Via Buster Olney (ESPN), we learn that in “the early conversations between the Yankees and Johnny Damon’s side, there appears to be a very wide gulf between what the team is willing to pay and what Damon expects to get paid in this winter’s market.” In fact, Jon Heyman (SI) tweets that the Yankees and Damon are $34M apart, as the Yankees are only offering $18 over two years while Damon wants $52M over four ($13M per). Clearly, the two parties view the market from differing perspectives (the Yankees’ view is more realistic). Perhaps the Yankees would be best served waiting until January to get a deal done. Then again, they may not be able to prolong the patient approach for such an extended period, as there are other priorities on Brian Cashman’s ledger.
One of those priorities is finding a DH. According to Mark Feinsand of the Daily News, “if Damon is unwilling to take a two-year contract in the next two weeks or so, a source said the Yankees would likely turn their attention to Hideki Matsui, who is willing to accept a one-year deal to return to the Bronx.” If you’re the Yankees and you can have Matsui back for one-year, whether or not Damon wants to come back, you do that deal.
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10 Responses to Damon wants $52M over 4 years
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With his legs and age, I wouldn’t give Damon more than a 1, maybe 2 year contract if I can get Matsui for one year and less money.
We already regret giving Posada huge money on a 4 year contract off a good pre-contract season and Johnny has already dogged it once with the YAnkees and admitted he almost quit.
Matsui will probably be healthier this season, a full year removed from knee surgeries and he finished with a bang and we can expect another 25-30 HR season with the usual clutch hitting.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a better year than last year as he was struggling early on with the knees.
Granderson can bat 2nd against righties at least, maybe against all pitching with a different approach and we could muddle by with Swisher or even Cano batting 2nd also while saving money and possibly using it ot acquire more pitching.
I don’t have any problem with a 2-year deal for Damon. He was really productive last season, despite the poor defense. And Matsui on a 1-year deal? Sweet.
The really interesting part of this article to me is that the Yankees want sign either Damon OR Matsui, meaning that Damon is considered a part or full time DH. They seem very intent to go with Melky Cabrera in left field. That is, unless they have something more exotic planned.
More exotic?
How about Gardner in CF and Granderson in LF and Melky goes in a trade while he has some trade value for a big itme pitcher we aren’t thinking about but might be available as a rent-a player at the very least.
Granderson is going to play CF! You wouldn’t trade for the guy getting rid of your CF of the future just to move him to LF and have Gardner start in CF.
On top of that I would much rather have Melky’s arm and bat in LF and Granderson in CF over having Gardner’s speed in CF and Granderson in LF.
Brett last year Vs RHP .264/.335/.373/.708
Brett career Vs LHP .241/.310/.316/.626
I really think people overvalue Brett because of his speed but when you take into consideration his bat isn’t good enough for him to stick into the lineup everyday he becomes nothing more than a 4th outfielder and pinch runner. When you look at last year he struggled against right handed pitching as a lefty and if you look at his career numbers against lefties he struggles against them too, his value lies in him being a .270+ hitter if those numbers ring out he is a .250 hitter and not worthy to stay in the lineup over a guy with a much stronger arm the league knows about and 13-18 HRs.
The way I look at it is Melky is going to have a big role on this team starting one of the corners outfields either way this year!
Either A the team will sign Holliday and Swisher will be the DH and Melky will start in RF and they will use that to rotate the DH so that when Arod, Jeter, Tex or Posada need to DH MElky takes a seat and Swisher goes to RF.
or
Option B they will sign Matsui or Damon to DH and Melky will start in LF everyday.
I like option B because it also allows you to sign someone like Ben Sheets while signing Holliday would be the last move we could make of the offseason if you are talking about free agents.
Also if you want to trade one of the two right now I would trade Gardner… If you are talking about starting one it should be Melky but the better weapon off the bench is Gardner but if you could get a setup man like Thornton from the White Sox for someone who will never be anything more than a 4th outfielder and pinch runner on the Yankees then I think you have to do it. If you think Gardner will start then you probably shouldn’t but Melky nor Gardner is the long term solution at LF and Granderson is the long term solution at CF so that makes Gardner nothing more than a bench player.
Even though Damon may be a better fit. As a fan I have a lot more love for Matsui and he’s still got enough pop for Yankee Stadium. Plus he can hit lefties quite well and it’s only a short term contract. Another plus is there’s a certain piece of me that hates seeing a Red Sox player that hit a grand slam in game 7 of the ALCS against the Yanks play for the Yanks…..And speaking of that “F” Kevin Brown “F” Vazquez.
How is Damon a better fit? Whichever one signs with the team is at least the DH 70% of the time and if you look at the numbers Matsui was better in almost every power category last year and if you are judging DH Vs DH Matsui is the clear choice and fits much better.
Also Damon hit a career high in 24 HRs last year do you really think he will do that again? I don’t! If 24 is a career high for Damon what can you expect next year? 22, less than 20? If so that isn’t good enough to DH.
Matsui- .274/.367/.509/.876, 456 ABs, 125 H, 21 2B, 28 HRs, 64 BB, 75 Ks, 0 SB
Damon- .282/.365/.489/.854, 550 ABs, 155 H, 36 2B, 24 HRs, 71 BB, 98 K, 12 SB
Why would they even sign Damon to a 2 year deal? He is awful in LF and as a DH he doesn’t have the power to sustain himself to be an everyday DH so at what point is he appealing to sign?
I think this is all pandering to keep Damon’s ego in check but at the end of the day the Yankees plan on Matsui being the DH next year.
When I read the headline I LMFAO! I wouldn’t offer him anything but I don’t think Damon should get one cent more than what Abreu got from LAA last year.
I don’t think Yankees care about Damon’s ego.I think they view him as the best choice as a #2 hitter but if he won’t be reasonable, they may go to Melky in the OF and Matsui as DH.
“Damon wants $52M over 4 years”-an’ I wanna buy the MLB, ain’t happenin’!