From Mark Feinsand:
Damon has been looking for a three-year deal in the $39 million range, and even though sources say that Scott Boras caved on the third year, the Yankees weren’t willing to give Damon the same $13 million salary he earned in each of the last four years.
I have a feeling that Damon and Boras are going to be doing a lot of “caving” in the next few weeks. I expect Johnny to end up somewhere near the deal Bobby Abreu got from the Angels, for 2 years and 19 million. At that price, I think it might be prudent for the Yankees to bring him back, but I am not sure if they would be willing now that Nick Johnson is in the fold. Damon could play LF this season and shift to DH next year. However, considering that Brian Cashman has recently fawned over the talent available on next year’s free agent market, he may just be content to bring in players like Johnson and Sheets on one year deals, and save the money for 2011.
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Cash just said on Mike Kay, Nick Johnson isn’t done, close but not done.Entire situation is “fluid” he said. I’m guessing Boar-ass is caving.
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I think they end up bringing him back for 2 years at around 20 million. Davidoff has the Yanks’ latest offer at 2 year for 14. Damon’s last offer was 2 years for 26. There is no other team that is going to match Damon’s demands, either because there are no spots, they don’t have the money, they’re an NL team (which isn’t ideal for Damon) and/or the home ballpark is way too spacious for Damon’s offensive and defensive skill sets.
Yankee Stadium is ideal for Damon’s offensive talents. Yes, LF is a little big for him defensively, but I think if he takes the 2 year deal, they play him in LF for about 120-130 games, DH him for 10 or so and give him some liberal rest or he’s on the DL with more leg injuries for the rest of the time. Then, in 2010, he slides to DH and they still have a spot for Crawford and they can also sign Lee.
A lineup of Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, A-Rod, Posada, Johnson, Granderson, Swisher, Cano would be insane. Obviously, that lineup could be rejiggered in a bunch of different ways, but it would be scary no matter what.
They could keep Melky and/or Gardner as a defensive caddy for Damon and their outfield defense would be pretty stellar in the later innings.
I think Damon is eventually going to realize that not only are the Yanks the only team really willing to approximate his demands, but they’re also the best fit.
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leftylarry Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
LOVE TO SAVE SOME MONEY FOR SHEETS TOO.
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JeffG Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I will be plain sad to see Johnny leave. I agree the a 98 like team would come out of Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, A-Rod, Posada, Johnson, Granderson, Swisher, Cano lineup and Sheets/Deuscherer. If they Yanks can afford it and they should be able to (what is the new stadium for?) I hope they bring Johnny back. 6 mil this year and 10 next? – That would be a fair compromise – no?
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Steve B. Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I agree…Damon and Boras overplayed their hand…they will not get any more than 2 years, $20 million…BUT, the Yankees need Damon in that #2 spot, because if they think Johnson can be that #2 guy, they’re wrong…he can hit .280 or .290, with a .400 OBP, BUT he cannot run. He will clog up the basepaths with Tex and A-Rod hitting behind him…Granderson is not a #2 guy either. He’s a home run hitter who will do better in lower third of the lineup….The Yanks and Damon, have to get together and get this done: TWO years, $18 million….and the lineup should look like this:
Jeter
Damon
Tex
A-Rod
Johnson
Granderson
Posada
Cano
Swisher
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The other Chris H Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
How is Nick Johnson effective behind Arod? He provides no power protection and strikesout a lot if he isn’t hitting in the 2 hole what good is his .400 OBP? He is only being signed so that he can be on base when Tex and Alex hit.
Johnson will hit 2nd and Damon will go somewhere else, it will be interesting to see if they go with Granderson or Posada in the 5th spot I would assume Posada but if Granderson shows them something maybe they like his power behind Tex and Alex.
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Ben Sheets and Damon would make the Yankees the ultimate winners for this offseason.
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The other Chris H Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
It would also cost about 16-20 million to do so which is a little to much when you consider we have already spent 23 million or so this offseason with Johnson and 40 million came off the books, can’t cut payroll if you add as much as you cut, once pay raises and what not sink in you end up over last years pay roll.
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Too late, Johnny …the train has left the station. Fire Mr. Boras and negotiate your own deal NOW. Damon will realize in Spring training that the Yankees were the best fit unless his family can’t live on less than $ 13 mill per year.He should ask someone like Ron Artest the benefits of ending a good career with championship rings.
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I think the Yanks would be making a mistake by closing the door on Damon if there is room for flexibility on Damon’s side (as there clearly appears to be with a drop from a three-year to two-year demand).
Nick Johnson and his 8″ thick medical folder shouldn’t preclude the Yanks from improving themselves just because some attractive free agents might be available next year. Damon and Swisher would both have only one year remaining on their deals next winter and could easily be moved if Cashman saw an outfielder he wanted to buy for 2011.
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Steve B. Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Carl Crawford is the guy Cashman will go ALL OUT to get in 2011…he would leadoff or bat 2nd behind Jeter
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Ron E. Reply:
December 19th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Agreed re: Crawford. He will be in pinstripes one year from now.
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There are far, FAR worse things then “just” bringing in Sheets/Johnson on 1 year deals, if you can. Both have the ability to become Type A free agents next year, so the possibility of gaining two first round picks and possibly losing their own pick after signing a Crawford/Mauer/Lee type only makes this all the more tempting. Sheets would be a major, MAJOR addition for the team, and their offense is still the best in the league.
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Wonder if Yankees would have been better off with Melky/Gardner in CF , the Triple A Cuban at DH and Holiday in LF protecting AROD and batting 5th.
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The other Chris H Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
The triple A Cuban? That’s a little racist no? He has a name and it’s Juan Miranda but I’m sure you already know that thus why it’s racist.
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Peter Lacock Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I didn’t find that racist. He is from Cuba, yes?
The problem with Holliday is the length of his contract would tie up a lot of payroll for too long and I’d rather keep the chance for Crawford alive.
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The other Chris H Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
If someone was talking about me and they knew my name but they kept calling me that white guy I would get pissed…. It’s obviously done for reason, you don’t just call someone by their race or creed for no reason when you know there name.
I really doubt any Cuban wants to be called by “Hey Cuban”… You are a human being regardless of color and to refuse to acknowledge someone by their names infers superiority.
Carl Crawford is going to want a 5 or 6 year deal for 13-15 million per year so I really don’t that much difference in that and a 5 or 6 year deal for 16 million per year.
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I don’t know, Nick Johnson is now the Yankees DH. This will eat a lot of DH time from Posada, Jeter, A-Rod and Tex unless if Johnson can play 1st base (which I think they will do).
If the Yankees get Damon, where will they put him. Please not in left field!
But I still like Damon’s bat and he is perfect for the Yankees stadium. The Yankees should consider signing Damon on their demands (maybe $ 8-9 million for 2 years).
Scot Boras where are you at?
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The other Chris H Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
The only place for him to play is LF, as you said Johnson is the DH and Tex is planted firmly at first so you can’t move Johnson there and Damon can’t play any position but LF.
If he wouldn’t take 14 million for 2 years why would he crawl back and take 9 million for 2 years? Mike Cameron got 7.7 million per year from the Red Sox and he is a slightly better player than Damon now because of his defense but I still can’t see Damon making less than 6 per season, Matsui got 6.5 so someone has to want Damon for 6.
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