Prior to the season, I had the following to say about the possibility of bringing back Johnny Damon in 2010:
This begs the question, of course, of whether the Yankees would resign Damon to a fresh contract should he have another year like 2008. If Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, and Manny Ramirez each have exorbitant demands, the Yankees may be inclined to bring back Xavier Nady or Damon on a two year deal. In the current market for outfielders, Damon would probably command 8-9 million annually, a sum definite to be lower than that of the other free agent left fielders. I would definitely consider bringing him back if he shows absolutely no decline from 2008 to 2009. His defense in LF is very strong, and I have a feeling that he will thrive as the #2 hitter. What would you do?
Damon is hitting .278/.363/.505, and the new Yankee Stadium seems tailor-made for his swing. However, his defense has taken an incredible turn for the worst, as our own Chris H. noted a few days ago:
In 2007, Johnny Damon’s UZR in left was 7.5. In 2008, his UZR was 6.7 and his range, which is one of three defensive components included in one’s UZR, was actually better than it was in 2007. However, this season the valuable defensive player that Damon was only a year ago has failed to materialize. Damon’s UZR is -9.4 and his range is non-existent. He has suddenly become a liability rather than an asset to the team. In fact, Damon’s UZR has him ranked as the worst defensive left fielder in all of baseball (with regular playing time).
Hmm. So Damon’s offense is worth keeping, but his defense makes him a liability. Luckily, there is a way to have him spend most of his time at the plate, while keeping him away from the outfield. WIth Hideki Matsui an impending free agent, the Yankees will have a hole at DH, and they should strongly consider Damon for that role. Matsui’s and Damon’s numbers thus far in 2009 are identical, and Damon has shown no signs of slowing down at the plate as he ages. The Yankees could attempt to fill the hole in LF by going outside of the organization, and would always have the safety net of Johnny Damon should the other options prove too costly. Damon would also be more versatile than Matsui has been, as he could be used in the outfield occasionally. He could play about 100 games at DH and 30 in the outfield, notching 450 AB’s while leaving 60 DH games for Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez. The more I think about this, the more I think it would be an excellent move. I would offer Johnny a 1 year deal at 10-12 million, and might be willing to give a second year at a lower salary.
Do you agree? Or would you go in a different direction?
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13 Responses to Damon 2010 = Matsui 2009
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TIQ IQ
Maybe Austin Jackson in LF next year……
As my Holliday post shows, I think the Yankees should go in a different direction for LF, but if you’re talking about bringing Damon back as a DH and on a 1-year deal, I would definitely consider it. This idea could continue for the Yankees—having aging yet capable position players on the last leg of their contracts signing 1-year deals after their contracts expire. It makes some sense for them, financially.
I don’t think you can bring Damon back as a pure DH because Posada is going to need a lot of DH time next year if you want his bat to stay strong and you are getting to a point where Arod and Jeter are going to need days at DH in order to stay playing strong as well. It’s the same reason bringing Matsui or Nady back doesn’t make sense now.
Offer arbitration. While he might make more than the 10-12 million, it won’t be that much.
So, offer the arbitration:
1) He takes it, and Yankees get him on a one year deal, a little overpaid, but not extraordinarily so.
2) He doesn’t, and Yanks get some nice draft picks.
3) He doesn’t, but then decides he wants to re-negotiate a two-year deal with a lower annual salary. With that, you either get him or draft picks.
Why would he not take it to stay in New York like he wants and to be overpaid? Don’t offer arbitration you say thank you for all the World Series you helped us not win and see ya! He is not the player he was and will only regress and his defense is scary to watch.
PASS! I would not mind a trade with the Rockies for Seth Smith. I still believe the Yankees have the trade chips to go after Joey Votto as well.
Scott you LOVE Votto. I too am a huge fan, but there’s no way the Reds deal him (and they have a lot of young pitching already, which they don’t necessarily need from the Yankees). I like Seth Smith, though. Good player that hasn’t gotten enough of a chance yet. You must play fantasy baseball because the FB community knows he has skills.
The reason I support going after Votto is because he can play LF. The Reds have needs and the Yankees can help fill those needs cheaply. Ramiro Pena would make a nice option for the Reds who don’t have a SS for next year. The Reds could also use a backup/starting catcher and we have Cervelli who is not needed in NY with MONTERO kicking down doors. We can give up Aceves who I believe can be a number 3 starter in the NL. Add in Austin Jackson, Juan Miranda until Alonso is ready along with Nova/McAllister and maybe David Robertson you might be able to make a deal. The Yankees can even take Taveras and his lousy 4 million dollar contact back as well.
Now with the Red Sox supposedly making a play for Adrian Gonzales of the Padres we might just find out what it would take to get Joey Votto.
I do really like Seth Smith as a player. He has not been given an everyday chance and hopefully if the Yankees target him, he blooms into solid pro.
Pass. We’re trying to get away from the aging DH types on this team. Players like him are why we have so much trouble with the younger, more athletic Angels/Rays type teams. Plus, we have an aging core that could use extra rest, and you can achieve that by rotating Alex, Jeter, Posada and other through the DH spot.
These DH rotations sound nice, but do not look so good once you have bench caliber players playing every day. Instead, why not bring in Damon to DH (where he can’t be hurt by the evil Angels and Rays) about 100 games and play just 30 in LF? That way you leave 60 games open for others to DH. Jorge can catch 95 games, DH 35, and sit 30. A-Rod can DH 15 times, and then Tex and Jeter can get 5 DH days each. I think it is a really good plan.
If you can get him ahead of time to agree to being a part time player, with a part time salary, maybe I can see bringing him back. Somehow I think he wants more.
Pass on Johnny, for many reasons. As for DH, I would put Posada there and keep him there for half the games, bring up Cervelli as the other catcher and let Molina go. Cervelli gives us much better defence and he can hit…not as well as Posada but, who dose?
Over simplified? Yes but, it would take more time to bring up all the good reasons, plus…all the bad reasons. One gets the bad with the good.
IT’S A TRAP!
Love the Damon, I do. But we need the DH open for Posada and to spell ARod and Jeter. The deterioration of his defense and road-offense are warning signs. How will he play in the Stadium next year after they change whatever they can to reduce the homeruns?
Decent outfielders are fairly easy to come by. I would rather avoid adding a full time DH at this point.