Yankees get Damon

[a7x1337]

hellllllllllz yes
NEW YORK -- The Yankees fired the latest shot in their rivalry with the Red Sox, signing Johnny Damon to a four-year, $52 million contract to become their new center fielder.

The two sides agreed to terms on Tuesday night, after the Yankees increased their offer from $48 million to $52 million. The deal, which was confirmed by a Yankees official, is contingent on Damon passing a physical.

Damon also confirmed the agreement in an interview with WBZ-TV in Boston, citing the Yankees' aggressiveness as a major factor in his decision to move from Fenway Park to Yankee Stadium.

"We know George Steinbrenner's reputation; he always wants to have the best players and I think he showed that tonight," Damon told WBZ. "He and Brian Cashman came after me hard and now I'm part of the Yankees and that great lineup. We're going to be a tough team to beat."

Although Cashman had maintained his position that Bubba Crosby would be the team's starting center fielder, it was assumed that the Yankees would make a move before Spring Training began in mid-February. After watching other teams -- most notably the Mets, Red Sox and Blue Jays -- make big splashes this winter, the Yankees finally landed their big fish.

Cashman, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, has been focused on improving the bullpen and finding an upgrade in center field throughout the offseason.

After adding Kyle Farnsworth, Mike Myers and Ron Villone to the bullpen, the Yankees came to a one-year, $2 million agreement with Octavio Dotel on Tuesday, finishing up the work on the relief corps. Then the Yankees came to terms with Damon, stunning the baseball world.

Although Damon will make $13 million per year over the next four years, it won't cause the Yankees' payroll to rise significantly, as Bernie Williams made about $12.3 million to play center last season. Williams will likely return as a bench player, as the Yankees are close to signing him to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

Damon gives the Yankees their first true leadoff hitter since Chuck Knoblauch left after the 2001 season. New York used Derek Jeter in that spot for much of last season, but the Yankees' captain can now move back to his traditional No. 2 position in the batting order.

One of Damon's new teammates, Alex Rodriguez, said recently that he considered Damon to be one of the two best leadoff hitters in the game, along with Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki. Damon agreed with that assessment.

hot stove
Complete coverage >

"They haven't had a championship since Chuck Knoblauch was there when they had a great leadoff hitter," Damon said. "I think the leadoff role has been under-appreciated. A good leadoff hitter is tough to find and I think New York just found the best leadoff hitter in the game."

Damon's agent, Scott Boras, had been looking for a seven-year deal for Damon, who was the top center fielder available on the free-agent market. But at the age of 32, it was unlikely that any team would make such a commitment to Damon.

Once he was willing to come down to a four-year deal, it became a matter of which team would step up with the best offer. Boston never moved from its original offer of $40 million, opening the door for the Yankees to steal him away from their rivals.

"I made contact with them and told [Boston manager Terry Francona] they really need to get going because if not, I'm going to be another team," Damon said. "Unfortunately, Boston had their plans. I'm not sure if they knew I meant it but now I'm a Yankee and hopefully they can go off and get the other center fielders they've been courting for the past month or so."

Apparently, Damon's goals changed over the past eight months, as he told MLB.com in early May that money would not be the determining factor in his decision.

"There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they're going to come after me hard," he said on May 3. "It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need."

Yet sometime in the next week, Damon will don the pinstripes and a Yankees cap at the Stadium, smiling proudly while flashbulbs pop all around him.

Damon, who was one of the major players in Boston's 2004 championship run, is well-known for his long hair and beard, but he knows that by taking the Yankees' money, those will both have to go.

"Without a doubt, George Steinbrenner has a policy and I'm going to stick to it," Damon said. "Our policy with the Yankees is to go out there and win and we're going to try and bring another championship to them."

Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[YankeesSuck]

Dirtbag Damon is his new name lol. It will be funny seeing Matsui and Sheffield running all over the outfield trying to get the ball. Just because Damon got a horrible throwing arm, the size of that outfield means trouble for Damon.

[LeFromage]

Dirtbag Damon is his new name lol. It will be funny seeing Matsui and Sheffield running all over the outfield trying to get the ball. Just because Damon got a horrible throwing arm, the size of that outfield means trouble for Damon.

It's cute how people turn on someone they adored, so quickly...

[YankeesSuck]

It's cute how people turn on someone they adored, so quickly...

