Late last week, the Detroit Tigers placed outfielder Johnny Damon on waivers. Then early Monday afternoon, reports began to surface that he was claimed by an unknown team. And now we know the club in question: according to Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman, it is the Red Sox that have claimed Damon off waivers.
The Tigers now have the option to pull Damon back, negotiate a trade with Boston (Heyman thinks Detroit is willing to let him go if they can't work something out), or simply let the the Red Sox take Damon and his contract, of which about $1.8 million remains. Also worth noting: the veteran, in his 16th year, has a no-trade clause to Boston.
Joel Sherman of the NY Post points out that last year, Damon said he would not want to return to the Red Sox "because of how bad it was go from [Boston] to [Yankees the] first time.
The Red Sox could use some help in the outfield, where they've lost both Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury to season-ending injuries.
Boston has waiver priority over both the Rays and Yankees.
Damon played for the Red Sox from 2002-05, and played a key part in their ALCS comeback and World Series win in 2004.
In 111 games in 2010, he's hitting .270 with seven home runs and a 105 OPS+.
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