Damon a Yankee

Everyone seems to be writing about this so I might as well do the same.

This deal really seems to be emblematic of the directions the Sox and Yankees seem to be going right now as New York is returning to its policy of throwing money at their problems and Boston are standing still while those around them retool and get better.

We'll start by looking at the guy New York are paying $13m a year for. Johnny Damon is a guy on the decline who has no arm in the outfield and I would a good example of how speed can help you make up for bad reads.

A lot of people like to make out that Damon is one of the best in the league but he really is just one of the best marketed players around. His lifetime OBP of .353 hardly stands out and 37 steals would boost your profile as an elite lead-off man...just not over two years.

So what are the Yanks getting for their money? Well Damon is another over payed guy who can bat lead-off and move Jeter into the two spot he belongs in and he also should provide some relative speed and consistency to a line-up that was very formidable already and will make them even more difficult to shut down.

Perhaps the main thing that Johnny Damon gives the Yankees is an energy guy as opposed to the endless line of brooding kill-joys (they like to be referred to as 'professional') and that should put more fight and intensity to a team that sometimes just looked like they just had to turn up to win.

And what of Boston?

Well the Sox now have next to no depth in the outfield and thats even if you include Manny who is supposedly going to be dealt (just like he was the last dozen times he put in a trade request). Also, with the additional loss of Renteria, almost completely depletes the team of any real speed and there was a reason why Ortiz and Ramirez have been able to post so many RBI the last few years.

Basically the Yanks are stocking up and the Sox are standing still while everyone else in the division retools and improves. New York have brought on another immovable contract who will burden the team in a couple of years time and Boston are falling into the basement of the AL East.