AFBlue
01-23-2011, 06:52 AM
Here's the link and lead paragraph...
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6045200
A couple of former Red Sox are reuniting in another American League East city.
The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to one-year deals with free agents Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, sources confirmed to ESPN.com.
Damon agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million plus incentives and Ramirez one year at $2 million, according to SI.com. Both deals are pending physicals. Damon will likely play left field and Ramirez designated hitter...
Though both players have clearly seen their best days, they come at a relative bargain given their likely prominent roles and projected production.
To put it in perspective, the two combined are making less than any one of Ordonez, C. Pena, D. Lee and Berkman. And both of them should play 125 to 150 games if they manage to stay healthy.
Is Damon going to be Crawford in LF? Absolutely not. But, you could argue that Manny is an upgrade over what they trotted out for DH last year. And I don't know that they're done. They could still trade or buy an arm with the money they saved dealing Bartlett/Garza and letting Pena & the bullpen walk.
They certainly look weaker than last year, and the BoSox and Yankees appear to have gotten stronger...but I wouldn't count out Maddon and that front office from overachieving and making it a good race.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6045200
A couple of former Red Sox are reuniting in another American League East city.
The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to one-year deals with free agents Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, sources confirmed to ESPN.com.
Damon agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million plus incentives and Ramirez one year at $2 million, according to SI.com. Both deals are pending physicals. Damon will likely play left field and Ramirez designated hitter...
Though both players have clearly seen their best days, they come at a relative bargain given their likely prominent roles and projected production.
To put it in perspective, the two combined are making less than any one of Ordonez, C. Pena, D. Lee and Berkman. And both of them should play 125 to 150 games if they manage to stay healthy.
Is Damon going to be Crawford in LF? Absolutely not. But, you could argue that Manny is an upgrade over what they trotted out for DH last year. And I don't know that they're done. They could still trade or buy an arm with the money they saved dealing Bartlett/Garza and letting Pena & the bullpen walk.
They certainly look weaker than last year, and the BoSox and Yankees appear to have gotten stronger...but I wouldn't count out Maddon and that front office from overachieving and making it a good race.