2025 Major League Baseball Thread

[Jellybeans]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said the team cannot afford Johnny Damon unless he lowers his asking price. Apparently they offered him a one-year deal last weekend but have now backed off that. Damon and agent Scott Boras are now trying to get the Reds and Tigers interested. I highly doubt the Tigers would be interested since they are trying to cut salary, and the Reds just spent a lot of money on Chapman and have a lot of their young guys due bigger money in arbitration so I doubt they'd want him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4861828

I wouldn't mind Damon coming back to the Yankees for a pay cut!

I trust Cashman and he will take the best decision for the team!

[fatediesel]

The Yankees have signed outfielder Randy Winn to a one-year, $2 million contract, effectively ending any chance of Johnny Damon returning.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/N...be-back-012710

[Hi-Def Steve]

Johnny Damon sure is a freaking idiot. Had a chance to go back to the biggest team in baseball and possibly win a couple more championships and get some decent money. But no. See you on a scrubby ass team and underpaid this year genius.

[Jellybeans]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

The Yankees have signed outfielder Randy Winn to a one-year, $2 million contract, effectively ending any chance of Johnny Damon returning.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/N...be-back-012710

I never heard of this guy! Is he a good pick up ?

[toef]

I'll miss Damon's cheap home-runs, and his interaction with the crowd, but he had plenty of chances to come back -- he just chose not to.

[Jellybeans]

Rays pursuing Damon?

Source : http://www.theyankeeu.com/2010/01/ra...ng-damon-14466

[Dexter Morgan]

Bad move for both the Yankees and Damon/Boras. Damon's not going to get anywhere near what the Yankees were offering him (see Bobby Abreu), and the Yankees are going to miss a guy who although has dropped off the map in the field, was always huge in the clutch, and was great in the clubhouse and with fans.

[Jellybeans]

Originally Posted by Blu Atlas

Bad move for both the Yankees and Damon/Boras. Damon's not going to get anywhere near what the Yankees were offering him (see Bobby Abreu), and the Yankees are going to miss a guy who although has dropped off the map in the field, was always huge in the clutch, and was great in the clubhouse and with fans.

His asking price was too much!

[Dexter Morgan]

Yeah but with no other teams interested (or at least willing to meet their salary demands), they had no leverage and the Yankees could have waited it out. I think it's obvious that Damon would not have elected to sit out 2010 or retire if no one gave him what he wanted.

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by Hi-Def Steve

Johnny Damon sure is a freaking idiot. Had a chance to go back to the biggest team in baseball and possibly win a couple more championships and get some decent money. But no. See you on a scrubby ass team and underpaid this year genius.

Sox fans still Boo the guy on a regular basis while other ex-Sox players usually get cheered. So yeah, most of us in Sox Nation agree. What a putz.

[Clark Kent]

The Yankees did not really want Damon. They do not have a real budget like other teams. This was the easiest way to let him go without making Damon's fans mad at the team.

[SteelPen]

Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Rays pursuing Damon?

Source : http://www.theyankeeu.com/2010/01/ra...ng-damon-14466

Oh yea!

2010 Rays potential opening day starting lineup...

1. SS Jason Bartlett
2. LF Carl Crawford
3. 3B Evan Longoria
4. 1B Car Pena
5. 2B Ben Zobrist
6. DH Johnny Damon (If he signs)
7. CF B.J. Upton
8. RF Desmond Jennings/Matt Joyce
9. C Kelly Shoppach

[toef]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The Yankees did not really want Damon. They do not have a real budget like other teams. This was the easiest way to let him go without making Damon's fans mad at the team.

I wouldn't say they didn't want him, it's more that they weren't going to go out of their way for him. Their 2010 outfield seems like a complete make-over, and may take some getting used to (seeing Granderson, not seeing Melky), but it should be fun. The core of the '09 team is there.

[Mike53421]

Wonder if Damon grows back the hair now...

[Jellybeans]

A-Rod: Surgery was 'a risk worth taking'

Source : http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=nyy

[ludawg23]

Originally Posted by Redliner17k

Oh yea!

