BOSTON -- Johnny Damon had his eye on the Red Sox after becoming a free agent. He sharpened his focus when Boston traded Carl Everett to Texas.

	Johnny Damon Center Field Boston Red Sox Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R OBP AVG 155 9 49 108 .324 .256

That left a gap in center field that Damon, wishing to be closer to his family in Florida, was eager to fill. So he left the Oakland Athletics and agreed Friday to a $31 million, four-year contract with Boston

"We were ready to come knocking," Damon said Friday.

Damon gives the traditionally lead-footed Red Sox a speedy leadoff hitter who has scored more than 100 runs each of the last four seasons. And he provides an attribute Everett lacked -- a calm personality that contributes to a harmonious team.

"They're bringing me over here to fit in and they know I'm going to," he said at a new conference.

But the signing of Damon, 28, could cost the Red Sox another newly acquired speedster, second baseman Pokey Reese, who already has been with three teams this week.

Reese was among six players on the 40-man roster who were not offered contracts by Thursday's deadline. Reese, traded Tuesday from Cincinnati to Colorado and dealt to Boston the following day, finds himself on the open market.

"Financially, we didn't have the capability to fit him in with our structure when we signed Johnny," said Dan Duquette, whose job is in jeopardy because of the proposed sale of the Red Sox to a group headed by Florida Marlins owner John Henry.

	How the Red Sox shape up
	Lineup CF Johnny Damon RF Trot Nixon SS Nomar Garciaparra LF Manny Ramirez 1B Tony Clark C Jason Varitek DH Brian Daubach 3B Shea Hillenbrand 2B Pokey Reese/Jose Offerman ?? Rotation Pedro Martinez John Burkett Dustin Hermanson Derek Lowe Frank Castillo / Darren Oliver Closer Ugueth Urbina

Duquette said the Red Sox still want to sign Reese, but conceded the infielder probably will talk to other clubs.

Others not offered contracts were infielder Chris Stynes, first baseman-outfielder Izzy Alcantara, pitchers Todd Erdos and Allen McDill and catcher Steve Lomasney, who signed a minor league deal with the team.

Damon's contract calls for salaries of $7 million next season, followed by increases to $7.5 million in 2003, $8 million in 2004 and $8.5 million in 2005.

If Reese signs, Boston could have a lineup featuring four consecutive batters with excellent running ability -- Reese, Damon, Trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra.

"It's an interesting team," Duquette said.

A team that continues to chase the New York Yankees in the AL East.

"We have a team that can win," said Damon, who spent six seasons with Kansas City before joining Oakland last year. "This is a team that can possibly throw off the Yankees, even this year after their big signings."

After losing the seventh game of the World Series to Arizona, the Yankees added first baseman Jason Giambi, third baseman Robin Ventura, outfielders Rondell White and John Vander Wal and reliever Steve Karsay.

Nixon, who played some center field last year, will return to right because he has a stronger arm than Damon, who fits better in center because of his greater range, Duquette said.

There is plenty of pressure playing in Boston, which has not won a World Series since 1918.

"When we do win a World Series here we're going to be put on that pedestal and be immortalized forever," Damon said.

His production declined last season, in part because the A's wanted their hitters to take two strikes. He hit a career-low .256 with nine homers, 49 RBI and 27 stolen bases but improved late in the season and hit .409 in the playoffs.

"I found out what I was doing wrong late in the season," Damon said. "I won't reveal that in case there are some Yankee scouts" listening.

In 958 games over his seven seasons, Damon has a .286 average with 74 homers, 401 RBI, 612 runs and 183 stolen bases.