Well he left the Sox for the evil empire. Anyone who does that is an automatic enemy to me, no matter who does it. There were plenty of other people in Boston who loved him. His jersey was the most sold in Boston, now everyone is burning it.

[Jimothy51]

Good news. Since it seems the Red Sox seem to be looking at 2007 (Renteria for Marte, Pedroia at 2nd, Youks at 1st) I can live with this. Damon will help the Yankees win in 2006. I see him hitting .285 with 15 homers (short-porch in right) and 80 RBI's with 120 runs scored. By '07, he'll be a liability, and once again the Yankees will have a whole in CF. Most intelligent Yankee fans hate this move. I don't expect to find any on here. For the record if the Red Sox signed Damon to this contract, I'd be crying right now.

Edit: How times change:
"There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they're going to come after me hard," he said on May 3. "It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need."

[MalYoung]

I just lost lots of respect for Damon.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

whoooooooooooo whoooooooooooooo party fuck yeah!

[CheeseMonkeys]

Shave that beard Damon... I'm sure he won't want to.

[YankeesSuck]

Hey shortcock, where did I say Damon sucks. Yes he can't throw and I harped on that all season long last year. When runners would be scoring from first because of his arm. And with that huge outfield in the Bronx, your gonna love watching him throw.

Eh fuck it you got me beat in that one.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

im sure he will be greeted nicely when he comes to boston in october.

[YankeesSuck]

im sure he will be greeted nicely when he comes to boston in october.

So your saying Boston will be in the playoffs, dam straight they will be.

[johnnycupcakes]

Shave that beard Damon... I'm sure he won't want to.


he looks....gay with it shaved and his hair cut. im sure his teamates will love it.

[YankeesSuck]

Yanks getting Damon not that big a deal

By Ian O'Connor USA TODAY
12/21/2005 1:30:00 AM

Johnny Damon has a throwing arm that makes Bernie Williams' appear Ichiro strong. In the vast wilderness that is center field at Yankee Stadium, Damon and that wet noodle attached to his left shoulder will make Derek Jeter run out to the warning track to take the cutoff throw.

LOL I told you all, that is not a good home for Damon.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

So your saying Boston will be in the playoffs, dam straight they will be.


better hope so they have so many holes and no one to fill them in.

[beardo]

wow, very low of Johnny. I knew if i wa sthe most popular guy in a city i wouldnt leave, but money talks. But on the oterh hand i love it so i can watch the rivalry develope even more! No doubt Johnny will get BOOOOOOED like CRAZY! but when Embree i think it was went to NYY from Boston, the yanks fans booed him just because of where he came from. Johnny may get a few boos from NYY fans too, but i know they will love him. It would be sweet if Boston stole a yank one of these days!


o well, fuck both teams. Go Tribe!;)

[patriotwarrior7]

Personally I think Damon knows he made a mistake. He doesn't want to play in NY. He does have a high profile agent. At first, they were looking for a seven year deal from Boston.Nobody wanted to picked up that kind of contract. The Red Sox weren't going to budge. I am sure they prolly made a mistake or two, but they wanted to keep their leverage.

Now the question is who are the sox going to get to play CF? What about shortstop?

[YankeesSuck]

Hmm Torii Hunter would be nice in CF, I don't know if he is available or what. Sox should take a look at him though, worth a shot. I don't want Jeremy Reed or Coco Crisp.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

You guys can have bubba crosby.:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[YankeesSuck]

So here is the Skankee Lineup I think

CF Damon
SS Jeter
RF Sheffield
3B Rodriguez
LF Matsui
1B Giambi
2B Cano
C Posada
DH Williams

[Pat The Baker]

Wow... every thead that deals with the Yankees and Redsoxs its the redsoxs fans that shit all over it. Starting to see a trend. Redsoxs fans are all the same, they win once in over, what? 70 years? I'm not gonna say it was just luck. They earned it. But Redsox fans, shut the fuck up and stop being so damn whiney.

Yankees are just flexing their wallet muscle to get Damon :)

Im a fan of the Yankees but I think this was kinda lame.

[YankeesSuck]

Damon is the whiner, aw Boston only offered me 40 million, they don't want me anymore. What a pussy! It will be great though if come October and the the Yankees don't win the World Series.

