There weren’t any other teams out there that had the budget to bid anywhere near that amount. Most of the reports were saying Damon was getting low-balled to the tune of about 2 million a year while Damon wanted 8 million a year for two years.

I was expecting him to get 4.5 million for one year.

Getting 8 million was a huge feat considering how much attention was paid to how the new Yankee Stadium padded Damon’s batting stats.

If I were a Tigers fan and he got 8 million and 2 years, then I’d be calling for Dave Dombrowski’s head. But this deal is acceptable for one year. Just don’t expect him to have the same numbers as last year.

Damon Gets His Cash: Signs With Tigers by MLB Baseball Previews

Will Work For Food

With spring training rapidly approaching, there are a number of quality players still available. But with a limited number of spots they may feel the salary squeeze, they may not get the playing time that they want, or they may just be waiting for injuries to hit before cashing in.

Here are the best of MLB’s homeless.

Jermaine Dye RF

Dye had 27 homers last year, but at 36 his career is in decline and he is a bit of a defensive liability. Maybe a switch to DH is in order.

The Cubs and Indians are rumored destinations.

Russell Branyan 1B

High-risk high-reward batter whose frequent strikeouts are balanced by his power. He also plays decent defense, but there aren’t a lot of teams in need of an everyday first baseman.

The Indians, Marlins and Blue Jays are rumored destinations.

Jarrod Washburn SP

A starting pitcher who is a bit of an enigma. He was a monster for Seattle, but a disaster for Detroit.

The Orioles are putting the squeeze on him to get him for cheap. He’d rather make more money somewhere else, but so far no one’s come calling.

Johnny Damon LF

A bit of a defensive liability whose batting numbers were inflated by a hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. Damon’s going to have a hard time cashing in on his career year.

The Braves, Tigers and Rays are rumored to be after him, but they’re all pinching pennies waiting for Damon’s price to go down.

Felipe Lopez 2B

A good batter with solid defensive skills, it is surprising that he hasn’t found a home yet.

Expect a lot more interest around the league as his price drops.

Pedro Martinez SP

Martinez proved that he can still be a contributor, but his age makes him a stop-gap and he is probably making the right call by waiting for the season to start.

Suitors will start to line up as injuries mount and the contenders start to separate themselves from the pack.

Will Bat For Food (and Millions): Baseball Free Agent Watch by MLB Baseball Previews