Johnny Damon #18 of the New York Yankees gets ready to take batting practice before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 17, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

It took all winter, but free agent outfielder Johnny Damon finally found a place to play ball in 2010. On Saturday afternoon Damon signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers for $8 million. The 36-year-old Damon hit .286 with 24 homers for the Yankees last year and was hoping to get a big multi-year deal in the off season. Damon reportedly turned down a two-year deal to return to the Yankees for $14 million a few months ago. I bet he wishes he had that offer now!

Johnny Damon of the Boston Red Sox bats in game 4 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Bush Stadium in St. Louis, MO on October 27, 2004. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I remember shooting Damon when he was a youngster out of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida during spring training in 1997. I was on assignment for Upper Deck shooting the Kansas City Royals in Baseball City when Damon helped form the nucleus of a nice young ballclub with Jermaine Dye. He later ended up spending a forgetful season in Oakland in 2001 before he signed a big free-agent deal with the Red Sox for the 2002 season. Damon was a perfect fit in Boston where he helped lead their club to their dramatic 2004 World Series title (see above and below).

Johnny Damon of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the clubhouse after game 4 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Bush Stadium in St. Louis, MO on October 27, 2004. (Photo by BradMangin)

After the 2005 season Damon did the unthinkable and signed a HUGE contract with the rival Yankees (four years for $52 million) and ended his run in the Bronx with a World Series title in New York last season. After Damon rejected the Yankees offer many people thought he might end up back with Oakland to play for the Swinging A’s. That would have been fine for me as I have always enjoyed photographing Damon. He has a great smile and has always had a flair for the dramatic. He might have helped out the A’s, but I guess they ran out of money after they signed Ben Sheets.

Johnny Damon Signs with Tigers – Images by Brad Mangin

Many people thought that Damon might just retire as spring training camps were opening and he was still without a team to play for. The market has changed so much in the past few years. The big deals are gone for most of these guys- especially the older ones like Damon trying to hang on for one more big pay day. This off season has been the year of the one-year contracts. That is pretty much all anyone is getting. Damon should lead-off for the Tigers and will bring them some great veteran leadership in 2010. I am sorry I will not get to see him in spring training as he will be working out in Tigertown (Lakeland), Florida, which is a long ways away from my spring home of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Russell Branyan of the Seattle Mariners gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California on Saturday, April 11, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Cleveland Indians have agreed to sign free-agent lefty slugger Russell Branyan to a one year contract worth $2 million according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney. The 34-year-old Branyan had a very odd breakthrough season with the Mariners last year belting 31 homers and slugging .520. The Mariners offered to bring Branyan back for 2010 but he and his agent thought his big year would bring in a gigantic contract in the $20 – $30 million range. WRONG!

Russell Branyan #30 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Oakland Athletics during the game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Branyan’s 2009 numbers look super fishy when you compare them to his career numbers, which spell out J-O-U-R-N-E-Y-M-A-N. Before last year’s aberration in Seattle Branyan’s best year was 2002 when he hit a combined 24 homers with 56 RBIs with the Indians and Reds. He spent the rest of the decade bouncing around from Milwaukee to Tampa Bay to San Diego to Philadelphia to St. Louis and back to Milwaukee before he landed in Seattle last year as a free agent with no expectations.

Russell Branyan of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on July 20, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Branyan will report to Indians spring training in Goodyear, AZ in a few days and will have much to prove in camp to people that last year was not an HGH-fueled fluke. I can’t be the only person suspicious of his numbers last year. Baseball is a funny game, but not many mediocre ballplayers have break out seasons at age 33 while hitting in a park like Safeco Field where long fly balls go to die. I am sure I will be shooting Branyan in a few weeks when the Cactus League season opens down in Arizona. I am just glad the Giants didn’t fall for his smoke and mirrors season last year.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves in action during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1999. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Tom Glavine, one of the steadiest and craftiest lefties of my generation, announced his retirement on Thursday. Glavine always reminded me of Warren Spahn when he pitched with his style on the mound, and he will be joining the Boston and Milwaukee Braves great in Cooperstown in four years after he put together a stunning career that will become even more impressive as the years go by.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves in action during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1995. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Glavine finished his career with a career record of 305-203 with a 3.54 ERA from 1987 through 2008. He spent 17 seasons with the Braves and 5 years with the Mets (where he won his 300th game). Glavine was a 10-time All-Star, won the NL Cy Young Award with Atlanta in 1991 and 1998 and helped the Braves win the 1995 World Series.