[Pat The Baker]

Yeah, if he ever sayed he loved baseball, that is bullshit. He is playing for money, but I am sure almost all of the other players are too.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

Damon is the whiner,


Another hypocrite!

[YankeesSuck]

Another hypocrite!

Whatever you say asshole.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

Whatever you say asshole.

If your going to complain about damon for bitching and whining then dont do it yourself.

[poopchow]

Wow, im just really suprised how much trash has been spoken about damon from sox fans. Look, the sox are in trouble. Beckett is a liability whenever he suits up and foulk..is foulk(sp). They seem to be in disarry while the yankees are slowly but steadily adding and making good moves.

Im not really a sox hater, but damn you guys put yourselves in a hole.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

if you guys had a chance to make 12mil more in 4 years you would take it dont act like hes wrong.

[CheeseMonkeys]

if you guys had a chance to make 12mil more in 4 years you would take it dont act like hes wrong.

The pic in your avatar Makes Damon look like he has boobs and a woman body. I'm sure you like it like that. Half man, half woman.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

The pic in your avatar Makes Damon look like he has boobs and a woman body. I'm sure you like it like that. Half man, half woman.


dissing damon is going to change that he rejected the red sox :lmao:

soon you will see him in a I love NY shirt

[CheeseMonkeys]

dissing damon is going to change that he rejected the red sox :lmao:

soon you will see him in a I love NY shirt
You can't possibly tell me that your avatar looks like a woman with Damons face on it...?

EDIT: i guess you got my point after all. Nice Red sox logo on dat helmet.

[YankeesSuck]

I had to put ShortCock on ignore, my IQ was dropping everytime I read one of his posts.

[CheeseMonkeys]

I had to put ShortCock on ignore, my IQ was dropping everytime I read one of his posts.
It gives me a headache to read his posts lol.... Everytime he says something hes like.



hahahahahahahahaha................................ ......... you guyz lov jonny damon so much but when hes on yankee you hate him ........................hahahhahaahahah you guys are faggots and yankees ........rich and good red sox suk but i dont know what you think 26 world series and you guys 6 thats pathetic.you guys cant do anythin rite you guys are hyocrit .............................and every time you lose someone you lik you hat him......................... ( 74x longer and 74x as much bull shit )

[YankeesSuck]

It gives me a headache to read his posts lol.... Everytime he says something hes like.



hahahahahahahahaha................................ ......... you guyz lov jonny damon so much but when hes on yankee you hate him ........................hahahhahaahahah you guys are faggots and yankees ........rich and good red sox suk but i dont know what you think 26 world series and you guys 6 thats pathetic.you guys cant do anythin rite you guys are hyocrit .............................and every time you lose someone you lik you hat him......................... ( 74x longer and 74x as much bull shit )

lmao then there is this post, I'm baffled at what it could mean.

dissing damon is going to change that he rejected the red sox :lmao:

[Yumpizza]

2004: DAMON IS AWESOME YUARYAYRAYRYARYAR
2006: OMFG DAMNON SUCKS!!!!!@!@#!!!!!

Hypocrites. The Red Sox are royally screwed next year. They lost their 3rd best player and Manny wants out, Ortiz can't carry the team by himself. The Red Sox had the money to keep him, they didn't offer it to him, Damon goes to the Yankees. Fenways center field is harder to play than Yankee stadium's, don't lie to yourself. The Yanks beat the Red Sox last year with their best pitchers injured, and a bad bullpen. Now the Yanks have a new relief core, the 2nd best leadoff hitter in the game, and everyone else is coming back. The. Red. Sox. Are. Screwed. Watch out for Cano, hes the next great player in the MLB. Red Sox are going 85-75, and are going to miss the playoffs. The Sox aren't looking at 2007, and Renteria isn't all that good/

[CheeseMonkeys]

2004: DAMON IS AWESOME YUARYAYRAYRYARYAR
2006: OMFG DAMNON SUCKS!!!!!@!@#!!!!!

