Cleveland Makes Damon Signing Official

Cleveland has agreed to terms with OF/DH Johnny Damon on a contract.  Made official after he passed a physical, the one-year deal will give him $1.25 million and also offers an additional $1.4 million in incentives.  Cleveland is off to a 1-4 start and has only scored 20 runs on the season as the team as a whole is batting .178 at present.

The deal includes a no-trade clause and an "out" clause that will allow Damon to become a free agent after CF Grady Sizemore returns from back surgery.  Sizemore is currently on the 60-day disabled list.  Damon is expected to play mostly left field and serve as the starting half of a platoon with OF Shelley Duncan, who had been starting before now.

The 38-year-old Damon batted .261 with 16 homers, 73 runs batted in, and a .743 OPS last season for Tampa Bay, and has 2,723 career hits.