Atlants Braves pitcher Tom Glavine plays golf in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am in January of 1993. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Glavine helped form one of the most dominant pitching staffs I have ever covered with the Braves in the mid-1990’s when he joined John Smoltz, Steve Avery and Greg Maddux. I remember when the Braves were awful in the late 1980’s and they had the three young starters (Glavine, Smoltz and Avery) in their rotation. They kept throwing them out there every fifth day, allowing them to take their lumps and learn the art of pitching. It really paid off a few years alter when they started their run of winning 14 consecutive division titles (WOW!). It all started with their great young pitching staff- led by Glavine.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California in 1997. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

By the time Maddux joined Glavine, Smoltz and Avery in 1993 in was not even fair. These guys were the consummate professionals, always trying to out duel each other on the mound and on the golf course (see above). Every time Glavine was pitching on television you just had to watch and marvel at his pin-point control that allowed him to get the outside strike called against right-handed batters when he was in his prime. Good thing for Glavine that Major League Baseball did not bring in the robotic QuesTec system for monitoring ball and strikes calls until the end of his career. Once they brought in this system in 2001 Glavine did not get the outside strike, and his effectiveness declined and he had to learn how to pitch differently.

Tom Glavine of the New York Mets pitches during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on May 8, 2007. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The 43-year-old Glavine will now join the Braves front office staff as special assistant to Braves president John Schuerholz. Because he hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2008, Glavine will appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in the same year that former teammate Greg Maddux becomes eligible. That will also be the same year Frank Thomas is eligible. 2013 should be an amazing class of newcomers to Cooperstown!

Adam Kennedy #29 of the Oakland Athletics waits for his next at bat against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on July 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Washington Nationals signed free agent infielder Adam Kennedy to a one-year contract worth $1.25 million on Friday. The 34-year-old Kennedy hit .289 with 11 homers and 63 RBIs in 586 plate appearances with the A’s last year and was one of the few offensive bright spots in the A’s mediocre and boring lineup. Many fans were hoping the A’s would bring Kennedy back in 2010, but after this signing it means he will be donning the red and white of the worst team in the National League- but hey- it’s a paycheck!

Adam Kennedy #29 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Texas Rangers during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 24, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I will always remember Kennedy for the three homers he hit against the Twins in the 2002 ALCS when he helped anchor the Halos world championship infield. The other thing I think of when I hear Kennedy’s name is his ugly swing and how difficult it is to photograph (see above). Kennedy keeps his head pointed straight down when he makes contact, making it really hard to get a good frame of him hitting the ball. Whenever I shoot Kennedy in the good light from third base the best chance I have of getting a nice frame of him hitting is when he goes the other way and laces the ball into left field, causing him to look up (so I can see his face) to see where the ball went (see below).

Adam Kennedy #29 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Texas Rangers during the game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 24, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The career .277 hitter will add some veteran stability to the Nationals infield- but man are they BAD! That is one team that I don’t mind missing in spring training as they will open camp next week in Florida, which is a long way from my post in Arizona where I will be covering Cactus League action in a few weeks.

Frank Thomas of the Oakland Athletics sits in the dugout during a game against the Cleveland Indians at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on May 4, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Chicago White Sox great Frank Thomas announced his retirement Friday following a 19-season career in which he hit 521 homers and won two American League MVP awards during a news conference at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. Thomas did not play last season so this announcement did not come as a surprise.

Bobby Kielty and Frank Thomas of the Oakland A's celebrate after defeating the Minnesota Twins in Game 3 of the ALDS at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on October 6, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Thomas will always remembered for his great career with the White Sox, but I enjoyed photographing him in 2006 when he had a real nice season with the A’s here in Oakland. Thomas hit .270 with 39 homers and 114 RBIs during the A’s division-winning season in 2006. Frank’s great year put him in 4th place in the American League MVP balloting and made him a fan-favorite in Oakland. It was fun to see such a great player like Thomas still be able to play. Unfortunately he was a different player when he came back to Oakland in 2008 to finish his career. By then it was pretty much over when Thomas took his final big league at bats wearing the green and gold.

Frank Thomas of the Oakland A's bats against the Detroit Tigers during Game 2 of the ALCS at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA on October 11, 2006. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Thomas broke into the majors with the White Sox in 1990 and finishes his Hall of Fame career with 521 home runs and earned over $104 million in his career. He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer four years from now and undoubtedly earn Sox team photographer Ron Vesely his first trip to Cooperstown to document the historical weekend.

Frank Thomas Retires – Images by Brad Mangin

Ryan Garko of the Cleveland Indians gets ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on May 12, 2007. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Seattle Mariners reached a one-year agreement with journeyman first baseman Ryan Garko today for $550,000. The 29-year-old Stanford alum spent several productive years in Cleveland before being traded to the Giants on July 27, 2009. His stay in San Francisco could not have bee any worse as he got off to a horrible start and quickly took up residence in skipper Bruce Bochy’s dog house. Garko hit .235 with the Giants and hit two homers in 115 at-bats.

