After being informed by the Tigers that they will look elsewhere to find a designated hitter for 2011, Johnny Damon says that he is very open to another stint with the Yankees, according to George A. King of the New York Post.
"I would love to have that as an option," Damon said. "It would be very exciting to go back there."
According to Damon, Detroit told the 36-year-old slugger that they're in search of a "prototypical DH type like Adam Dunn". The veteran was vocal about enjoying his time with the Tigers and even turned down an opportunity to re-join the Red Sox prior to the waiver trade deadline this year.
Damon was unable to turn in a repeat of his 2009 performance for Detroit, hitting .271/.355/.401 with eight homers in 145 games.
Red Sox fans, flame away…. lol
sigh…
uh oh. Not this again!
I still would love to see him sign with the Yankees though.
I would be confused to see that happen. I thought the whole issue with the Yankees has been that they have too many DH’s in the field… I mean, between A-Rod, Swisher, Thames, and Posada they could practically draw straws to figure out who should be the DH in that bunch. Long term, my money would be on A-Rod to get lodged in that spot. He’s been subpar to bad at his position since about 2006. At some point you have to think he’ll end up off the field.
What are you talking about. If the field was full of DH’s the Yankees would have never had their top ranked defense this year. While Posada and Thames have been horrible(Thames didn’t even get that much time at OF) everyone else was great. Nick Swisher was very solid on defense this year, and have you even seen a yanks game? A-Rod shows he still has range, diving and running left and right.
Eh. No offense I loved his time in NY but I don’t really think he’s gonna bring much production. Posada or another FA signing is gonna be the Yanks primary DH, and if Montero is up, he’ll get some At bats there too.
I have to say, I was at the Twins Yankees game on Saturday, and it really summed up a thought that I’ve been thinking all season. Brett Gardner’s roll call is horrible thus Damon needs to go back to LF for the Yankees for Bald Vinny’s sake.
I don’t think Brian Cashman cares about what Vinny Milano thinks would be the better role call lol
Amazing that anyone knows who “Bald Vinny” is. I’m watching the Jets right now, and I guess Vinny is getting to be a Yankees version of that “Fireman Ed” character.
How these guys afford tickets to be at every game… I must be in the wrong line of work.
Jets are sick! L.T. is a great story, rejuvinated his career in NY
The Yankees don’t need another DH and Damon can’t play defense because of his noodle arm so he doesn’t fit very well.
No thank you
The Yankees don’t really have a need for him, isn’t Posada gonna be dhing more and more once Montero comes up? I wish the Braves had got Damon though, a 750 ops out of left field would’ve been way better than running Melky out there every single game. Of course he probably would’ve blown out both his knees if he signed with Atlanta
Yeah no need to bring back an aging player with degrading defensive skills to DH, the Yanks have a few players they need to rotate through the DH hole anyway.
He’ll be 38 next year, so I kind of doubt he’ll be throwing up the numbers he did in 2009.
We already have Montero our future DH(god I hate saying that, if only he played defense at a passable level)who’s going to get at bats at that role along with Jorge, or another FA signing
With 1 more yr in AAA to develop both defensively & his bat he’ll be ready for post season of 2011 & spring training in 2012.
Bring in Damon to share DH role with Posada. Damon’s speed coupled with Gardner, Granderson, & Jeter could give a very good balance to the long ball. After all Damon did have 36 doubles for the Tigers. Batting in the Yankees lineup should raise hi BA 20-30 pts.
I don’t get it. Why are people trying to delay Montero. His footwork is bad, but hejaz a cannon arm. And seeing Posada catch, how bad could he possibly be? We all hear about his bat. Montero needs to be up in 2011, no more, no less. Besides, Montero can catch half a game, getting signs from the pitching coach or manager, and put in Cervelli to close the game out.
Duh. SEE YA JOHNNY!!!!
Funniest part about this article… referring to Damon as a 36 year old “slugger”
If there has ever been a player that owners should have a collusion plan against, its Mr. Overpay and I will play.” Right now about 100 bucks would be too much. Of course he wants the Yankees back, why not, they pay the most. Send him to Pittsburgh.
THE missyae? do you have any spoilers on the world series?
Phillies of course, Yeah Steph and Yeah Heidi!!! Carrie Prejean is on 22.
36 year old…slugger?
Right. No thanks, Johnny. You missed your chance.
I for one like the idea as we should have re-signed him last winter instead of sining Johnson. Hpw long was he on the team before getting hurt like 3 weeks?
Damon still has very good speed and hit 26 doubles with Detroit. His SB production & BA dropped off but I would imagine in the Yankee lineup you can add 20 pts to his BA.
Great veteran player who knows how to win.
Keep Montero in AAA for one more yr to develop as a catcher & have Damon split DH duties w Damon.
Have Damon spilt Dh duty with Damon? i didnt know we had 2 damons on the team but if i was the yankees he would be like my 6th or 7th backup plan. Goes like this Dunn,Vladdy(if texas doesnt pick up the option which they will) Berkman,Thome,Ortiz,Manny (i dont know if i want him in new york). Those would be guys i would go at or Dh instead of Damon. I know Dunn stated he wants to play field but money changes things
Vlad’s option is mutual.
