SB Nation Detroit - Johnny Damon: 'I'm Not Going' To Bostonhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2010-08-24T16:42:52-04:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13935912010-08-24T16:42:52-04:002010-08-24T16:42:52-04:00Johnny Damon Turns Down Red Sox, Will Stay With Tigers
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<p><a href="http://twitter.com/beckjason/status/22028139044">Jason Beck is reporting</a> that Johnny Damon informed the media this afternoon that he is not going to accept a move to Boston to rejoin the Red Sox. Because his no-trade list includes the Red Sox, any move involving Boston had to be cleared with him, and in the end he opted to stick with the Tigers.</p>
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<p><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Damon: "I'm not going."</span></span></p>
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<p>What this means is that the Tigers will pull Damon off waivers and he will not be able to be put through them again, so he will finish the 2010 season in Detroit. Damon has already made it known that he'd like to stay in Detroit next season and beyond, but he is a free agent, so whether or not the Tigers bring him back remains to be seen.</p>
<p>For the next month or so at least, though, Damon will remain a Tiger.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/1648595/johnny-damon-boston-red-sox-waivers-detroit-tigersSean Yuille2010-08-24T13:20:58-04:002010-08-24T13:20:58-04:00Red Sox Didn't Claim Johnny Damon To Block Other Teams?
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<p>The interesting thing about this whole Johnny Damon being claimed by Boston story is the speculation about why the Red Sox made the move. On the surface, it simply appears that the Red Sox want Damon, as depth in their outfield isn't great. With any waiver claim, however, you have to examine the possible strategy behind it, as claims are often made with the intention of blocking other teams.</p>
<p>For Damon, many have simply assumed that the Red Sox claimed him in order to keep the Tampa Bay Rays from making a move to acquire him. It makes sense, as the Red Sox likely knew that a decision to return to Boston would be up to Damon, so it's a win-win situation either way -- keep the Rays from getting Damon and acquire him if he accepts the move.</p>
<p>As it turns out, the speculation about this being simply a strategic move may not be accurate, at least not according to what the Tigers have been telling Damon. <a href="http://twitter.com/pgammo/status/22015421786">From Peter Gammons:</a></p>
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<p><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Tigers explained to Damon Boston didn't claim to block, they want him. Tampa didn't even claimed him</span></span></p>
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<p>Damon will be more likely to accept a move to Boston if he believes that the Red Sox truly want him. If the move was merely strategic, Damon probably would have already announced his decision to stay with the Tigers.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/1648110/red-sox-johnny-damon-waiver-claimSean Yuille2010-08-23T23:55:41-04:002010-08-23T23:55:41-04:00Damon's Gut Says He's A Tiger
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<p>After the Tigers' 12-3 win over the Royals (the team's fourth straight victory), Damon reiterated to the media that he's <a href="https://twitter.com/beckjason/status/21965971137" target="_blank">leaning toward staying in Detroit</a>: </p>
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<p>"My gut and everything else tells me Detroit's the place for me."</p>
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<p>Damon also said that he wants to be a part of the Tigers' growth movement, a member of the team next season, and even went as far as saying that the <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/beckjason/statuses/21968277009">Tigers are not out of it this season</a>, despite being 10 back with only 37 games to play. Johnny, you had us at "Detroit's the place for me," you don't have to lie to us. </p>
<p>As it was mentioned in a previous update, Damon has until 1 p.m. Wednesday to make a decision. If he refuses a trade to his old team, the Tigers must pull him back off waivers and can no longer trade him.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/23/1638834/damons-gut-says-hes-a-tigerPackey2010-08-23T17:58:20-04:002010-08-23T17:58:20-04:00Johnny Damon Speaks About Being Claimed By Red Sox
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<p>Johnny Damon wants to remain a Detroit Tiger, but would accept a trade to the Boston Red Sox if it would help the team out in the future.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2010/08/tigers_star_johnny_damon_discu.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+mlive_sports+(MLive.com+Sports)&utm_content=Twitter">MLive’s Steve Kornacki</a> and <a href="http://beck.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/08/damon_claimed_on_waivers_must.html"><span class="caps">MLB</span>.com beat writer Jason Beck</a> both shared Damon’s thoughts about a possible return to the Sox.</p>
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<p>“It’s a tougher decision than when I left Boston for New York,” said Damon. “At the moment, I am not sure I want to leave Detroit for that.”</p>
<p>“The only reason I am considering it is to help this team out in the future,” said Damon, who has expressed a desire to play 2011 in Detroit. “If they could get a prospect back that helps…But I’d like to remain a Tiger.”</p>
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<p>Damon can block a trade to Boston because the Red Sox are among 21 teams on his no-trade list. But the motive to decline a trade to Beantown appears to be less about his commitment to the Tigers, and much more to do with his rocky departure from Boston back in 2005:</p>
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<p>“I had a great time playing there,” Damon said. “But I think once it was apparent that I wasn’t a necessity to re-sign there, it started to get ugly. And that’s why I’ve got to think long and hard. I have to think if they do have a strong chance to make the playoffs with the guys beat up there. I have to think long and hard if I’m going to once again be probably one of the nicest guys in baseball, but be once again the most hated guy in baseball. That’s what it boils down. You guys see how I get booed in every ballpark already.”</p>
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<p>Damon has until 1 p.m. on Wednesday to decide his fate because the Tigers play the Royals that day. If he refuses a trade, the Tigers will be forced to pull him off waivers and he won’t be able to be traded again.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/23/1638331/johnny-damon-speaks-about-beingRyan Weiss2010-08-23T16:35:37-04:002010-08-23T16:35:37-04:00Johnny Damon 'Not Inclined' To Return To Boston