Hypocrites. The Red Sox are royally screwed next year. They lost their 3rd best player and Manny wants out, Ortiz can't carry the team by himself. The Red Sox had the money to keep him, they didn't offer it to him, Damon goes to the Yankees. Fenways center field is harder to play than Yankee stadium's, don't lie to yourself. The Yanks beat the Red Sox last year with their best pitchers injured, and a bad bullpen. Now the Yanks have a new relief core, the 2nd best leadoff hitter in the game, and everyone else is coming back. The. Red. Sox. Are. Screwed. Watch out for Cano, hes the next great player in the MLB. Red Sox are going 85-75, and are going to miss the playoffs. The Sox aren't looking at 2007, and Renteria isn't all that good/
We can be mad at a player for leaving a team and city that he was very liked. But he didn't just leave to any team... He left to the Yankees. That is nasty of him to go there. And it is only for the money too. Don't these people have enough money? All of this money should be going to people with important jobs, but it dosn't bother me. Well, i know most people would take the higher money deal, but to the Yankees? Come on now. And i don't hate Damon I am just pissed at him.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

You can't possibly tell me that your avatar looks like a woman with Damons face on it...?

EDIT: i guess you got my point after all. Nice Red sox logo on dat helmet.
too bad it will be the last time you will see him with a red sox logo.Just using it until he has the meeting and puts his yankee hat on for the first time.

[YankeesSuck]

I'll admit it Red Sox can't with their team right now. But a longs way to go. If Josh Beckett is healthy we could have the best starters in the league, and they need Keith Foulke to pitch like he use to. We don't have to have a stacked offense to win it all either. As long as Manny, Ortiz, Nixon and Varitek are together and some others they can win.

Also I don't know if you know but we don't have that bum Renteria anymore.

[CheeseMonkeys]

too bad it will be the last time you will see him with a red sox logo.Just using it until he has the meeting and puts his yankee hat on for the first time.

Untill then, you can use this for your avatar... It represents your love for other men.

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:StbYaJGmrhQJ:www.gay-marketing.com/mcouple.jpg

[YankeesSuck]

Ok so the Yankees have signed,

Alex Rodriguez $112 mil/6 years
Gary Sheffield $13 million a year
Kevin Brown $15 million a year
Jason Giambi $18 million a year
Randy Johnson $16 Mil a year
Mike Mussina $17 million a year

No championships, What makes anyone think signing Damon will help them out?

[Pat The Baker]

I suppose it would kind of fuck up moral of other teams, especially the red soxs

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

Ok so the Yankees have signed,

Alex Rodriguez $112 mil/6 years
Gary Sheffield $13 million a year
Kevin Brown $15 million a year
Jason Giambi $18 million a year
Randy Johnson $16 Mil a year
Mike Mussina $17 million a year

No championships, What makes anyone think signing Damon will help them out?


Dont be jealous cause your going to have to wait 84 more years.If the yankees wanted they could buy the red sox.Manny wants out..who knows about nixon.....jason varitek and david ortiz will be the only guys who arent from the minor leagues playing next season on the red sox.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

lmao then there is this post, I'm baffled at what it could mean.

Well then let me translate it from my own little languge to english.....

If you keep dissing damon it's not going to change that he's not on the Red Sox.Sometimes I type so fast I reread what I wrote and dont even know what i was trying to say.:uhoh:Why do you have to be a dick about the way I type.

[Kazimierz]

Why don't we just sell them the entire sport, and have everyone else stop playing.

[beardo]

coco crisp wont be in boston if manny aint in Cleveland....thanks god, coco is fucking beast, Him and sizemore! i woudl take sizemore over damon anyday. sizemore will be better then johnny in every aspect except speed in teh futre, maybe batting average too!

wow ii have too much tribe pride. but srsly.

[Yumpizza]

The Red Sox have Beckett... but they still have their craptastic bullpen, and one of they key parts of their offense and defense is gone. They won't go anywhere unless they get really lucky with minor leagers.

[Jimothy51]

The Red Sox have Beckett... but they still have their craptastic bullpen, and one of they key parts of their offense and defense is gone. They won't go anywhere unless they get really lucky with minor leagers.
Both the Red Sox and Yankees pitching staffs are full of question marks. The Red Sox have more potential, but that assumes Schilling, Foulke, and Beckett are healthy, Papelbon pitches like he did last year, Clement can pitch like he did before he got hit by the line drive, Wakefield gets it done into his 40's, and the new bullpen acquisitions pitch like they can. The Yankees have just as many questions, but, at their best, they only have 2 good pitchers.

The Red Sox don't have to go out and field a team tomorrow. I have faith in the Co-Gm's, and I think we will be compettitive in 06. However, I like our team better for 07 when Lester and Marte are up.

