Apparently Damon is getting Abreu'ed.  Multiple sources, notably Joel Sherman, indicating that Damon's down to one year, $7m, partially deferred.

If that's the case, it could save the M's offensive bacon this winter.

Quick-ref charts...

Runs created per 27 outs:

• 6.8 - Damon
• 7.4 - Ichiro, #1 Mariner
• 4.9 - Gutierrez, #3
• 4.7 - Griffey, #4
• 4.2 - Lopez, #5

Every other Mariner in the starting lineup was below 3.9 per game.

............

Here is our food fight over Damon's range afield. 

Matt has seen him more than I have, but my objection is philosophical.  The next leadoff hitter I see, who does not have enough range to play left field even competently, will be the first one.  But who knows.

............

We've had fun comparing Damon to Carl Crawford:  they're very similar offensive players, one heavier on SB's, the other heavier on BB's.  Crawford is considerably faster, but that's at least canceled out by Damon's walks.

In terms of RC/27, it's Damon 6.8, Crawford 6.3.  wOBA has it about .375 to .367, again in favor of Damon.

Crawford of course brings a much better glove, but the point is, if you like what Crawford would do for the M's offense, you should like Damon's even a bit more.  With Ichiro and Figgins already, the M's could use a 3 hitter drawing Edgar-like walks behind the speedsters.

.............

Damon's a short-timer, is year-to-year in terms of those fancy 6+ RC's. 

A stomach-turning thought as to his future salary:  "I don't think he'll get a couple years after [2010].  He couldn't have a better season than he did [in 2009]."   Unnamed GM.  n other words, if the market is soft right now for him after two straight 6.8 run/game seasons, how could it possibly be better next year?  Is Damon suddenly going to show something that he hasn't just shown?

But for 2010 he could legitimize the M's lineup.  They'd even have a makeshift #3-#4:

1 Ichiro 7.4 RC/27

2 Figgins 6.0

3 Damon 6.0 assuming -15%

4 Bradley 7.0 (knock on wood; 9.4 in 2008, 5.4 in 2009)

5-9 Gutierrez, Griffey, 1B, not bad for the back half

............

wOBA:

.380 Evan Longoria

.377 Ryan Zimmerman

.376 Johnny Damon

.371 Justin Morneau

.369 Ichiro

.368 Russell Branyan

.358 Chone Figgins

A cheap 1-year deal on Damon, plus the dice roll on Bradley, would give Capt Jack a chance for a stealth 2010 contender-class lineup until he gets his real lineup together in 2011-12.

Cheers,

Dr D