Why Not Johnny Damon?

With spring training just a couple of snow storms away, the Sox still have a few holes to plug before the bus departs from Fenway.  I think they could still use a few quality arms in the bullpen, but more alarming is the outfield situation.  With Crawford out for who knows how long and an unknown Ryan Sweeney roaming right field, why not take a good hard look at Johnny Damon?

Damon is still an unsigned free agent who wanted to go back to Tampa for another season with the Rays, but that fell by the wayside as soon as the Rays signed Luke Scott.  Rumor has it the Yankees have been in contact with Damon and have some what of an interest in having Damon don the pinstripes again.  Why haven’t the Red Sox contacted Damon yet?  Yes he is 38 yrs old and on the downside of his career but Damon played in 150 games last year and hit a respectable .261.  A batting average higher than Crawford or J.D. Drew.  Damon is a good fit for this team.  Certainly better than Sweeney or Darnell McDonald. 

How do you think the fans will react to seeing Damon out in right field or Left until Crawford returns?  It would be mad hysteria.  This team has an image problem and no personality outside of Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz.  Damon brings flash to Fenway and maybe the spark this team could use right now.  I know I would love to see Damon back here.  Come on Johnny let the hair and beard grow again in the friendly confines of Fenway park.  You could be an icon again.

The only problem and a huge problem it is will be if Damon has any interest in coming back here.  If he gets to choose between the Red Sox and Yankees, he will be a Yankee.  He has already vetoed a trade back to Boston in 2010 and is unlikely to make Boston his top priority today.  Is he still bitter for how the Sox cast him off after winning in 2004?  Or how the fans have treated while he played for the Yankees?  Only Damon has the answer to those questions.

I come back to, “Why not?”  Ben Cherington should pick up the phone and just ask Damon.  Can’t hurt.  What’s the worst that could happen?  He says, ” no thank you?”  As a fan of Boston I approve of bringing Damon back.  Hey, if he says no you can always call Manny, I hear he is out to change his reputation.

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