Idiots Reunite In Tampa
Saturday, January 22, 2011
While things may not be as competitive this season in the American League East, they certainly got a lot more interesting on Friday.
The Tampa Bay Rays have not yet officially announced the signings of Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, but that is expected to happen shortly.
The two former Red Sox outfielders may be old and near the end of their careers, but they still have that star power that should put a few fannies into the empty seats of the Tropicana Dome.
According to SI.com, both players signed one year deals with Damon’s coming in at 5.25 million plus incentives. Ramirez’s is worth 2 million plus incentives.
Damon played in Detroit last season. The 37-year old batted .271 with 8 HR’s and 51 RBI’s. This is the sixth team he will have played for in his career which started 16 years ago in Kansas City. Damon also played in Oakland, Boston and New York.
Ramirez split time last season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. The 38-year old hit .298. He hit 9 HR’s and drove in 42. Ramirez was limited due to injuries in 2010 which included a hernia that was surgically repaired this offseason.
Anyone who follows baseball realizes that both Damon and Ramirez are highly unlikely to duplicate the numbers they produced while in the prime of their careers. But they both come at a cheap price and are considered worth the financial risk.
The team they are joining – Tampa - has taken some major hits this offseason. Carl Crawford signed a big deal with Boston. Hard-throwing right hander Matt Garza was traded to the Chicago Cubs. First baseman Carlos Pena landed in Texas. While closer Rafael Soriano signed with the Yankees. Shortstop Jason Bartlett and set-up men Joaquin Benoit and Dan Wheeler also left town so it remains to be seen whether the Rays can compete with Boston and New York as they have the past few seasons atop the A.L. East.
Regardless, Red Sox fans may want to circle April 11th on their calendars. That is the first time the Red Sox and Rays meet this season. It will begin a 3-game series at Fenway Park and will feature a return of two of the “idiots” from the 2004 World Championship team.
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