Boston Red Sox - Damon, Ramirez reunited with Rays - The Boston Globe
Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon are about to become teammates again, this time in Tampa Bay.
Both free agent outfielders agreed to one-year contracts with the Rays, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press last night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreements had not been announced.
Damon gets $5.25 million and the chance to earn $750,000 in bonuses based on attendance, the person said. Ramirez gets $2 million.
The moves mark the first major additions for the AL East champions after a devastating offseason in which one prominent player after another left cost-conscious Tampa Bay.
Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Rafael Soriano signed elsewhere as free agents. Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett were traded. A strong bullpen was depleted by the losses of Joaquin Benoit, Dan Wheeler, and Chad Qualls.
Ramirez and Damon played together for years in Boston and helped lead theRed Sox to the 2004 World Series title. Both colorful characters are past their prime, but if nothing else they could at least provide an attraction at Tropicana Field.
Ramirez, 38, began last season with the Dodgers, then was claimed on waivers late in the summer by the White Sox. He hit a combined .298 with nine homers and 42 RBIs in the final season of a $45 million, two-year contract. Ramirez’s career took a downward turn in May 2009, when he was suspended 50 games for using a banned female fertility drug. Damon, 37, hit .271 last season with a .756 OPS in 549 at-bats for the Tigers.
The Rays also signed former Red Sox and Mets outfielder Chris Carter.
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