text: why did red sox let johnny damon go?   red sox would like to give johnny damon a 4-year, 40 million contact.  yangkees gave him 4-year, 53 million contact.  it's 13 m difference, huge enough to made him leave and cut his hairs.  what would you choose between these two contacts if you were him?  red sox didn't let johnny go, and johhny just made the best choice for him and his family.