After a couple of weeks of speculation, the Tigers finally inked Johnny Damon to a one year, $8 million deal.  That’ll make Damon the everyday left fielder with Ryan Raburn spelling him now and then.  What makes this move interesting is how the domino effect.  Raburn is going to lose out on some time because he would have gotten more play in left if it were just Carlos Guillen.  And now Carlos Guillen doesn’t have a spot outside of designated hitter unless Leyland shuffles Guillen and Damon between left field and DH.  It also means a player like Austin Jackson, who was probably on the fringe of making the team, falls off of the roster and at least starts the season in Toledo.

Damon should bat either first or second in the lineup and my guess is begins the season leading off so that problem is solved too.  My guess is Damon’s home runs come way down (most of his home runs were hit in hitter friendly Yankee Stadium) but his doubles should go up.  Still, he’s most likely an upgrade over what we have out in left prior to the signing.

I’m going to write a offseason summary now that it looks like most of the moves are done so look for that tomorrow or Tuesday.  I actually think the Tigers are a better team in 2010 then in 2009 (if you just look at the short term implications) but I need to think through it by writing it all down.

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