Johnny Damon hopes to re-sign with the Tigers

Jason Beck of MLB.com has a blog entry up talking about Johnny Damon’s desire to potentially re-sign with the Tigers especially since next season may be his last…
“I’m hoping to stay. I’m hoping after this season they want me back to, I feel, be a part of something special. I think that’s a big reason why I chose Detroit, because I felt like there was something happening there with a winning ballclub. A championship would mean the world to the fans there, to that economy, to the owner. That’s why I felt was, and is, the best place for me right now.”
Damon is eligable for free agency this coming offseason after signing a one year deal with the Tigers for $8 million. There have been rumors circulating that the Tigers may try to deal Damon before seasons end since the team has fallen out of contention for the AL Central crown. Despite that Damon has said that he’s enjoyed his time in Detroit…
“My experience in Detroit has been great,” Damon said. “I love it there. I feel like the team is an up-and-coming team with a lot of young kids there that definitely need guidance to show them the hopes, and it seems like they’ve been doing a pretty good job at it.”
Damon has certainly become an asset for at team that has had to rely on a bunch of rookies throughout the season.
“This is a new process for me. I’m almost a player-coach,” Damon said. “I’m around all the young kids who are almost young enough to be my sons, but it’s great. It puts that fire back into you. You enjoy watch these guys grow up. I’m enjoying watching the best hitter in baseball in [Miguel] Cabrera. I’m enjoying watching the best defensive center fielder in the game. That’s the stuff you enjoy and you remember for a very long time.”
The Tigers do have a lot of options, decisions and money to work with next season. There will be vesting options with Magglio’s $15 million and Jhonny Peralta’s $7 million which they more then likely will not pick up. Futhermore if they choose to bring back Damon or any of their option players it will certainly be significantly less. I can see them bringing back Magglio at $7 million for one year, re-signing Damon for $4 million at one year and maybe, just maybe for an undetermined about depending on if they go out and sign an everyday shortstop or third basemen for next season bringing back Peralta for another season or two.
I’d love to see Damon back with the Tigers at the right price, especially if there are a significant amount of young players on the team. Even if that’s not the case, Damon is a good number two hitter (which this team sorely needed after Polanco’s departure) and can work a count like no other.