[droogsteve]

Hey shortcock, where did I say Damon sucks. Yes he can't throw and I harped on that all season long last year. When runners would be scoring from first because of his arm. And with that huge outfield in the Bronx, your gonna love watching him throw.


You do realize that he's replacing Bernie Williams, who had one of the weakest arms in the league, don't you? We still managed quite a few division titles and World Series with him in that "huge outfield", I don't see Damon being any worse off.

[Jimothy51]

You do realize that he's replacing Bernie Williams, who had one of the weakest arms in the league, don't you? We still managed quite a few division titles and World Series with him in that "huge outfield", I don't see Damon being any worse off.
With your pitching staff in the late 90's, not many balls were getting hit in the gaps. The pitching back then was astronomically better than it is now. Damon isn't much different than Bernie, and though it may not have made much of a difference back then, when you have to face the Devil Rays, a lot of doubles will turn into triples, and singles into doubles. I think that's one reason the Devil Rays have success against the Yankees. Team speed.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

But the biggest thing to come out of all this was the blow to bandwagon nation. The Yankees basically ripped the heart out of Boston and stepped on it. Kids everywhere in New England woke up this morning to their Johnny Damon posters, they'll be going to bed with an empty wall.


Now, the Yankees are the ones with the most powerful offense anyone has seen since the Murder's Row!

Damon
Jeter
A-Rod
Giambi
Shefffield
Matsui
Cano
Posada
Williams

[Jimothy51]

But the biggest thing to come out of all this was the blow to bandwagon nation. The Yankees basically ripped the heart out of Boston and stepped on it. Kids everywhere in New England woke up this morning to their Johnny Damon posters, they'll be going to bed with an empty wall.


Now, the Yankees are the ones with the most powerful offense anyone has seen since the Murder's Row!

Damon
Jeter
A-Rod
Giambi
Shefffield
Matsui
Cano
Posada
Williams
I don't get it. Where's the punchline? That lineup doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Murder's Row. Every player except for one is in his 30's. Most if not all will be declining very soon.

The Yankees main goal this offseason was to get younger; and they haven't accomplished that.

[LeFromage]

I don't get it. Where's the punchline? That lineup doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Murder's Row. Every player except for one is in his 30's. Most if not all will be declining very soon.

The Yankees main goal this offseason was to get younger; and they haven't accomplished that.

QFT...

The Yankees are an old battleship that's won it's last victory a long time ago...

Until the new generation of players come in, this team is middle of the line at best...

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

I don't get it. Where's the punchline? That lineup doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Murder's Row. Every player except for one is in his 30's. Most if not all will be declining very soon.

The Yankees main goal this offseason was to get younger; and they haven't accomplished that.


ok ok but dont be suprised if more then 4 or 5 of them have over 100RBI's and 25HR's after 2006


You think they used money to do that back then too? yankees own before old george came around
New York Yankees had won the American League pennant by a staggering 19 games.

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were the biggest guns in the Yankees' shoot-first, ask-questions-later attack. In the regular season, they combined for 107 home runs and 339 RBIs. Ruth, 32, set a major-league record with 60 homers, topping by one the mark he had set six years earlier. Gehrig, in only his third season as the New Yorkers' regular first baseman, set a big-league record with 175 RBIs.

Two other Yankees, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri, exceeded the 100-RBI mark. Meusel drove in 103 runs, and Lazzeri had 102.

As murderous as the Yankees' row of sluggers was, manager Miller Huggins' athletes could hit for average. The outfield of Ruth, Meusel and Earle Combs combined for 597 hits and a .350 average -- Ruth and Combs hit .356, and Meusel finished at .337. Gehrig batted .373.
110- 44 W-L record.

[wsuwarrior]

Now, the Yankees are the ones with the most powerful offense anyone has seen since the Murder's Row!

Damon
Jeter
A-Rod
Giambi
Shefffield
Matsui
Cano
Posada
Williams


bahahaha.....damon hits .290 and has like 3 homers per decade...hes not scarin anyone. His arm isnt even spectacular...upgrade over bernie? i guess, but not by much, and he doesnt give the yankees that much better chance to win. He just gives them another name.

