Johnny Damon a Yankee: good thing for the Red Sox?

As many baseball followers know, Johnny Damon joined the dark side this year for $52 million dollars over 4 years. The Red Sox best offer was 4 years $40 million (the same offer they gave Jason Varitek and Edgar Renteria the previous season). The Red Sox believe Johnny Damon was not "worth" $52 million dollars. I ask the Red Sox to define "worth". Is Johnny Damon not worth $3 million more a year? Did the Yankees pay too much for him? Was Johnny selfish? The whole "worth" thing gets to me. Damon said he loved the fans of Boston (rightfully so they created him). He was THE MAN in Boston. Damon is arguably one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball, a major threat to any opposing pitcher, and a great guy in the clubhouse.

The Red Sox just have a poor excuse. According to one of Dr. D's lectures, ticket prices influence salaries. The Red Sox have the highest demand from fans of any team in sports. The Sox sell out every game, have a season ticket demand larger than anything anyone can imagine, and their prices are through the roof. The Red Sox fans are willing to pay extra to go to games to see the players, the rivalries, and championships. Johnny Damon brought in a large amount of revenue to the Red Sox. His jersey sales were among the leagues highest. Now all that revenue goes to New York because they thought Damon was worth more.

Ok, the "worth" part of my blog. There were two big name leadoff hitters that were free agents this winter. Rafael Furcal and Johnny Damon. Damon is by far more productive than Furcal and has the stats to prove it. Furcal signed for 3 years $39 million one month before Damon got his contract. To Damon, he was "worth" more than Furcal. Damon wanted a salary equivalent (or better) than Furcal. Is Damon worth $52 million? Is Furcal worth $39 million? What am I worth? Who decides my value? Does the Yankees paying Damon $52 million make him worth $52 million? I would say yes because he getting paid that. The Red Sox do not think he is worth $52 million and chose not to pay him that. For that they lose. What does Johnny Damon being on the Yankees do to Red Sox revenues? Probably increase them because all the fans that bought Damon jersey last year will go out and spend more money on Damon Haters shirts and Coco Crisp jerseys. The money the Red Sox saved by trading for Crisp (who makes $3.75 million per year) allows them to go after other players. What it comes down to is that Johnny Damon IS worth $52 million because someone paid him that amount, just not the Red Sox. The Red Sox will still sell out, still raise ticket prices, and still have a list of over 1,000 people waiting for season tickets.