8/23 22:14: Damon said the possibility of playing again for the Red Sox intrigued him, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.

“Obviously they claimed me to go out there and play left field and lead off for them. They have a lot of big games with Tampa Bay coming up. They have six more games with New York coming up. That’s why they’re trying,” Damon told reporters. “What a scene that would be, playing for the Red Sox while the Yankees go there, and everybody there hates me. That’s the craziness that’s involved. I’m just going to try not to think about it tonight.”

8/23 19:48: “My teammates are making decision easier by saying they want me to stay,” Damon said, according to the Detroit News’ Tom Gage. “There’s a reason you put clauses in your contract – this one (Sox not on list of 8 to which he’d agree to be traded) is a huge one. If they want me to stay, teammates normally win. My heart tells me I’m a Tiger. That’s kind of where I’m leaning.”

8/23 19:37: Damon said postgame that he’s leaning towards staying with the Tigers, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck.

Damon said, “My gut and everything else tells me Detroit’s the place for me.”

8/23 14:20: MLB.com’s Jason Beck tweets, “Damon confirms #Tigers have told him #RedSox claimed him. He has about 48 hrs to decide whether to accept. Not sure what he’ll do yet.”

“It’s probably as tough of a decision for me to take right now as it was for me to leave Boston for New York,” Damon said Monday at Comerica Park. “It’s something that fortunately we have some time to think about it.”

“At this moment, I’m not sure I want to leave Detroit for that,” Damon adds. “I enjoy playing here. I enjoy the kids I’m playing for, the coaching staff. But obviously [Red Sox manager] Terry Francona is amazing. But it’s something that I’m going to have think long and hard over.”

“I had a great time playing there,” Damon said. “But I think once it was apparent that I wasn’t a necessity to re-sign there, it started to get ugly. And that’s why I’ve got to think long and hard. I have to think if they do have a strong chance to make the playoffs with the guys beat up there. I have to think long and hard if I’m going to once again be probably one of the nicest guys in baseball, but  be once again the most hated guy in baseball. That’s what it boils down. You guys see how I get booed in every ballpark already.”

8/23 13:21: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that Damon has eight teams that he can be assigned. The Red Sox are not one of them.

Ed Price of AOL FanHouse adds, “Damon can block and told me he’s not inclined to go back to Boston”

8/23 12:50: According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Boston Red Sox have claimed Damon. The teams can now attempt to work out a deal.

8/23 11:35: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweets, “i believe the #tigers would let damon go at this point if no trade can be worked out.”

8/23 11:04: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, Johnny Damon of the Detroit Tigers was claimed off trade waivers. However, Rosenthal does not know what team claimed the outfielder.

According to Major League Baseball’s waiver rules, the teams now have 48 hours from the time the claim was made to negotiate a trade. Otherwise, the Tigers can revoke Damon from waivers or give him away to the team for no compensation.

When asked last week about the possibility of being traded:

“I’m not too concerned about it,” Damon said (via Jason Beck of MLB.com). “I kind of knew it possibly would happen, but that doesn’t mean something will. I know Detroit likes me. I know they would probably like to keep me, but if this is a way they can possibly save a little bit of money this year and get a prospect, then that’s something they have to do.

Yesterday, Damon said that should he be traded this year, he would like to return to Detroit for next season.

“I could still come back here next season,” Damon said.

If traded, Damon said he would tell his representatives to call Tigers president Dave Dombrowski and owner Mike Ilitch about returning.

Damon signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Tigers before this season began. He’s currently hitting .271 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs.