Sources: Tigers owner OKs two-year, $14M offer to Damon
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Tigers owner Mike Ilitch has authorized a two-year, $14 million offer to free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to major-league sources.
Damon also is considering a one-year, $7 million proposal from the Tigers, one source said. His agent, Scott Boras, is seeking a two-year deal.
Tigers officials declined to comment about their talks with Damon when contacted Thursday afternoon.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The Braves also have made an offer to Damon, believed to be in the $4 million to $4.5 million range with significant deferrals.
Boras, however, seemingly has succeeded in reaching out to Ilitch, who previously signed several of the agent's other high-profile clients, including catcher Ivan Rodriguez, right fielder Magglio Ordonez and pitcher Kenny Rogers.
If Damon agrees to a deal with the Tigers, it will mark the third time in recent years that Boras has coaxed a multi-year offer from Detroit when it appeared that the market had dried up for a star player. Similar scenarios unfolded with Rodriguez in 2004 and Ordonez in 2005.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A two-year, $14 million deal would match what the Yankees dangled to Damon as they were attempting to sign his potential replacement in the No. 2 spot, free-agent first baseman Nick Johnson.
One player agent who is not involved in the talks predicted Thursday that Damon would sign with the first team that offers him a two-year deal.
The Braves are unlikely to go beyond their one-year offer, industry sources said. Atlanta would prefer to avoid a multi-year commitment, because outfield prospects Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer could contribute in 2010.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Damon lives in Orlando, so Atlanta would make better geographic sense. But one source doubts that Damon would turn down a two-year offer from the Tigers in order to accept a one-year deal with the Braves.
Plus, Damon has spent his entire career in the American League, so he knows the pitchers well.