Hes a lot like Jeter...who is only looked at as awesome because hes in the spotlight, when hes actually only mediocre. Fuck Jeter, and Fuck Damon.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

bahahaha.....damon hits .290 and has like 3 homers per decade...hes not scarin anyone. His arm isnt even spectacular...upgrade over bernie? i guess, but not by much, and he doesnt give the yankees that much better chance to win. He just gives them another name.

Hes a lot like Jeter...who is only looked at as awesome because hes in the spotlight, when hes actually only mediocre. Fuck Jeter, and Fuck Damon.


by getting damon i really screwed the red sox i was more happy about that.Jeter was second in runs scored last season and 6th in batting average.....people they get so jealous that they say people suck cause there not on there team.Damon will be fine he will hit great and you wont be able to say anything.
QFT...

The Yankees are an old battleship that's won it's last victory a long time ago...

Until the new generation of players come in, this team is middle of the line at best...
I guess I could some what agree about being old..we really need some amazing guys that are going to make history like we could use Mickey Mantle in center..or someone to hit 61 homeruns like roger maris or someone like joe dimaggio to hit in 54 games straight and Mr.October 4 home runs in 4 at bats in the world series thats amazing.the yankees have seen better days red sox cant say they ever had amazing guys make history and walk threw fenway like the yankees can..but that doesnt mean there all star line up wont end up taking the al east east for the 9th time agian...its better to have who we have then all minor leaguers like the red sox.

[wsuwarrior]

go suck steinbrenners cock, shorty...damon is not fucking superman just because hes a yankee....hes just another greedy fuck who will underachieve in new york.

His bones will turn to dust before his contract is over.

[Shorty|*|RocK89]

go suck steinbrenners cock, shorty...damon is not fucking superman just because hes a yankee....hes just another greedy fuck who will underachieve in new york.

His bones will turn to dust before his contract is over.


but johnny was when he was in boston right? did he age that fast?

[Krippled By Kush]

hell yes he terorized our yankees, finally that little fuck can teriorize BOSTEN FOR A CHANGE always getting ont eh damn basepaths getting knocked in by our big boomers. I thinkt his is our year yankees are back again!

[YankeesSuck]

hell yes he terorized our yankees, finally that little fuck can teriorize BOSTEN FOR A CHANGE always getting ont eh damn basepaths getting knocked in by our big boomers. I thinkt his is our year yankees are back again!

lol you related to shortyrock? You can't type or spell either.

[Masterbasser412]

Keep trying to buy that world series again...

[justplainTerror]

How bout them Dodgers?

[Krippled By Kush]

Keep trying to buy that world series again...
Fuck you dude they dont buy shit.. um who do you like? have they won nearly as much? in the ealier days like the 27 yanks and shit they did NOT have nearly as much money. So dont give me that bullshit okay, they worked for something to get where they are and you know. i dont see anyone else doing you fag. Its like the ppl that say well Shaq in the NBA is so tall its unfair, hes still one of the most dominate forces, thats like taking Kobes speed or agility away. Your a fucking panzee you no good peice of shit. your gelious cause your teams suck!

[sinner78]

If your going to complain about damon for bitching and whining then dont do it yourself.


Damon originally signed for red sox on free agency because they offered him the most cash.
now he has taken up the best offer again and all of a sudden he is some "greedy judas" . :idea:

[Bergs]

Hey Sox fans, stop dissing Damon and start looking at yourselves. Its not Johnny Damon's fault he left, you have nobody to blame but the Red Sox front office. Had they added a fifth year or equaled the Yankee offer, (the yankees increased from 48-52mil when they found out the Red Sox final offer was 40mil so they could demonstrate that they want him more) he would have stayed. Instead, you lose Epstein who is a great GM, have Lucchino, whose an idiot, dealing with players, and you end up offerring your most beloved guy the same amount as you offered renteria, a newcomer from St. Louis who never paned out.

Lucchino has fucked your team. Josh Beckett hasnt accomplished anything outside of a great 2003 series performance. He's moving from the NL to the AL and the most pitcher friendly stadium in the league to one of the most hitter friendly. You couldnt keep a guy who wanted to stay. Manny wants out more than ever now. And you dont have a 1B, SS, or CF. It's not the Yankees or Damon's fault, its Lucchino and the rest of his group.

