Two weeks after signing with the Indians on a minor-league contract Johnny Damon is expected to join the team for their series against the White Sox that begins tomorrow, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Damon has been playing extended spring training games to get ready and has apparently looked good enough that they canceled plans to have him spend some time at Triple-A.
As part of his contract Damon can opt out on Tuesday if he’s not in the majors, but with Shelley Duncan in an extended slump and the Indians’ lineup failing to produce much of anything last week the 38-year-old veteran figures to see significant action in left field right away.
At this point in his career Damon is hardly an impact hitter, posting a .261 batting average with 16 homers and a modest .743 OPS in 150 games for the Rays last season, but if spotted mostly versus right-handed pitching he can still be useful and his contract is worth just $1.25 million in guaranteed money once he cracks the big-league roster. He can earn another $1.4 million in incentives.
