As Yankees celebrate and Red Sox ruminate, St. Louis adds Ponson
Other teams kept making moves ahead of the holiday break, including the Giants and Angels. San Francisco acquired outfielder Steve Finley from Los Angeles for third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo.
A day after leaving the Red Sox to accept a $52 million, four-year contract with the Yankees, Damon had a 15-minute conversation with New York owner George Steinbrenner. The agreement for the charismatic center fielder could be finalized Friday.
“Johnny and I spoke a few times over the last week and I strongly encouraged him to sign with the Yankees,” New York first baseman Jason Giambi said through agent Arn Tellem, “It is good to know that our lineup next year will include a natural leadoff hitter whose presence allows (Derek) Jeter and A-Rod to return to their preferred places in the batting order. Johnny is a good friend and a great guy to have in the clubhouse.”
Damon had a few words for all the disappointed folks back in New England.
“I know what’s going on in Boston. I know fans are upset and I’m sorry,” Damon told WBZ television in Boston during an interview from his Florida home. “I tried to get their best offer and it just didn’t materialize and I just have to thank them for the wonderful years.”
He also recalled Game 7 of the 2004 AL championship series, when he hit two key homers – including a grand slam – to lead the Red Sox past New York at Yankee Stadium.
“I know I’ll always be remembered for Game 7 to help get us to the World Series and I know I’m also going to be remembered for jumping sides,” Damon said.
Also Wednesday, New York reached a preliminary agreement with longtime center fielder Bernie Williams on a $1.5 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows the 37-year-old to earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses. He will have a reduced role as a part-time outfielder and designated hitter.
Even before Tuesday night, Boston began looking for Damon’s potential replacement.
“We’ve inquired with teams about other center fielders. We would be irresponsible not to,” co-general manager Jed Hoyer said. “We’re confident that we can work it out and we’re going to have a good center fielder.”
Still, Damon’s decision appeared to surprise the Red Sox.
“He was an offensive force. He was a clubhouse leader. He was a bit of a cult figure who was enormously popular with the women of Red Sox nation and generally a good guy,” Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said. “We urged Johnny that Boston is a great place for him, that he was a beloved figure here. But in the end he was free to make his decision.”
Ponson said he’s changed in the three months since the Baltimore Orioles voided his contract and released him. Ponson went to an alcohol rehabilitation facility in September and has been seeing a psychiatrist weekly.
“After my last problem, I sought help and didn’t wait for anybody to push me,” Ponson said. “I just did it on my own. Since the last time I had trouble I’ve been clean.”
Ponson’s agreement with the Cardinals calls for a $1 million base salary and allows him to earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on starts. Ponson was 7-11 with a 6.21 ERA last season.
“We signed him with that purpose in mind, based on his past career,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said. “It provides more depth to our rotation, more depth to our pitching staff, and that has been the priority of our offseason plan.”
Ponson was arrested Aug. 25 and charged with driving under the influence and driving while impaired. He served a five-day jail sentence last week for driving while impaired, and the charge of driving under the influence was dropped under a plea agreement.
“Sidney has made it very clear to us that he is committed to turning both his life and his career around,” Jocketty said. “He’s a tremendous talent who has made mistakes, but he’s been making huge strides in trying to return himself to a much better quality of life.”
In Finley, San Francisco gets a 40-year-old player who hit a career-worst .222 with 12 homers and 54 RBIs in 112 games for the AL West champion Angels last season. But he did have a productive year in 2004 with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.
“We were hoping for a better season from him, and I’m sure the Giants were hoping for a better season from Alfonzo as well. Neither had career years,” Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said. “I talked to Steve and I know he’s working as hard as ever.”
Alfonzo played in only 109 games last season, batting .277 with two home runs and 43 RBIs.
Finley could find himself in an outfield that also includes 41-year-old Barry Bonds and 39-year-old Moises Alou.
“I feel like I’ve got a lot to prove,” Finley said. “My goal is to come there and have my name written in the lineup every day. As a player, I’m coming off a year I didn’t do too well and I’ve got to force the issue.”
Seven players re-signed from among the 50 who became free agents when their teams didn’t offer contracts by Tuesday’s midnight EST deadline. Tampa Bay right-hander Lance Carter agreed to a $550,000, one-year contract, and the others accepted minor league deals: Washington outfielder Alex Escobar and right-hander T.J. Tucker, Colorado pitcher Jose Acevedo and outfielder Ryan Spilborghs, Atlanta pitcher Wes Obermueller and Texas pitcher Nick Regilio.