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<p>Although the Red Sox have claimed Johnny Damon off waivers, that doesn't mean that he is going to return to his former team. In fact, Damon's no-trade list includes the Red Sox, and while it's possible that he could waive the clause and be sent to Boston, it doesn't sound likely.</p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/ed_price/status/21938375047">Ed Price of FanHouse.com talked to Damon</a><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">, and the current Tigers outfielder said that he's not inclined to rejoin the Red Sox. That's not too surprising, as there is a reason why Boston is on his no-trade list. Apparently Damon didn't like the reception he got when he returned there, so he would rather stay with the Tigers then go to Boston.</span></span></p>
<p>If Damon does in fact exercise his no-trade clause, then I believe the Tigers are stuck with him. A trade with the Red Sox won't be possible, and Detroit can't just let him go to Boston via the claim, either. As a result, it looks like Damon will be finishing the 2010 season with the Tigers, as Boston's move to claim him really doesn't leave Detroit with room to do anything.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/23/1638163/johnny-damon-boston-red-sox-waiversSean Yuille2010-08-23T15:39:16-04:002010-08-23T15:39:16-04:00Johnny Damon Claimed By Boston Red Sox
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<p>It was reported earlier that Johnny Damon was claimed off waivers by an unknown team. After some prodding, <a href="http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/statuses/21937048972">Jon Heyman discovered</a> that it is Damon's former team, the Boston Red Sox, who claimed the wily veteran. </p>
<p>There's a complication, though. </p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/statuses/21937129497" target="_blank">Damon has a no-trade clause to the Red Sox</a>, so he would have to agree to any deal sending him back to his old team. <a href="http://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/statuses/21937390269" target="_blank">Joel Sherman points out</a> that Damon was a big part of the 2004 Red Sox team that came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Yankees in the ALCS and then went on to win the World Series. The Red Sox currently find themselves in a similar hole, but this time in the divisional race.</p>
<p>There has been speculation that the Rays and Yankees might also be interested in Damon, but if it is indeed true that the Red Sox claimed Damon, they'd get priority because they are the worst of the three.</p>
<p>The next moves are up to Damon and the Tigers.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/23/1638052/johnny-damon-claimed-by-boston-redPackey2010-08-23T14:24:55-04:002010-08-23T14:24:55-04:00Johnny Damon Reportedly Claimed By Unknown Team
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<p>FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Johnny Damon <a href="http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/21931991730">has been claimed</a>. The team that has claimed him is unknown currently, though.</p>
<p>Damon and Brandon Inge were <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/20/1633647/brandon-inge-and-johnny-damon">placed through waivers</a> last week, and both have said they want to remain with the team. Damon, however, <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20100820/SPORTS02/100820049/1050/rss15">does understand</a> why he could be traded.</p>
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<p>"It's just something that happens," Damon said. "I'm not too concerned. I made it clear I would want to be back."</p>
<p>The ever-optimistic Damon said he would understand if the Tigers traded him for a prospect that could improve next year's team.</p>
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<p>Because Damon was claimed, the Tigers will have to pull him off waivers, simply let the claiming team have him or work out a trade with the claiming team.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/23/1637854/johnny-damon-claimed-waiversSean Yuille2010-08-20T14:09:29-04:002010-08-20T14:09:29-04:00Brandon Inge And Johnny Damon Placed On Waivers
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<p>There has been plenty of speculation amongst Detroit fans and writers that Brandon Inge and Johnny Damon might be placed on waivers and traded to another team when cleared. Ken Rosenthal first reported last week that Inge had already been claimed off waivers by the Braves, but the Tigers pulled him back. That report was false, but <a href="http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/statuses/21680164352" target="_blank">according to Buster Olney</a>, Inge and Damon were placed on waivers yesterday and are currently passing through.</p>
<p>This doesn't mean they'll necessarily be traded, because the Tigers can pull them back, but Dave Dombrowski knows he can get some return for letting <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/statuses/21680720923">interested contenders</a> rent the two expiring contracts out for the rest of the season:</p>
<blockquote>We know that there are teams interested in Inge; Damon would be a good fit in a lot of places, too.</blockquote>
<p>The two teams that might be interested in Inge the most (Braves and Cardinals) have been discussed <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/19/1632228/brandon-inge-remain-tigers" target="_blank">here</a> before. The Cardinals just traded for Pedro Feliz, though, and the Braves have done well by replacing injured third baseman Chipper Jones with All-Stars Martin Prado and Omar Infante (yeah, I can't believe former Tiger Infante was an All-Star, either).</p>
<p>Further, with the recent acquisition of Derrek Lee, the Braves will be trying Troy Glaus out at third base in Triple-A. The Twins have also been mentioned as another potentially interested party for Inge, but I can't see the Tigers trading another fan favorite (after trading Granderson last winter) to an interdivision rival.</p>
<p>I'm curious to see what other teams want to acquire Inge and use him strictly as a late-inning defensive replacement or pinch hitter.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&page=starting9/100803">As for Damon</a>, he'd be an asset for just about any playoff bound team: </p>
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<p>"He's performed extremely well in postseason situations, and he's one of the toughest outs in the game when it comes to working counts and fouling off good pitches," said an American League assistant GM. "After the deadline, teams are still trying to fine-tune their bench and bullpen pieces. He could be a hell of a weapon coming off the bench in a playoff series."</p>
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<p>We should be hearing more about it this weekend, so stay tuned.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/20/1633647/brandon-inge-and-johnny-damonPackey