2010 Rays potential opening day starting lineup...

1. SS Jason Bartlett
2. LF Carl Crawford
3. 3B Evan Longoria
4. 1B Car Pena
5. 2B Ben Zobrist
6. DH Johnny Damon (If he signs)
7. CF B.J. Upton
8. RF Desmond Jennings/Matt Joyce
9. C Kelly Shoppach

Pretty sick line-up. The Jennings kid is going to be a stud.

[Chordata]

Good fit for the Rays and Damon. Damon gets to come home (close enough) and the Rays get another speedy outfielder.

[Jellybeans]

REPORT: PENS OWNERS MAKE OFFER TO BUY PIRATES

Source : http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308295

[Clark Kent]

For fans of the bad MLB teams something to look forward to, the top 25 prospects in the minors:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=7425

1. Stephen Strasburg, rhp, Nationals
WHY HE’S HERE: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft showed why he has all that hype, showing three premium pitches in the Arizona Fall League. His fastball reaches 100 mph, his slider has devastating power and movement, and his changeup has flashes of brilliance, even at 90 mph.
WHAT HE’LL BE: The face of the Nationals and a No. 1 starter.
WHEN HE ARRIVES: The Nats will be tempted to push their best arm to the majors quickly, but should be able to resist until the second half of 2010 at the least. If he’s not in the majors on Opening Day 2011, it will be a major upset.

2. Jason Heyward, of, Braves
WHY HE’S HERE: The 2009 Minor League Player of the Year has exceptional hitting skills, making consistent, hard contact and showing impressive power. He’s evoked comparisons to Dave Parker with his overall athleticism and long, powerful frame.
WHAT HE’LL BE: The Atlanta native is poised to take Chipper Jones’ mantle as the Braves’ franchise player, starting with hitting in the No. 3 hole.
WHEN HE ARRIVES: Unless Atlanta brings in a corner outfielder this offseason, Heyward should hit his way into the lineup in 2010.

3. Mike Stanton, of, Marlins
WHY HE’S HERE: No one in the minors combines Stanton’s athletic ability and physicality with his sheer power.
WHAT HE’LL BE: Stanton is a bigger, stronger version of Marlins special assistant Andre Dawson. He has 40-homer potential and fits the right-field profile perfectly.
WHEN HE ARRIVES: The Marlins haven’t been shy about promoting prospects aggressively, but Stanton struggled a bit in Double-A last season. If he struggles at first in his first big league action in 2010, don’t give up on him.

4. Desmond Jennings, of, Rays
WHY HE’S HERE: Once he stayed healthy for a full season, Jennings showed true five-tool talent. He has size, speed, strength, explosiveness and skills.
WHAT HE’LL BE: Jennings has many similarities to current Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, but his hitting track record is more consistent.
WHEN HE ARRIVES: The Rays have an outfield spot open presently for 2010, and Jennings should be a big league-ready, inexpensive solution.

5. Jesus Montero, c/dh, Yankees
WHY HE’S HERE: The minors’ best hitter, Montero gets compared to Mike Piazza as a catcher whose hitting tools far outstrip his defense. However, the Yankees don’t see him as Jorge Posada’s heir, because his defense is on par with Piazza’s or worse.
WHAT HE’LL BE: Because he’s likely to move out from behind the plate, Montero should be a first baseman or DH primarily. Other ex-catchers with premium bats such as Paul Konerko and Carlos Delgado leap to mind.
WHEN HE ARRIVES: New York’s offseason moves will dictate whether Montero spends all season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or moves up to the big leagues as a part-time catcher and DH.

6. Brian Matusz, lhp, Orioles
WHY HE’S HERE: The minors’ most polished pitching prospect threw 40-plus innings in the majors and showed impressive secondary stuff and a feel for changing speeds.
WHAT HE’LL BE: If Matusz keeps hitters honest enough with his fastball, he could give the Orioles their best starting pitcher since Mike Mussina’s departure in the late 1990s.
WHEN HE ARRIVES: He already did last year, but in 2010 Matusz will get to play a support role to veteran Kevin Millwood. He and Chris Tillman should form an effective 1-2 punch atop Baltimore’s improving rotation.

[toef]

What a caring guy: Damon Hopes Yanks Don't Give Jeter Rough Time When His Deal Is Up.

Or just a grumpy one. Not really sure.