Johnny Damon

[fleehaw]

I'm a big David DeJesus fan, but I think what he'll cost to acquire might not be worth it. Well, what about Johnny Damon? With the Yankees OF pantry full (Nady, Matsui, Cabrera, Abreu (if resigned), Damon could be available. He's signed for $13M/yr thru the '09 season. He had a very nice year this year to rebound from a subpar 2007. He's LH, hits lefties about the same as righties, carries a good OBP, and can steal a base to boot making him an ideal lead off man. He does have a limited no trade clause which allowed him to choose 12 teams that he could not be traded to unless he agreed beforehand in writing. I don't know if Milwaukee was one of the 12.

Another reason for bringing him up is that the Yankees could use some SP depending on the decisions they make on Mussina and Petitte. They could be interested in a Suppan for Damon swap. Throw in a nice, young OF prospect like Gindl and perhaps they'd pick up all of Suppan's salary.

This acquisition would also allow the Brewers to shop Hart. The Royals have been rumored to be interested in Francoeur, and IMO, Hart is better than Francoeur. Considering the Royals are also thinking of moving Soria to the rotation, a Hart and lower level SP prospect (like a Braddock or Periard) for Greinke might be amenable to both sides. Damon could play LF, Cameron in CF, and Braun moves to RF. Add in acquiring Blalock from Texas and besides addressing the bullpen, I think the team would be improved (pre-CC).

[dadofandrew]

I doubt Braun moves, and Damon can't be expected to produce much more than an average LF...for $13M per.

 

The Yankees made some horrible signings, too much to guys that were too old. Damon was a nice player, but he's a CF offensively, and very weak defensively.

 

Dejesus is signed to a very friendly contract, and Damon is overpaid. Dave will cost a lot more because of that.

[endaround]

Unless this is to dump Suppan, no thanks.

[piccione88]

We can just pick up Cameron's option for 10 million, and it wont cost us any players. Damon is a superior hitter, and left handed. Cameron is a much better defender, Damon is decent in center as far as range goes, if healthy which is a big if, and has a poor arm. As far as trading Hart goes, it just seems like the wrong time to trade him. After the second half he has had I cannot imagine you would get fair value back.

[BrewCrewForever]

I would pass on Damon. But I would love to have David DeJesus.

[fleehaw]

I would love to add DeJesus as well, but if you're the Royals, wouldn't you start by asking for one of the following: Hardy, Hart, Gamel, or Escobar? I don't know if I'd part with any of those guys for him. Damon offers much of what DeJesus offers. Yes, he's overpaid, but if you were to dump Suppan in the deal, the Brewers would end up saving $12M. One year of Damon & Cameron would allow Cain, Gilespie, and possibly Brantley another year to be evaluated in the minors to get a better idea of where they'd fit with the major league club.

 

I believe Damon is an average/below average OF defensively which is why I suggested him in LF, with Braun moving to RF, and picking up Cameron's option in CF. LF is where defensive hacks go to pasture, so I'd think Damon would be just fine out there.

 

I agree that Damon's numbers wouldn't compare as favorably to LFs as CFs. I've seen this argument come up a number of times (Crawford, IIRC) and while I understand the argument, I don't necessarily agree. If you have a power hitting CF and OBP-driven corner OF, is that really different for the team from the reverse. An OF of Braun, Cameron, and Damon would provide 2 power-hitting OF, and 1 OBP-driven OF. This team needs guys at the top of the lineup to get on base and have better plate discipline.

 

Lastly, I'd only be in favor of nabbing Damon if the 2nd part of the orignal post comes to fruition. Hart and a lower level SP prospect (basically anyone but Jeffress) to the Royals for Greinke. 2 guaranteed years of Greinke for 3 of Hart. While the Royals may not go for this, it's based on the rumor that they are/were interested in Francoeur and thinking of moving Soria to their rotation.

 

A rotation of Gallardo, Greinke, Parra, Bush, & McClung is pretty decent IMO and not very expensive.

[BrewCrewForever]

How about Hardy and another prospect for DeJesus and Greinke? We have Escobar ready to go at SS anyway. How about DeJesus and Escobar batting 1 and 2 in our lineup? I like the idea of that. Hate to trade Hardy, but it would be worth it.

[endaround]

Escobar isn't ready to go. Right now he'd be Neifi Perez. And why do the Royals trade two players to get one player they can only control for two years? It would have to be a 3 team deal.

[BrewCrewForever]

Escobar isn't ready to go. Right now he'd be Neifi Perez. And why do the Royals trade two players to get one player they can only control for two years? It would have to be a 3 team deal.

Those are all good point. I was just throwing an idea out there as a way to get two needs of ours.

[nate82]

Escobar isn't ready to go. Right now he'd be Neifi Perez. And why do the Royals trade two players to get one player they can only control for two years? It would have to be a 3 team deal.

I believe the three team deal would be this: Jeff Francouer to the Royals, Corey Hart to the Braves, and David DeJesus plus a low prospect to the Brewers from the Braves.

 

Which wouldn't be a bad trade for either team involved. If you add Hardy into the mix you could get Greinke and another prospect from the Royals.

[piccione88]

I do not think that the royals would be able to get a player of Hardy's caliber, nor could they get a prospect of Gamel, or Escobar's status for DeJesus.

[fleehaw]

I do not think that the royals would be able to get a player of Hardy's caliber, nor could they get a prospect of Gamel, or Escobar's status for DeJesus.

If I were Dayton Moore, those are exactly the names I'd throw out there when approached by Melvin about DeJesus. I'm not saying Melvin would be amenable to such a deal, but a package of marginal talent isn't going to get it done either. DeJesus is signed to a team-friendly deal with 2yrs + a $6M team option remaining.

[BrewCrewForever]

How about Hart for DeJesus? Or Hart and something else for David?

[endaround]

If the Royals trade DeJesus its because they don't expect to compete over the remainder of his contract. In which case Hart doesn't do anything. DeJesus is on a cheap contract and is solid if unspectacular. Now should the Royals trade him? Probably but it has to be for players who can help them.

[nate82]

If the Royals trade DeJesus its because they don't expect to compete over the remainder of his contract. In which case Hart doesn't do anything. DeJesus is on a cheap contract and is solid if unspectacular. Now should the Royals trade him? Probably but it has to be for players who can help them.

The GM I believe it is used to be with the Braves organization and is absolutely in love with Francouer I don't see how the Brewers couldn't package Hart in a 3 team swap with the Braves Royals and Brewers.

 

The Braves don't need a CF so getting DeJesus back to them would be useless while getting Hart a corner OF would be a better option. Now the Royals get their guy they want in Francouer and the Brewers get a guy they want in DeJesus. The Braves also get a player who is just like Francouer in Hart.