According to Jon Heyman at SI.com, the Braves are one of the teams which have made a contract offer to free agent outfielder Johnny Damon:
The Braves and Giants are believed to have made offers for Damon, though he hasn't snapped up either one immediately, leading some to wonder whether the Yankees might get involved again.
The Braves are likely to only be offering a one-year deal in the $6 to $7 million range, and if that's the case I would expect him to return to the Yankees. I wonder if this is old information (though it was in today's column), since the Braves have stated that no other major moves are likely to be made. This could also be a case where the Braves are low-balling Damon, knowing that he has limited options. The other interesting scenario here could be that if the Braves sign Damon, then they intend to commit themselves to trading either
Melky Cabrera or
Matt Diaz to clear payroll space, viewing Damon as an upgrade over either.
We shall have to see how this unfolds.
[UPDATE: 6pm]
I'm told that Braves have not made an offer to Johnny Damon, despite a rumor suggesting otherwise.
Heyman did say he that he just "believed" the Braves had made an offer... excellent journalism.
Uh oh.....
NOOOO!!!! Start Heyward in the bigs and our OF will be fine
mj10catchit10 - January 11, 2010
I don't think Damon has any effect on Heyward
He isn’t playing right and I doubt Bobby will consistently run Melky or Diaz out in right. Damon would probably take at-bats away from Diaz and definitely Melky.
was385 - January 11, 2010
i'd be all for a one year deal
assuming we got rid of Melky and not MattyD.
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010 via mobile
this
Matt>Melky
adc62 - January 11, 2010
+1
ChrisK562 - January 11, 2010
anything>Melky
Rhyno18 - January 11, 2010
Except Garrett Anderson, Jeff Francouer...
and a lot of other below average players.
Mr. Sanchez - January 11, 2010
I was just thinking that if you grafted Melky’s arm onto Damon’s body, then you might have a real outfielder.
carpengui - January 11, 2010
nah, even then you wouldnt, you’d have to graft a canon on his body to make it worth signing johnny damon
but, even then, he’d have to regrow the jesus beard and keep the long hair, that would be the only way it’d be worth it
MO'toole - January 11, 2010
I would think that $6-7m in Atlanta dollars would spend almost as far as $7-$9m well-taxed New York dollars.
FWIW, Damon went to High School in the southwestern area of Orlando (Dr. Phillips HS), which is as close to the Disney Spring Training site as you can get and still be in Orlando.
carpengui - January 11, 2010
I keep hearing these mentions of Damon being from and living in Orlando, and the Braves training there for a month and a half like it makes any difference. The Yanks train a quick commute to the Gulf in Tampa. I don’t think that has anything to do with his decision… it’s all about money, remember who his agent is.
gondeee - January 11, 2010
Right
I agree, and regardless of my comment about, I gotta believe that this rumor (even if it truly is “new”) is a Boras ploy to try and make the Yankees believe there is demand for Damon. You gotta wonder if the source of Heyman’s info is Boras or a contact from the teams involved.
carpengui - January 11, 2010
I can’t imagine the Braves throwing any money towards Damon. That would be a complete waste of money. We have a hitter(Diaz) who will be able to put up similar numbers with a full season at a much lower price.
rcates - January 11, 2010
Roughly, this year a seven million dollar deal in Atlanta as opposed to New York would have allowed Damon to keep an additional 1.2M. Factor in the 8.35% sales tax in NYC and higher cost of living and it’s likely at least 3M real dollars difference in a 7M deal.
jeg - January 11, 2010
It doesn’t matter what team you play for. You taxes are based on where you Place of Residence is.
justincredubil02 - January 11, 2010
Are you sure?
Last I heard, you pay taxes in all the states where you earn money, and the state where you live.
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LLmJwJ5GwrZJzsRPKVrmvTnhyJQ47dLrGVT7llcpYFTmMyS0yfXH
-1778128411?docId=5002579939
Lennox - January 11, 2010
Link Fail
It was supposed to be a link to an article discussing how MLB players are taxed in all the states where they play (including road games).
Lennox - January 11, 2010
Well, I have never heard of that before – some people get double-taxed? That isn’t right at all.
Maybe it is because I am military and fall into a little bit of a different situation, but I have a hard time believing that…
justincredubil02 - January 12, 2010
Well, as I understand it, you’re taxed on the income in the state where you earned it, you’re supposed to report your full income to your state of residence, and usually they’ll give you a credit for taxes already paid to the state where you earned your money.