"It feels like the wheels are coming off." -Bronson Arroyo

[NYG 5]

wheres the loyalty? you dont see yankee fans go around " OMFG TAHT GEY FAGET DAVID WELLZ SO GEY FATASS!!!" why dont you build a decent sized stadium so you dont get raped by steinbrenner's wallet?:confused:

[Bergs]

Oh BTW, according to Boras, Damon left a larger amount of money on the table from somebody else. If thats true, which it may or may not be, you can say he didnt sign for just money. Players want to feel wanted. Besides the meaningful contract offer, Torre, Giambi, and A-Rod all made personal sells to Johnny Damon

[Jimothy51]

Hey Sox fans, stop dissing Damon and start looking at yourselves. Its not Johnny Damon's fault he left, you have nobody to blame but the Red Sox front office. Had they added a fifth year or equaled the Yankee offer, (the yankees increased from 48-52mil when they found out the Red Sox final offer was 40mil so they could demonstrate that they want him more) he would have stayed.
If the Red Sox really wanted Damon, they would have given him more money than he could imagine. The bottom line is, the Red Sox didn't think he was worth that money, and he isn't.
Instead, you lose Epstein who is a great GM, have Lucchino, whose an idiot, dealing with players, and you end up offerring your most beloved guy the same amount as you offered renteria, a newcomer from St. Louis who never paned out.
That newcomer from St. Louis was an All-Star shortstop. Damon is/was not one of my 5 most beloved guys from the Red Sox. They go:
Ortiz
Schilling
Manny
Varitek
Pedro/ Damon last year

If Damon didn't have his unique appearance, he wouldn't be half as famous

Lucchino has fucked your team. Josh Beckett hasnt accomplished anything outside of a great 2003 series performance.
So trading for Josh Beckett hurts our team. I don't get it.
He's moving from the NL to the AL and the most pitcher friendly stadium in the league to one of the most hitter friendly. You couldnt keep a guy who wanted to stay.
So according to this, there is no pitcher that can do good or improve on the Red Sox. Schilling, who is the same type of pitcher as Beckett just with twice the experience, finished 2nd in the Cy Young voting his first year here.
Manny wants out more than ever now.
That's never happened before.
And you dont have a 1B, SS, or CF.
It's not even Christmas yet. We have until March to get a team in place. Plus one of our 3B will play first base, most likely Youks. We do need a platoon partner for him though.
It's not the Yankees or Damon's fault, its Lucchino and the rest of his group.
Actually it's nobody's fault. Damon wanted to go to New York because of all the money. The Red Sox couldn't afford another bloated salary.

[Bergs]

If the Red Sox really wanted Damon, they would have given him more money than he could imagine. The bottom line is, the Red Sox didn't think he was worth that money, and he isn't.

So the Red Sox didnt want Damon? They called a press conference over losing him fro christ sake. You dont do that! You call press conferences for gaining players, not losing them. To say the Red Sox didnt want him back is totally nieve and youre just kidding yourself. He's one of the finest leadoff hitters in the game and a good CF. The market is slim and losing him creates two holes for the Red Sox, leadoff and CF. It was imperative that they resign him.

You BTW disagree with pretty much every sportswriter in the country including the Boston area.
"Damon's departure leaves the Red Sox with a glaring hole in the leadoff spot." -Michael Silverman, Boston Herald

Lucchino: We will miss him
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051221&content_id=1285796&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos
Yep, sounds like the Red Sox dont need him. :rolleyes:

The fact is that the Red Sox thought the Yankees werent serious and they called their bluff. They lost.

That newcomer from St. Louis was an All-Star shortstop. Damon is/was not one of my 5 most beloved guys from the Red Sox. They go:
Ortiz
Schilling
Manny
Varitek
Pedro/ Damon last year

Hmmmm....So 1,2,3,4,5.....I count Damon as number five on your list. I thought you said he wasnt? And it doesnt really matter how you personally feel about him anyway, it is simply a fact that his jersey was the number one seller in Boston over the last 4 years and he was one of if not the most beloved Red Sox player.

So trading for Josh Beckett hurts our team. I don't get it.

When you consider the fact that the Sox got rid of Renteria and then traded their best shortstop prospect to the Marlins for a starting pitcher who in all likelihood wont pan out and added that pitcher to a staff that is already decent, no not really. It didnt make them worse. But it didnt make them better either.

And that was their best move so far this off season. The Red Sox have had a terrible winter up to this point. They have gotten worse.

