GaryMrMets
12-20-2001, 11:39 PM
http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2001/1220/1299348.html
Thursday, December 20
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Damon closing in on four-year, $30M deal
Associated Press
BOSTON -- The Red Sox closed in Thursday on a four-year contract with free agent outfielder Johnny Damon worth about $30 million, another major move in their busy offseason makeover.
Damon, 28, was among the top hitters on the free-agent market, batting .256 with nine homers, 49 RBIs and 27 steals for Oakland.
The deal was not complete as of late Thursday afternoon, but the sides were close, a source familiar with the negotiations said on the condition he not be identified. Boston and Damon's agent, Scott Boras, were scheduled to talk later Thursday night to try to close the deal, the source said.
The Boston Globe reported on its Web site Thursday afternoon that the Red Sox had agreed to a contract with Damon.
"We've got some more work to do, but we're encouraged by the conversations we've had," Boston general manager Dan Duquette told The Associated Press.
Asked when he thought the deal could be completed, Duquette said: "Hopefully, by the weekend."
In Damon, the Red Sox would get a speedy leadoff hitter to top a new-look lineup.
"I really don't want to talk about it until we've got him," Duquette said.
Damon was acquired by Oakland in January from Kansas City as part of a three-way trade that sent Ben Grieve to Tampa Bay. Damon was offered salary arbitration by the Athletics on Dec. 7 but rejected the offer Wednesday.
Since the end of the season, Boston has traded for Dustin Hermanson and Darren Oliver and agreed to an $11 million, two-year contract with free agent John Burkett. All three could wind up in the starting rotation that lost Hideo Nomo and David Cone, who weren't re-signed.
They also obtained second baseman Pokey Reese from Colorado as part of an effort to improve their fielding and speed.
Damon joins what had been a thin outfield corps after Boston traded Carl Everett to Texas and saw Dante Bichette, Darren Lewis and Troy O'Leary become free agents.
Damon figures to play center or right field, depending on where Trot Nixon ends up. Manny Ramirez currently is slated to play left field.
Also Thursday, the Red Sox held a conference call to introduce Burkett, who agreed to an $11 million, two-year contract.
"I'm just happy to be a Red Sox," he said.
Burkett, 37, was 12-12 with a 3.04 ERA with Atlanta last season. He is 141-119 with a 4.23 ERA in 14 major league seasons with the Braves, Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants.
Burkett said his skills seemed to be slipping during his time with Texas, but he developed a curveball that he can throw at two or three speeds.
"I felt like I threw the ball as well as I did my whole career last year," he said.
Burkett left the Braves because wouldn't off a multiyear contract. He knows about the discord in Boston's clubhouse last season.
"It was a bit of a concern, but when I met with (manager) Joe Kerrigan he told me things were going to be done a little bit differently," he said.
How the Red Sox shape up
Lineup
CF Johnny Damon
RF Trot Nixon
SS Nomar Garciaparra
LF Manny Ramirez
1B Tony Clark
C Jason Varitek
DH Brian Daubach
3B Shea Hillenbrand
2B Pokey Reese
Rotation
Pedro Martinez
John Burkett
Dustin Hermanson
Derek Lowe
Frank Castillo / Darren Oliver
Closer
Ugueth Urbina
Thursday, December 20
Â*
Damon closing in on four-year, $30M deal
Associated Press
BOSTON -- The Red Sox closed in Thursday on a four-year contract with free agent outfielder Johnny Damon worth about $30 million, another major move in their busy offseason makeover.
Damon, 28, was among the top hitters on the free-agent market, batting .256 with nine homers, 49 RBIs and 27 steals for Oakland.
The deal was not complete as of late Thursday afternoon, but the sides were close, a source familiar with the negotiations said on the condition he not be identified. Boston and Damon's agent, Scott Boras, were scheduled to talk later Thursday night to try to close the deal, the source said.
The Boston Globe reported on its Web site Thursday afternoon that the Red Sox had agreed to a contract with Damon.
"We've got some more work to do, but we're encouraged by the conversations we've had," Boston general manager Dan Duquette told The Associated Press.
Asked when he thought the deal could be completed, Duquette said: "Hopefully, by the weekend."
In Damon, the Red Sox would get a speedy leadoff hitter to top a new-look lineup.
"I really don't want to talk about it until we've got him," Duquette said.
Damon was acquired by Oakland in January from Kansas City as part of a three-way trade that sent Ben Grieve to Tampa Bay. Damon was offered salary arbitration by the Athletics on Dec. 7 but rejected the offer Wednesday.
Since the end of the season, Boston has traded for Dustin Hermanson and Darren Oliver and agreed to an $11 million, two-year contract with free agent John Burkett. All three could wind up in the starting rotation that lost Hideo Nomo and David Cone, who weren't re-signed.
They also obtained second baseman Pokey Reese from Colorado as part of an effort to improve their fielding and speed.
Damon joins what had been a thin outfield corps after Boston traded Carl Everett to Texas and saw Dante Bichette, Darren Lewis and Troy O'Leary become free agents.
Damon figures to play center or right field, depending on where Trot Nixon ends up. Manny Ramirez currently is slated to play left field.
Also Thursday, the Red Sox held a conference call to introduce Burkett, who agreed to an $11 million, two-year contract.
"I'm just happy to be a Red Sox," he said.
Burkett, 37, was 12-12 with a 3.04 ERA with Atlanta last season. He is 141-119 with a 4.23 ERA in 14 major league seasons with the Braves, Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants.
Burkett said his skills seemed to be slipping during his time with Texas, but he developed a curveball that he can throw at two or three speeds.
"I felt like I threw the ball as well as I did my whole career last year," he said.
Burkett left the Braves because wouldn't off a multiyear contract. He knows about the discord in Boston's clubhouse last season.
"It was a bit of a concern, but when I met with (manager) Joe Kerrigan he told me things were going to be done a little bit differently," he said.
How the Red Sox shape up
Lineup
CF Johnny Damon
RF Trot Nixon
SS Nomar Garciaparra
LF Manny Ramirez
1B Tony Clark
C Jason Varitek
DH Brian Daubach
3B Shea Hillenbrand
2B Pokey Reese
Rotation
Pedro Martinez
John Burkett
Dustin Hermanson
Derek Lowe
Frank Castillo / Darren Oliver
Closer
Ugueth Urbina