The Boston Red Sox sign free agent CF Johnny Damon to a four-year contract.
On December 21, 2001 — The Boston Red Sox sign free agent CF Johnny Damon to a four-year $31 million deal
While much of the Red Sox fandom rejoiced when the club shipped Carl Everett to Texas, no one, it seems, was more thrilled than Johnny Damon. Everett’s exile from the Fens created a job opening that Damon figured was made to order. Fortunately for him and the Fenway faithful the Sox agreed. And they signed the fleet outfielder yesterday to a four-year, $31 million deal that could go a long way toward eradicating the final, troubling images of Everett’s tumultuous tenure in the Hub. “The Red Sox have always been at the top of my list,” Damon said in his introductory news conference at Fenway Park after a celebratory lunch with general manager Dan Duquette. “After the Everett trade, I knew Boston had a void for a leadoff hitter and center fielder, so this is perfect” Indeed. Should Damon regain the form he displayed in 2000, when he hit .327 with a league-leading 136 runs and 46 steals for Kansas City, he could spark one of the most potent lineups in baseball. He slipped last season, batting .256 with 108 runs and 27 steals for Oakland, but he attributed the slump to a batting flaw he discovered late in the season and declined to identify in case “some Yankee scouts” were within earshot.
“This is a team that can possibly throw off the Yankees, even this year after their big signings,” he said. “Hopefully, I can play a big part in that.” Agent Scott Boras said Damon, who initially was considered to be seeking as much as $10 million a year on the free agent market, accepted a discount to sign with the Sox. He will receive $7 million next year, with a $500,000 increase each year through 2005. Boras indicated the A’s and a couple other teams would have topped Boston’s offer, but Damon was intent on playing for the Sox because he wanted to be on the East Coast, closer to his wife and 2-year-old twins in Florida. Damon wasnt even scared off by the bad vibes last season in the Sox clubhouse. “Of course, I heard about what was going on here, but I feel like winning is what’s going to make everything fun,” he said. “We have the team to go out and do it, and if we dont do it, shame on us because Mr. Duquette has put together a very good team.” Duquette said he expects Damon to play center field and Trot Nixon to return to right field so the team can benefit from Damon’s superb speed and Nixon’s strong arm. “At 28 years old, we hope we see some really good baseball from Damon,” Duquette said, “some of the best years of his career.”
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