Ryan Garko #23 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Chicago Cubs during the game at AT&T Park on September 26, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Mariners are hoping that Garko can be a potent right-handed bat for them playing first base or DH’ing against lefties (Ken Griffey Jr. will get most of the DH AB’s against righties). For Garko’s sake I hope he can bounce back to the hitter he was in 2008 when he hit .273 and knocked in 90 runs. Garko was abysmal last season as a Giant. In my book he became the right-handed equivalent of John Vander Wal. Many Giants fans will remember when the Giants acquired the lefty pinch-hitting specialist from the Pirates for the stretch run in 2001 (along with Jason Schmidt). Vander Wal SUCKED. KNBR radio talk-show host Brian Murphy rooted so hard for Vander Wal that he sung a song about him every time he came to the plate. It did not help.

I will be looking for Garko when I visit the Mariners in Peoria next month. I hope he plays better in the blue and white than he did in the orange in black. Garko was never a Giant.

Melvin Mora #6 of the Baltimore Orioles fields a ground ball at third base during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 6, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Colorado Rockies signed the versatile Melvin Mora to a one-year contract on Sunday worth $1.3 million according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The 38-year-old Mora hit .260 with 8 homers for the Orioles last year, playing all of his games at third base.

Melvin Mora of the Baltimore Orioles smiles in the on-deck circle during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA on August 26, 2004. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

By signing the the two-time all-star the Rockies will have the right-handed-hitting utility player they’ve been seeking this winter. Mora can play all over the infield and outfield, giving the Rockies tons of versatility coming off their bench.

Melvin Mora #6 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 6, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Mora is a career .278 who has been fun for me to photograph every year with the Orioles when they made their annual visits to Oakland to play the A’s. He has always been a good ballplayer who wasn’t afraid to flash his great smile before or during a game.

Robert Andino #12 (left), Melvin Mora #6 and Felix Pie #18 of the Baltimore Orioles get ready in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on June 6, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Mora will be another new guy in a new uniform for me to photograph this March when I head down to Arizona to photograph spring training. I just hope I don’t have to make the trek down I-10 to Tucson to see him play. Hopefully he will take the bus north to the valley so I can shoot him in my local area.

Orlando Cabrera of the Oakland Athletics takes batting practice before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California on Saturday, April 25, 2009. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Cincinnati Reds signed shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a one-year deal worth $4 million on Saturday. The 35-year-old Cabrera hit .284 with the A’s and Twins last year and has proven to be a consistent hitter over his career.

Orlando Cabrera #18 of the Oakland Athletics turns a double play at second base against the Arizona Diamondbacks as Diamondbacks base runner Ryan Roberts #14 is forced out at second base during the game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 24, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Cabrera joins a long list of players who have signed one-year deals this Winter as this is becoming a growing trend in today’s baseball economy. Gone are the days when journeyman ballplayers would get multi-year deals. The days of players like Aaron Rowand getting five-year deals are long gone. The money will still be there for the elite ballplayers, but everyone else is scratching and clawing for one year contracts, with some guys looking at early retirement if they can’t find a job in the next few weeks.

Orlando Cabrera of the Boston Red Sox bats during Game 2 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park in Boston, MA on October 24, 2004. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I have always enjoyed photographing Cabrera, both at the plate and on the field as his flashy play always makes for nice pictures. He has a real nice long finish in his swing and looks great from third base (see above) and turns some nifty double plays at second base. I enjoyed shooting him in Oakland last season for the few months that he wore the green and gold.

Orlando Cabrera of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim makes a play at shortstop during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA on April 16, 2005. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I am looking forward to shooting Cabrera next month as the Reds play their first Cactus League season in Goodyear, AZ. I know Reds skipper Dusty Baker is looking forward to returning to Arizona for spring training. I hope Cabrera ends up being a good fit for Dusty’s club. Dusty can use all the help he can get.

Eric Byrnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on April 15, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Seattle Mariners signed outfielder Eric Byrnes to a one-year deal this afternoon as they look to add some veteran outfield depth to their roster. The Diamondbacks released Byrnes a few weeks ago and are still on the hook for the $11 million that is owed to Byrnes in 2010, less whatever the Mariners are paying him (probably the league minimum of $400,000).

