Johnny Finds A Home

After a long winter of speculating about where Johnny Damon would play it appears that the two-time World Champion has finally made a decision as to where he will play in 2010.

The Detroit Tigers have stepped in with an offer that apparently was to Damon's liking. It is reportedly a one-year deal worth about $8 million.

All is pending a physical, which sources say should be taken today or tomorrow.

The deal makes sense for both sides:

With former Tiger center fielder Curtis Granderson likely to occupy Damon's former spot in left field at Yankee Stadium this season, Detroit gets a bat to replace Granderson's at the top of the lineup. Not to mention another veteran presence.

For Damon, he has actually found someone willing to offer a contract close to the crazy demands of he and agent Scott Boras.

As I Yankee fan, I still believe Damon made a big mistake. And at this point, I'd be willing to bet he believes that too.

The New York Yankees were reportedly offering Johnny a two-year contract worth about $14 million at the beginning of the off-season. Boras and Damon demanded at least $13 million a year and claimed that they could find that number elsewhere on the open market.

Well, the Yankees called their bluff and basically cut ties with Damon after that. Another contract worth about $2 million a year was set down on the table by New York in early January, however, as expected, Damon turned his nose up at that offer.

Meanwhile, the Yankees managed to sign players such as designated hitter/first baseman Nick Johnson, and outfielders Randy Winn and Marcus Thames. This basically eliminated any need that the team might have had for Damon.

So after fielding many other one year offers from teams such as the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox, Johnny has finally settled on Detroit, the team that was offering the most money.

I enjoyed Johnny Damon's time in pinstripes. I really did. Whether he was stealing a base in the World Series, or hitting a walk-off home run into the short right field porch at Yankee Stadium during the regular season, he was one of the funnest players I have ever observed during my time as a Yankee fan.

However, after leaving the Boston Red Sox for New York for a bigger contract after 2005, and now leaving New York for Detroit due to sloppy negotiations, it is clear that Johnny Damon's loyalty is to the dollar and not the team...or winning the World Series, for that matter.

Granderson to New York

Two days into the general manager winter meetings in Indianapolis, the Yankees have made their first big move of the offseason.

It has been reported that New York has acquired outfielder Curtis Granderson in a three-way trade with the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In the deal, the Tigers will receive Yankee relief pitcher Phil Coke and top outfield prospect Austin Jackson and the young Arizona starting pitcher Max Scherzer. The Diamondbacks, in turn, will receive right hander Edwin Jackson from Detroit and once top pitching prospect Ian Kennedy from New York.

The Yankees reveive only Granderson.

From a Yankee fan point of view, I believe this is a good move. While it is tough to see Austin Jackson go (a player I was very excited to see in Major League action), Granderson is an exceptional player, and more importantly, a professional.

While he had a subpar season in 2009 (.249/.327/.453) he is a career .272 hitter who averages about 20 home runs and 17 stolen bases a year.

Arizona, who received two major league starting pitchers in the deal, will probably place Jackson and Kennedy in the three and four spots of the Diamondback rotation, behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.

The move should make Arizona's rotation one of the best in the majors.

And finally, Detroit, who made it clear at the beginning of the offseason that they would be looking to cut payroll this winter (though it will still remain well above $100 million), receive several above average, major league-ready players who will cost a fraction of the price of one Curtis Anderson.

Other news out of Indy: The Seattle Mariners have officially signed free agent Chone Figgins.

It has not yet been determined where Figgins will play, as the 31-year-old is very versitile in the field. However, he is expected to bat in the number two spot of the lineup, behind right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

The deal is officially worth $36 million over four years.