Revealing perhaps the worst kept secret in Cleveland, the Indians officially announced on Tuesday that they have signed veteran outfielder Johnny Damon to a minor league contract. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports that Damon is at the Tribe's facility in Goodyear, Arizona going through baseball workouts.
As was widely reported last week, Damon's deal is for one year at $1.25 million, with the potential to reach $1.4 million if he hits certain performance bonuses. Damon will spend two weeks in the minors and likely report to the big league club in early May, when he will be added to the 40-man. It's not clear exactly where Damon will fit in, with Shelley Duncan playing well in left field right now. Damon acknowledged this in an appearance on MLB Network Radio last week. Via Indians.com:
"I need to go out there and show people I can still play there," Damon said in an interview Thursday on the MLB Network Radio channel on SiriusXM. "Right now, Shelley Duncan is the starting left fielder. I know they are going to rotate me in and give him a breather but, you know, I also understand this game, too.
"If Shelley Duncan is on fire at the plate, he's going to play. And if I am, they are going to find a place for me."
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