Today’s rumor: Johnny Damon

Posted Jan 27, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jan 27, 2010 at 05:20 PM

Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting that the Rays have a serious interest in former Yankee left fielder Johnny Damon, who would serve as the designated hitter and an option in left field when Joe Maddon wants to give Carl Crawford a day off.

Keep in mind, Rays VP of baseball Andrew Friedman does not dispute rumors, so agents can float the Rays as a possible suitor to create interest in their client.

Last week it was Jim Thome who was rumored to be the Rays next DH. Thome signed with the Twins on Tuesday.

Here is Sherman’s blog ...

A darkhorse has emerged in pursuit of Johnny Damon, and it is an AL East rival of the Yankees.

The Tampa Bay Rays have been in regular contact with Scott Boras about adding Damon to be their primary DH, The Post has learned.

With the signing of Randy Winn, the Yankees are no longer hedging on Damon, but instead are saying there is zero chance of his return to New York.

Friends of Damon say interest in the lefty hitter has intensified as clubs have grown to believe that the Yankees will not swoop in at the last minute to re-sign him. The A’s are definitely involved with Damon, and there have been reports the Reds and Tigers are interested.

The Rays have pretty much stayed covert on the subject until now. They have futilely spent a lot of the offseason trying to unload their current DH, Pat Burrell, and his $9 million salary for 2010. However, now the Rays are considering signing Damon even if they are unable to move Burrell.

With Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano and Burrell free agents after this season, Tampa Bay figures its payroll will come down significantly in 2011, so it might be worthwhile to bulk up a little further in 2010 for a significant run at the Yankees and Red Sox.

At this point, sources say, Damon would consider a one-year contract in the $7 million range with deferred money. If he is willing to defer enough money to bring the actual current value of the contract down to the $4 million-$5 million range, the Rays would become more aggressive.

The Rays would use Damon as the DH against all righty pitching and to give Crawford an occasional rest day in left field.