Johnny Damon doesn't need much.  He already has a couple of championship rings from his days with the Red Sox and the Yankees.  He's certainly not hurting for money given his fat contracts of the last few years.  So, at this point in his career, Damon can do what he wants and play where he wants and enjoy life as a major league baseball player.

That said, two weeks ago, it looked like Damon was a mortal lock to sign with the Tigers.  After all, they were the only ones offering him a two-year deal and perhaps the amount of PT he wanted.  Then, suddenly, another suitor appeared on the horizon: The Chicago White Sox.

As strange as it sounded to Sox fans that Damon was interested in becoming a south sider, new details have come out that may explain how the Sox may have gotten into the Damon sweepstakes despite initially having little interest.

It turns out Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is a former high school teammate of Damon's who has retained a long friendship with him.  Perhaps at Pierzynski's urging, Damon's agent, Lucifer Scott Boras may have contacted the Sox to see if they had any interest.

There are also rumors that Damon's wife is not too keen on living in or coming to Detroit.  And no one is going to argue with her there.  Having lived in Boston and New York, I would imagine Mrs. Damon would enjoy Chicago.

In an effort to recruit Damon, the Sox have had him on a golf course in Florida with old buddy Pierzynski and Sox play by play man Hawk Harrelson.  Provided Damon can handle taunts from world class golfer Harrelson (like Hawk screaming "Put it on the board YESSS!" every time he drops a putt) Damon may get inspired enough to sign with the Sox.  After all, if there were two guys I'd send out to recruit players, it would be A.J. and Hawk. 

The continued courting of Damon raises more questions than answers as to how the Sox will utilize him.  Damon's presence on the Sox roster may curtail sharply the number of at bats expected from Andruw Jones and Mark Kotsay, which isn't such a bad thing.  But it certainly blows a hole in manager Ozzie Guillen's plan for DH by committee and it sends Sox fans a clear message that they could have and should have re-signed Jim Thome in the first place.

There are some who think the Sox are being used by Satan Boras to motivate the Tigers to sign Damon at an inflated price, but given the factors mentioned, that is highly unlikely.  Damon may have a desire to play a season with his friend while at the same time keeping Mrs. Damon happy.  He will only make the Sox a better team and hopefully some of his championship experience will rub off on them.