Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Johnny Damon is asking for a higher salary than anyone, including the Yankees, seems to think he’s worth at this point in his career. At least according to Jayson Stark, who reports that Damon (and Vladimir Guerrero as well, if you’re interested in him) hasn’t landed a new job even as we’re inside of three weeks until the opening of camp in part because he wants to make $5 million in 2012. Heh, you always were a funny guy Johnny.
I guess I can’t blame him, though. Damon is represented by Scott Boras, who has an amazing ability to get teams to pay his price for his clients with a seeming lack of regard for the market at large. Heck, the last time Damon went through this dance after the 2009 season, Boras got two guaranteed years out of the Tigers after it looked like he’d badly miscalculated the Yankees’ desire to keep Damon in the Bronx. And Vlad did get the Orioles to pony up even more than that last winter, even though they were apparently the only team even interested in making him an offer. So stranger things have happened.
Still, at this point Damon clearly isn’t much more than a DH, and there doesn’t seem to be much demand for that type of player this winter. My strong suspicion is that Damon is the guy Brian Cashman really wants to fill the Yankees need for a left handed hitting DH, and there doesn’t seem to be a better fit out there for Johnny. The question is going to be whether Damon will accept a deal on the Yankees’ terms, or if Boras will find another sucker out there to bring in one of his guys at his price. If I had to bet on it, I’d guess that Damon ultimately signs with the Yankees for about $2 million plus incentives.
The Yankees could do worse. I suspect you are right.
Damon only got one year from the Tigers. He then signed another one-year deal with Tampa last offseason.
Hmmm, I agree that to me, for Damon, $5mm is a lot of money. But considering he may have the 2 years left (at 140 hits per year) to reach 3,000 hits… could you consider this more like a 1 year deal with a vesting option for a 2nd year in an effort to put more butts in the seat for a legitimate chase for 3,000 hits? I don't know, would that actually be worth it for a more-depressed fanbase club?
The Yankees would not be able to offer Damon the at bats he needs to reach 3000 hits as Andrew Jones would take up some as well as aging veterans. Bad match from that perspective.
He is the best fit, but not at that price. $2-3 million base plus incentives would be appropriate. And maybe a one year deal with a mutual option for 2013.
$2-3 million for a DH with no power and an OBP last season of .326? They should bring in Vlad instead. He at least still has the possibility of putting up all-star numbers.
I bet in yankee stadium damon still could hit 15 hrs in 300 abs, provide an occasional game at first, right, and left, and be a decent option off the bench when he doesnt start
Damon hit more Homeruns and had a higher OBP than Vlad (.317 last year). Damon to me is a better fit. 2 mill if he wants on the team, take it or leave it.
Damon did have more HRs last season, but he is on a steady decline and doesn't put the fear into any opposing team. Vlad, on the other hand, finished eleventh in MVP voting 2 years ago, and still keeps opponents on edge b/c he is still dangerous. I understand why a lot of people would prefer Damon, but I think Vlad is still very capable of a .300/30/100 line, and Damon can't come close to those numbers.
Damon with Jones/Arod/Jeter, would probably produce at the minimum a .260/30/100 line over the whole season. Aside from counting Arod's and Jeter's absurd contracts for those days they DH, which they'll do more than any of the other regulars, that's a value of less than $10 million. That's pretty damn good and if the Yanks can get that, I'd sign Damon, I'd get his bump up to $3 mil. The problem with that is it kills any funds whatsoever for Chavez, which is dicey considering you won't want Nunez and Pena/Baird playing at the same time if Jeter and Arod, go down at the same time, not so far-fetched at their age.
I wouldn't let a utility infielder stop me from signing the other DH I wanted. Especially not Chavez, considering that he's not exactly the ironman by any means.