Indians sign Johnny Damon

[love_that_reefer]

This is breaking news on MLB Network per Ken Rosenthal. No contract details as of yet but a very weird move for the Indians as they are stacked with lefties. More news when it comes.

[zodious]

From what I understand is there is a clause for when sizemore comes back, they can release Damon.

[love_that_reefer]

Per MLBTR.com

The Indians will sign Johnny Damon, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (all Twitter links). Damon confirmed to Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio that he has agreed to sign with the Indians (Twitter link).

The deal will include a full no-trade clause and allow Damon to opt out on a specified date after Grady Sizemore returns, Rosenthal reports. Sizemore is expected to miss 8-12 weeks due to back surgery. Financial terms of the deal are unknown. We heard that the Scott Boras client would sign by May earlier this month.

Damon, 38, figures to step into Cleveland's left field situation as soon as he's ready to join the team. Shelley Duncan has started all five of the Indians' games in left, but he's best deployed as the right-handed half of a platoon. A fit between the Tribe and Damon seemed natural for most of the offseason.

Just 277 hits away from 3,000 for his career, Damon hit .261/.326/.418 with 16 homers and 19 steals for the Rays last season. He has played fewer than 400 total innings in the outfield over the last two years, but he has appeared in at least 140 games in each of the past 16 years.

The Indians tried to acquire Bobby Abreu a few weeks ago, presumably for the same role Damon will fill.

[Kingdom]

Might as well just keep him, Sizemore is likely to get hurt while he's out hurt.

[love_that_reefer]

Per MLBTR.com

The Indians have agreed to sign Johnny Damon to a one-year deal worth $1.25MM plus incentives. He'll play left field in Cleveland and will be allowed to leave if the team stops playing him regularly. Here are some details on Damon's new deal...

Damon's deal doesn't include a set opt-out date, Peter Gammons of MLB Network tweets. Rather, Damon and GM Chris Antonetti have agreed to address the issue if the outfielder isn't getting enough chances to hit.
Associated Press reporter Tom Withers hears Damon will start his Indians career on a minor league contract and get a Major League contract when the team adds him to the 40-man roster (Twitter link).

Watch out for the lethal combo of Johnny Damon and Shelly Duncan in LF!!

[love_that_reefer]

Damon is hitting .171/.194/.257 through 35 at-bats. Looks like someone needed a Spring Training