Johnny Damon says he is in shape and ready to help a team get to the playoffs

[Sportsguy9695]

Teams looking for a proven hitter to help them down the stretch might want to call Johnny Damon.

The three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and five-time .300 hitter is staying in shape, swinging the bat and eager to return to the majors. The 40-year-old Damon last played for Cleveland in 2012, but isn't quite ready for retirement.

"When you feel you can still outhit at least half the league and you don't get that call, it's rough," Damon told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. "The biggest reason to play is to have a chance to win. Obviously, 3,000 hits would be great but winning is the reason I started playing this game. I'm going to continue to stay in shape and I'll be ready."

Over the next few weeks before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, contending clubs will contemplate dealing prospects to acquire a player they feel will help them make a postseason run. It'll be hard to find someone with Damon's resume available for nothing.

Source: ESPN

 

[navamind]

Teams looking for a proven hitter to help them down the stretch might want to call Johnny Damon.

The three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and five-time .300 hitter is staying in shape, swinging the bat and eager to return to the majors. The 40-year-old Damon last played for Cleveland in 2012, but isn't quite ready for retirement.

"When you feel you can still outhit at least half the league and you don't get that call, it's rough," Damon told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. "The biggest reason to play is to have a chance to win. Obviously, 3,000 hits would be great but winning is the reason I started playing this game. I'm going to continue to stay in shape and I'll be ready."

Over the next few weeks before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, contending clubs will contemplate dealing prospects to acquire a player they feel will help them make a postseason run. It'll be hard to find someone with Damon's resume available for nothing.

Source: ESPN

Lol, yeah okay. Damon had a 72 OPS+ in 2012, his last year in the majors. Especially when you factor in age, I would rather give a minor leaguer a shot than him.

Damon's an idiot, especially if he thinks he can "outhit at least half the league." Good fucking lord. He had a very nice career (compiling 2,769 hits, 56.0 WAR, and played a pretty big role on two championship teams), but I wish he would realize it's time to hang the cleats up.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Damon displaying some hubris at it's finest.....lol
That being said..I'd rather have him on my team's roster than the 40 year old Bobby Abreu we have now.....smh

 

[broncosmitty]

Did he get a new left arm?

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

"Jose Canseco's tweets inspire me"
-- Johnny Damon

 

[Shanemansj13]

I think he just wants to get to 3,000 hits. Not gonna happen Johnny!

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Honestly, I could see him getting signed by KC (where he began his career) for the rest of this season, and giving that young team some veteran leadership as they make their playoff push in the 2nd half...then retiring as a Royal.

 

[navamind]

Honestly, I could see him getting signed by KC (where he began his career) for the rest of this season, and giving that young team some veteran leadership as they make their playoff push in the 2nd half...then retiring as a Royal.

I could see that happening. After all, Dayton Moore is their GM. And he loves teh intangibles.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

I could see that happening. After all, Dayton Moore is their GM. And he loves teh intangibles.

I'm not sure why they opted to sign the 42 year old Raul Ibanez instead of Damon.

 

[broncosmitty]

He'd bring more power than their DH and 1st baseman. Which is really sad when you think about it. (Only way he'd see a lineup card in KC is if Butler gets cut. Damon is awful in the field with that noodle arm.)

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

He'd bring more power than their DH and 1st baseman. Which is really sad when you think about it. (Only way he'd see a lineup card in KC is if Butler gets cut. Damon is awful in the field with that noodle arm.)

That won't happen....but Ibanez could certainly get cut.

 

[navamind]

I'm not sure why they opted to sign the 42 year old Raul Ibanez instead of Damon.

I'm not sure why anyone would opt to sign either of them.

Ibanez had a better offensive season last year than many would have thought, but a lot of that had to do with his first half (.267/.314/.578 with 24 HR). He tailed off pretty badly in the 2nd (.203/.295/.345 and only 5 HR). Throw in his terrible defense (in LF, nonetheless) and you have yourself a very pedestrian player.

 

[broncosmitty]

For Damon? I don't see why they would do that. Ibanez had 29 homers last year and atleast one since coming to KC this season. They need all the power bats they can get. And he has KC history just as much as JD.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

For Damon? I don't see why they would do that. Ibanez had 29 homers last year and atleast one since coming to KC this season. They need all the power bats they can get. And he has KC history just as much as JD.

Ibanez's 3 yrs. in KC ≠ Damon's 6 yrs. there (where he began his career),(RI began his career in Seattle)....and JD would have already hit 3 or 4 HR's by now....lol

There's no comparison as far as the history aspect goes..

 

[broncosmitty]

Who cares though really? You're trying to win baseball games. They already signed Ibanez to help win games. He's already played several positions in the outfield. He can also play first and is a better DH option than their current one and Damon. Damon hasn't played baseball in a season and a half and is a defensive liability. (Unplayable in the field really.). KC has a great defense, no need to mess with that. No team has hit fewer homers than KC, which is why Raul Ibanez is there in the first place.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Exactly/...who the fuck cares about those 2......I was just seeing it from the team history angle....

Plus Ibanez has solid HGH connections to pass along, amirite?.......lol/smh

* but why did the angels release him again?

 

[LucklessPadresFan]

Come on Padres! With a team batting average of .214, Damon might just push us up to the .230s!

 

[da55bums]

I could see that happening. After all, Dayton Moore is their GM. And he loves teh intangibles.

If intangibles are cheap.