Braves Make One-Year Offer To Damon; Chipper Jones Helps With Recruitment

As the Atlanta Braves make their push for Johnny Damon, they’re going beyond simple contract terms in making their case:

The Braves have made a one-year contract offer to free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon and had star Chipper Jones call him to make a recruiting pitch, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

Jones has done this before, previously calling guys like Derek Lowe and Ken Griffey Jr. and telling them what it means to be a Brave. Jones, of course, has been with Atlanta his entire career, and the 37 year old is one of the best and most popular players in franchise history. Needless to say, when Chipper talks, players listen.

Of course, Jones is aware of the possible downside:

“Bringing Johnny certainly gives us an abundance of outfielders and could take playing time away from someone else deserving,” Jones said.

...but he goes on to acknowledge the upside:

“The positive is that it gives us a pretty legit leadoff hitter who has some experience. It would make us a deeper team. I don’t know. You can’t beat having that experience in your clubhouse and on your team, on the field and somewhere at top of your lineup.”

The current Atlanta outfield figures to go Matt Diaz/Nate McLouth/Melky Cabrera until Jordan Schafer and/or Jason Heyward is deemed to be ready. Eric Hinske is also in the mix off the bench. Signing Damon would likely push Cabrera into a reserve role, a source of some discontent for Braves fans, as Cabrera is cheap and last year showed himself to be capable.

Read Atlanta fan reaction at Braves blog Talking Chop.