Damon Spurns Red Sox to Stay in Detroit
Written by Bob Whalon, Tuesday August 24 2010
Johnny Damon has decided to stay in Detroit. The Tigers outfielder has rejected the waiver claim put in by the Boston Red Sox and decided to finish out the season in Detroit.
Damon was a very popular player when he helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series to end an 86-year drought. However, he fell out of favor with the team and especially the Boston fans when he signed with the rival New York Yankees as a free agent.
Damon's contract gives him veto power over trades to all but eight teams. Because the Red Sox were not one of those teams, he was able to block the move.
Damon said that he was leaning towards staying put from the very beginning, but former Red Sox teammates Jason Varitek and David Ortiz tried to convince him to come back to Boston. "They told me they wanted a spark," Damon said.
The Red Sox are 5 1/2 games behind New York and Tampa Bay in the AL East. Detroit is 10 games behind Minnesota in the AL Central and far behind in the wild card race. Still Damon decided he wanted to stay in Detroit.
"I feel like we're not out of it yet," he said. "At least we can make some kind of run." Damon said that he would like to remain with the Tigers next season as well even though there is no guarantee.
Damon talked to Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski on Monday night and spoke to manager Jim Leyland on Tuesday before he made his decision. "I told him to do what's in your heart," Leyland said. "Don't worry about the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Jim Leyland, Terry Francona or anybody else."
Apparently Damon's heart is in Detroit.
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2 comments
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Funny T-shirt CC, but you sound a little bitter.
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T-shirt from when Damon left Boston, looked like Jesus, throws like Mary, ended up being Judas... good riddance... let him stay in detroit...