Lennox - January 12, 2010
hmmm…interesting.
justincredubil02 - January 12, 2010
check
my mother did that for a few years once
Doghnut - January 12, 2010
Pretty sure that's right. It's certainly not "double taxed".
Mr. Sanchez - January 12, 2010
Evolving Outfield
I’d like to see us trade Melky some salary cap relief and sign Damon for one year. Perhaps the trade with the Yankees was all about the young pitcher and everyone else was a decoy for us. I hate to lose Javy but it may work out in our favor if we can do this and a few other things.
Crispy - January 11, 2010
if we get damon please please trade melky and not diaz
Kobe:The Legend - January 11, 2010
Aww tits
I was kinda diggin the idea of Damon on a cheaper, 1 year contract. Oh well. Thanks for raining on my parade DOB.
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010
If we trade an outfielder I say either melky or mclouth. I think we could get more for mclouth.
jtl585 - January 11, 2010
Don’t think Damon is worth what he is asking. Milky is also a below average player.
FitzFan - January 11, 2010
No he's not.
He’s absolutely the definition of average, and he’s young enough that it’s beyond reasonable to expect him to get better.
MichaelProcton - January 15, 2010
I’m just not a fan of Damon so this doesn’t interest me good to know that it doesn’t seem likely but I do wonder if the Braves are still looking for someone to put in left field(Damon, Dye, Nady) or if they will be happy with a Melky/Diaz platoon if Heyward proves he can play rf. If I had a choice between keeping Diaz or Melky as the fourth outfielder though I’d take Melky because of his versatility.
Magoo12218 - January 11, 2010
you would honestly rather have Melky Cabrera instead of Matt Diaz?
Scott Coleman - January 11, 2010
He did say as a 4th OF
And the fact that Melky can play adequate defense in CF makes that a justifiable position. Who else would we run out there if Nate were to go down? I don’t know about you, but seeing Omar Infante in CF doesn’t exactly inspire confidence for me. Now I wouldn’t take Melky over Diaz as a player and I certainly wouldn’t get rid of Diaz if we did sign Damon, but Melky’s ability to play CF may make him the better 4th OF option for the Braves.
nixa37 - January 12, 2010
Fair enough. I guess I didn’t get the 4th OF part
Scott Coleman - January 12, 2010
Yep...
I think people are underrating Melky because he played for the Yankees and overrating Diaz because he plays for the Braves. Melky would give us a switch hitter off the bench that can give you above average defense at all three outfield positions, I just think he has more to offer a team as a fourth outfielder than Diaz and I don’t think its close.
Magoo12218 - January 12, 2010
Jon Heyman
Jon Heyman is NOT and NEVER HAS BEEN a reliable source. He rumor mongers all the time. If you follow his tweets, and I do not, it’s even worse. Jon is a good writer and he often has worthwhile things to say, but it’s just best not to put too much stock in anything he says about player movement.
Zontar - January 12, 2010
If we have 6-7 million dollars to spend, I would rather keep it for a midseason trade. I like the idea have at least having the ability to make a trade at the deadline for some help. Maybe Wagner gets hurt and Saito struggles. We go out and get a closer. Maybe Glaus goes down with something. We can trade for a 1B. Using all of our resources during the offseason lacks forward thinking that we need. We don’t have an unlimited payroll like some teams. It would be nice to have some money stashed away for a midseason pickup.
dlkinser86 - January 12, 2010
+1
and the fact that Damon is a strong upgrade over Diaz should make this a no contest.
Cracker! - January 12, 2010
dude, you have got to be on crack?
how is someone who has no arm, is relegated to left field only, and has NO power outside of the yankees bandbox an upgrade over matty d?
or would you prefer that i use proper typing?
How is someone who has no arm, is relegated to left only, and has NO power outside of the Yankees bandbox of a stadium an upgrade over Matt Diaz?
does that satisfy your sense of moral outrage over my typing skills?
MO'toole - January 12, 2010
*isn't
not is. I was going to make that edit but I thought it was obvious in context. Guess not.
Cracker! - January 12, 2010
I think the Braves should sign Johnny Damon. use him at left move melky to right and the braves should trade matt diaz for cash. The Braves should sign damon cause the braves are sure to make it to the championship.
ADog - January 12, 2010
thethe braves should start melky over diaz and they should also sign damon.
ADog - January 12, 2010
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