So according to this, there is no pitcher that can do good or improve on the Red Sox. Schilling, who is the same type of pitcher as Beckett just with twice the experience, finished 2nd in the Cy Young voting his first year here.

Uh yeah exactly, twice the experience and a proven record of winning. Comparing Schilling to Beckett is insulting to Curt Schilling.


That's never happened before.
Its pretty much documented common knowledge that Manny was unhappy and wanted out before this latest incident, if you dont think this made him more unhappy you need to go read yesterday's Boston Herald.

It's not even Christmas yet. We have until March to get a team in place. Plus one of our 3B will play first base, most likely Youks. We do need a platoon partner for him though.

The free agent market has been pretty much picked bare. If you think you're going to be able to pull any decent trades at this point you're insane. The Red Sox have 3 big fielding holes to fill and a glaring hole in their lineup at leadoff. For them to fill any of these holes they would have to creat holes in other spots and teams across the MLB realize that the Red Sox are approaching a status of desperation. Other teams may be able to pull young talent or experienced good players away in deals for "immediate needs" that would not have materialized in the past.

Actually it's nobody's fault. Damon wanted to go to New York because of all the money. The Red Sox couldn't afford another bloated salary.

Again, the facts simply elude you and you disagree with pretty much every national sportwriter including those in New York and Boston. Lucchino fucked the deal. They didnt even have to increase the price, they needed to add another year. Lucchino did not make Damon feel wanted by the organization, the Yankees did, they had a pretty intense campaign that included direct contact with Torre, Giambi, A-Rod, and Bernie Williams, the man he's replacing in CF, and they all told him how much they wanted him in New York.

Its now confirmed that another team that for professional reasons Damon refused to name offered him 6 years and more money and he turned it down to play in New York for 4 years and less money. The Red Sox need to stop blaming everything on the Yankees wallets and realize that with the loss of Theo Epstein, they have absolutely nobody that has the negotiating and people skills to attract players. The Yankees have a much much much better front office and strategy for enticing players to join the team. That's what won out here.

[jn_powell]

Not that I care, but this was about a 10 of 10 on the old bullshit meter.
There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they are going to come after me hard. It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need.

[Jimothy51]

Instead of going into a big argument, I'll just say this. I never said they didn't want Damon, I said they didn't think he was worth that money. Which he isn't. Damon is a slightly above average player getting paid superstar money. He isn't even the best leadoff hitter on the team. In 3 years, it will be glaringly obvious that the Red Sox made the right choice; and the Yankees made the wrong one.

Loretta is capable of leading off, and he is an OBP machine. Our infield without a SS is already better than it was last year. And the only reason we have a hole at SS is because on of the best prospects in baseball was available. Andy Marte>>>>Edgar Renterror

Beckett is only 25 and his best years are ahead of him. This guy has already been a WS MVP, and getting out of Florida should help his blisters.

We have the resources to make a lot of trades. Manny alone can bring in a SS, CF, and other players.

[Bergs]

MANNY'S ADVICE: GO TO NY

December 24, 2005 -- As Johnny Damon was still deciding whether to defect to the Yankees, he leaned on some stunning advice from Manny Ramirez, Damon and his wife told The Post yesterday.

Before Damon agreed to his four-year, $52 million contract, he spoke by phone to Ramirez for some guidance and the latest information about the Boston left fielder's trade demand.

Even though Ramirez still is under contract with the Red Sox, he urged Damon over to the other side of baseball's best rivalry.

"Manny said, 'You should go to New York,' " Michelle Damon told The Post.

Johnny Damon confirmed the conversation. Ramirez also may be open to coming to New York, with the Mets.

Earlier this year, Ramirez made it known he prefers to be traded to the Angels or Mariners. It is believed he is willing to go to the Orioles, and the Red Sox dangled him in front of the Phillies earlier this winter.

Damon said Boston is "dismantling" its roster.

Michelle is friends with Ramirez's wife, Juliana, and they also spoke recently. Johnny Damon said he spoke with a number of other Boston teammates, including David Ortiz.

"They told me, 'Congratulations,' " the new Yankees center fielder said.

Although Ramirez, who attended George Washington High School in Washington Heights, said in July he didn't want to play for the Mets, he apparently has changed his mind and now would consider a trade here. However, the Mets feel it will be even more difficult to trade for Ramirez now that he's one of the few remaining run producers in Boston's lineup.