Hey, Johnny Damon Needs a Job

And the Blue Jays need a leadoff-hitting outfielder.  The Yankees would apparently pay him $2 MM, and there really aren't any other competitors for Damon's services.  Were Alex Anthopoulos to pick Damon up for, say, 1 year, $5 million with a few incentives, it would make the Jays' top of the lineup better and give them valuable trade bait at the deadline.

 Lineup - 2009 Stats (AVG/OBP/SLG, wOBA)
 LF Johnny Damon - .282/.365/.489, .376
 2B Aaron Hill - .286/.330/.499, .357
 DH Adam Lind - .305/.370/.562, .394
 CF Vernon Wells - .260/.311/.400, .314
 1B Lyle Overbay - .265/.372/.466, .363
 3B Edwin Encarnacion - .225/.320/.410, .322
 RF Travis Snider - .241/.328/.419, .327
 C John Buck - .247/.299/.484, .332
 SS Alex Gonzalez - .238/.279/.355, .275

 C Raul Chavez
 DH/1B Randy Ruiz
 MIF John McDonald
 3B/OF Jose Bautista

While I did get really depressed halfway down writing up that lineup, it would actually be pretty awesome should Vernon and E5 bounce back even a little and Snider just continues to develop.

Though Damon's home run totals would go back to the teens having left Yankee Stadium, his ability to get on-base and his baserunning would provide a significant upgrade to Jose Bautista, the current leadoff candidate.  It would also make a pretty slick left-right balance in the lineup.  Damon also would not cost a draft pick as he was not offered arbitration and could potentially net the Jays half-decent prospects at the deadline or two draft picks after the season (he is currently a Type A free agent and a pretty sure bet to maintain that ranking going into next offseason).

The downside is pretty obvious: cash.  Would the potential prospects Damon would bring back be worth the cost of the contract?  Maybe, maybe not.  Considering that the Jays are 'building,' a short-term pickup does not benefit their long-term goals and as such may not be deemed worthwhile.  I would contend that for the amount that Damon would improve the team and increase fan interest it would be worthwhile, maybe giving the Jays a fighting shot at playing .500 ball.  I'm also a tad concerned about his defense in left field, but his UZR has been positive there over two of the last three years.

As a last throw-in, Damon would be a character on an otherwise rather bland team.  He has won two World Series over the last six seasons and could provide decent veteran presence that isn't Vernon Wells (who is having a hard time leading by example these days).  At the very least, it would make this coming season a little more bearable.