damon’s value on the free agent market is the fact that he is pretty freakin’ cool. Whether he is rocking excellent facial hair or an awesome new hairdo, he does it with style. He is at ease in front of the TV camera. He proved that, during his guest hosting appearance on popular wrestling program, WWE Raw, where he cut promos in the ring, made matchups, and even acting in a skit that had him kissing 85-year-old female wrestler Mae Young. And if you really want to talk about cool, how about hanging out with godfather of rap, Snoop Dogg? Johnny Damon hung with Snoop D-O-Double-Dizzle at a charity event, where he beat Snoop in a game of Madden. Prior to the game Damon made a bet with Snoop that if he won then Snoop would have to perform at his daughter’s birthday party one day, also winning Damon extra cool points for being an awesome dad. What in the world does this have to do with his status as a free agent, you ask? Well… a lot. Every bit of popularity an athlete creates for themselves drives up their marketability, and in turn the marketability of that player’s team. Johnny Damon and his agent Beelzebub… I mean Scott Boras… knows that his ability to draw fans and TV ratings will increase his value at the negotiating table. (So take that middle school guidance counselor. Being cool does count for something after all.)
In spite of the attention he will get after the signing of top tier hitters like Matt Holiday and Jason Bay, Johnny’s Damon’s options are beginning to narrow because of his current salary and multi-year contract requests. His poor arm and shrinking range make him a defensive liability, so that knocks out most national league teams looking for a hitter, such as the Mets and Giants. He will come with a hefty price tag, so small market and price conscientious teams, like the Athletics, are out. This pretty much leaves big market AL teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels as options. But, theAngels have already locked up a cheaper alternative in free agent and World Series MVP, Hideki Matsui. I really do not see Johnny going back to Bean Town, so in my opinion he might as well get comfortable in the Bronx, at least for a few more years. But who knows? Damon shocked the world before when he left the Red Sox for the Yankees, he could make waves again by signing on with a team ready to make a World Series run. The fact remains Damon is a veteran piece of the puzzle for any serious postseason contender, and an entertaining character to boot.
