New YorkBY Bill Madden
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Friday, December 18th 2009, 4:28 PM
Damon's Farewell
Are you happy that Nick Johnson is returning to the Yankees?
The Yankees finalized a one-year deal, $5.5 million deal with first baseman/DH Nick Johnson Friday, effectively ending Johnny Damon's tenure in pinstripes.
The deal will not be officially announced until sometime next week after Johnson completes a physical.
According to baseball sources, the 31-year old Johnson had more lucrative offers from a couple of other teams but wanted to return to the Yankees for whom he began his career in 2001.
He was one of many options GM Brian Cashman spelled out to the Yankee high command in organization meetings two weeks ago in the event Damon stuck to his demands of a three-year contract at the same $13 million he earned last year. In the end, Damon, according to sources, came down to two years, but still at $13 million per season and by then the Yankees were too far down the road with Johnson.
The signing of the lefty-hitting Johnson, who had a .426 on-base percentage to Damon's .365, solidifies the No. 2 hole in the Yankee lineup, albeit minus the speed Damon provided. It also ends the Yankees' interest in ex-Bergen Catholic product Mark DeRosa, another option Cashman had offered for consideration.
It would appear the Yankee payroll is going to come in at under $200 million for the first time since 2007, although Cashman said Friday he's still on the hunt for more pitching. As of now, the plan is for Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Alfredo Aceves and Sergio Mitre to compete for the fourth and fifth spots in the starting rotation, in which case there may well be a need for another righthanded set-up reliever.
"Right now, there's nothing on the front burner," Cashman said, "but if I can do something between now and Christmas I'm certainly going to try."
Even if they do sign Johnson Yankees still want to hold on to Damon, but will only give him 7M/yr. for 2 years. He wants 11M/yr. also 2 yrs
ReplyDeleteI'd taken Damon and Matsui over Granderson and N. Johnson any day of the week.
ReplyDeleteYanks ink Johnson, Damon return unlikely (AP): Nick Johnson is returning to the Yankees, a move that likely will end Johnny Damon's time...
ReplyDeleteI never said give Boras everything he wants. I just want them to negotiate. Try. I don't see Johnson replacing Damon. Humbug.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees getting Nick Johnson will pay off big time...great signing! Granderson/Johnson are better than Damon/matsui
ReplyDeleteNick Johnson is going to be in pinstripes once more. Meanwhile Damon/Boras & Yankees still seem pretty far apart.
ReplyDeleteYankees sign 1B Nick Johnson to a 1-year deal worth $5.5 mil. Could this be the end of Johnny Damon in the Bronx?!?
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