Eric Byrnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks spits seeds before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on April 21, 2007. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The 33-year-old Byrnes had a monster season for the D’Backs in 2007 when he hit .286 with 21 homers and 83 RBIs when he helped lead his club to the NLCS against the Rockies. Byrnes also swiped 50 bags that year and was rewarded with a three-year, $30 million extension he signed prior to the 2008 season. That is when it all went bad as injuries hampered “Crash Test Dummy” limiting him to just over 200 at bats in both 2008 and 2009. It was apparent at the end of last season that his days in Arizona were numbered.

Eric Byrnes of the Oakland Athletics bats during a game at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California in 2000. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I first photographed Byrnes when he was a September call-up with the A’s in September of 2000 (see above) as they were making a run for the playoffs. I can’t believe that was 10 years ago! He didn’t have his long hair yet back then and just kinda hung around playing mostly in the minor leagues before coming up again in 2001 when he first really burst on the scene as the kind of free spirit and all-out base runner photographers like me would come to love shooting.

TEARSHEET FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Oakland Athletics base runner Eric Byrnes gets tagged out at home plate by Texas Rangers catcher Bill Haselman at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA on July 21, 2002. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Throughout his career Byrnes has been one of my favorite ballplayers to photograph, beginning when he knocked over Rangers catcher Bill Haselman in 2001 (see above) while I was on assignment for Sports Illustrated and the picture when two pages in the magazine that week.

Eric Byrnes of the Oakland Athletics dives for a ball during a game at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA on April 5, 2003. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Byrnes first started getting some decent playing time for the A’s in 2003, and it was then when I started to notice his amazing ability to launch his body high into the air in an effort to chase down fly balls in the outfield- even if he had no chance of making a play (see above). This is great for photographers like me!

Chicago White Sox third baseman Chris Widger can't handle a throw as Oakland A's base runner Eric Byrnes slides in safely during a game at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland on April 27, 2005. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Byrnes put together his best year for the A’s in 2004 when he hit .283 with 20 homers and 73 RBIs. Unfortunately Byrnes fell out of favor with the club in 2005 and he was sent packing to the Rockies in July of that year. He was then sent to Baltimore a few weeks later and was then granted free agency after the year. This is when he landed in Arizona and began to put together the stats that would set up both his family and him forever financially.

Eric Byrnes of the Oakland Athletics takes batting practice during spring training at the A's camp at Papago Park. Phoenix, AZ on February 24, 2005. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Besides being a great athlete to photograph Byrnes is a really nice guy. He even came to A’s team photographer Michael Zagaris’s 60th birthday in San Francisco in 2005! I am glad he is staying on the west coast. This means I will get to see him many times when the Mariners come to town to play the A’s. I will also get to shoot him this spring in Peoria, Arizona when I make the drive on the 101 Loop from Scottsdale to shoot the Mariners. I hope he has a good spring and gets some playing time in Seattle. The only thing that would have been better is if he would have signed with the Giants, but I think they are done making moves this winter.

Jim Edmonds of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a home run during the NLCS playoffs against the San Francisco Giants at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California in 2002. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed free agent outfielder Jim Edmonds to a minor league contract for 2010 according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Brewers GM Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal that Edmonds will come to Spring Training with a chance to make the club as an extra outfielder. The deal will pay Edmonds less than $1 million if he makes the team.

Jim Edmonds of the Vancouver Canadians warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Stars at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Edmonds did not play at all in 2009 and split time between the Padres and Cubs in 2008. He got off to a horrible start with the Padres and they released him on May 9, 2008. He was signed by the Cubs on May 14, 2008 and had a nice little run in Chicago (see below) hitting 19 homers and driving in 49 runs in only 250 at bats.

Jim Edmonds of the Chicago Cubs bats during the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on July 3, 2008. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

I first photographed Edmonds in 1993 when he was playing for the Vancouver Canadians, the Angels AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League (see above). They were playing the Las Vegas Stars at Cashman Field in Las Vegas and Upper DEck sent me there to shoot some top prospects. I don’t remember much about the trip, other than it was REALLY HOT! Edmonds later put together some real nice runs in Anaheim and St. Louis where he displayed an amazing glove in center field where he earned 8 Gold Glove Awards throughout his career in both leagues.

Jim Edmonds of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on September 12, 2004. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

Edmonds is a four-time All-Star is a career .284 hitter with 382 homers in his 16 big league seasons. He is one of the most stylish ballplayers I have ever photographed. He was so cool the way he would pose in the left-handed batters box after he homered (see above). I loved how he would lift his right leg high in the air as he rocked back on his back leg when he watched the ball sail out of the ballpark. Edmonds was always one of those guys who looked cool doing anything, even if he was just walking across the diamond. I hope I get a chance to shoot him in Maryvale in March as he tries to make the Brewers opening day roster. I will be rooting for Edmonds to make the club, just so I can shoot him a few more times.