Dually noted thanks. But i still see both sides Excrising the options. Vladdy seems to love it in Texas with TX loving him back
I forgot to add my favorite Dh in there Godzilla. I would be a big supporter for him coming back because what he did for the team for all theyears he’s played with them ,i just hate that he cant play the field because he hits leftys better than rightys and he can still hit them so theres not platoon.What would you yankees fan think about Godzilla being back? then theres also this guy we hav Marcus Thames that can kill the ball and is cheap thats better than Damon
Not an option. Montero has nothing left to prove at Triple-A and keeping him there would only be a waste.
Well said. I’m anxious to see him play. His defense can’t possibly be worse than Cervelli’s, which contrary to popular belief is horrible. Having him play more than 2-3 months in AAA next year before calling him up would be an absolute sin and waste of a good young prospect. Trade Cervelli while his value is somewhat positive!
I’m not so sure it would be a waste as you say for Montero to start at AAA. This kid has yet to play one game in the majors, he’s only 21 yrs old and is not going to be handed the catcher’s or DH job right out the chute. I know the reports on him are good,but the Yanks don’t give out jobs to rookies very often. The last rookies to be handed a position outright were Jeter and Cano, and that was out of necessity. Presently Posada and Cervelli can handle the position, bad defense and all. No one really knows what this kid is going to be, especially behind the plate, so I would bring him along slowly. Let him learn to call a game qnd just play behind the plate. I suspect that if the organization thought he were ready, they would have brought him along to sit on the bench during the playoffs as they did with Jeter years back, so’s to get a feel for the majors. the fact that they did not, tells me that’s they feel he’s not ready yet.
Didn’t mean to like that.
And seeing Posada and Cervelli catch, how bad could he possibly be? Footwork seems to be the only issue… And he has a cannon arm which is something the Yankees TERRIBLY need. I’m tired of giving up unneccesary bases to other teams that can run all over us like the Rays. And his bat has nothing left to prove at Triple-A, just like Braves said future 1B Freeman
Freudian slip, I know. Not to dispute what you say,but he’s 21 yrs old and has not played in the bigs yet. I mean he has yet to call a big league game or face Price, Halladay, Henandez et al and you’re making the assumption that he’s ready to take over. I really hope he becomes everything that’s predicted, but until he gets a bit more seasoning in the minors, I’m not convinced he’s ready.
On another note, the running problem has to do with the pitchers not holding runners close. The catching defense is bad, but the arms of Posada or Cervelli is not the problem, they can’t throw out anyone that has a 20ft jump as seems to be the case.
YANKS DH 2011. 1. MANNY RIMIEREZ 2. VLADDY GUERRERO . 3. If the Yanks don’t want to spend the money on them then go with Montero, Posoda, A-Rod and company.
Yanks have a potential future Manny Ramirez in Jesus Montero
If the Yanks refused to pick them up when they were in their prime, why would they even consider them now?
Gardner and Granderson in the 1-2 spot with Jeter in the #9 spot.
Damon back in NY? If he doesn’t mind being a bench role-player and sign a reasonable contract, I don’t see why not. But as a full-time player? I’m not sure.
HAHAH in other words he wants to go back to home park where he can hit close to 30 hrs because of the park and the team that would be around him
Yeah I would pass on Damon. He could still be a “decent” hitter in Yankee Stadium but he’s 1 year closer to be towards his end, his power numbers probably wouldn’t exceed 10-15 hrs aided by the stadium and his speed isn’t really there. At his best he’s a solid OBP guy who will take pitches. We have that guy already in Gardner, who even still, isn’t getting enough respect. I acknowledge the poor 2nd half he had but I still think he deserves to be the leadoff hitter in 2010. He led a very patient NYY team in OBP, 1st in stolen bases and 3rd in NP seen despite having less than 160 PA than the #1 and #2 guys in NP taken (Tex and Jeter). He has an excellent stolen base % at 84%, and if anything, needs to be more agressive in the # of attempts. He absolutely belong at the #1 spot.
I think the Yanks should look to start Montero off in AAA next year and if he starts of hot then gring him up with his confidence at a high level. He and Posada can alternate back and forth @ C w/ Cervelli as the back up. In the meantime, if they want to bring in a DH I see nothing wrong with bringing back Thames, Kearns or go big and maybe bring in another right handed bat like Man-NY to hit behind Cano.
I don’t get it. Why would you have Montero start a Triple-A just for confidence? That’s pointless. He’ll get his rookie struggles out no doubt(what’s even more painfully is gonna be hearing Bandwagon fans saying “trade this loser!”)but there’s just no reason to put him at Triple-A. Sure his defense is bad, but he has a good arm. Footwork and blocking pitches seem to be the only problems.
Forget Damon. If your ganna sign a Lefty to DH sign freakin Jim Thome.
Damon is Boras’ boy. Shows that Boras isn’t so smart after all. 2 years for $14 Million is better than 1 year @$8 Million. That’s what Damon passed up last year because of Boras’ greed and his stubborness.Damon’s departure from NY actually diminished The Yankees lineup this past year, only Cashman’s quick move to bring in Thames along with Johnson averted a big loss at DH. Damon was the lynchpin in the Yankees lineup that kept the lineup moving when he played there.He worked the count, saw pitches and tailored his swing to Yankees stadium and was a real asset to the team. For NY it was a small loss and for Damon it was a huge blunder when he didn’t accept the 2 yr deal.
I loved Johnny Damons 110% effort and clutch hitting but theirs just no need for him with older players that will be using the DH spot. The Yanks need to worry about Cliff Lee first before anything else.
No Damon please. He’s at the end of his hope. A Marcus Thames/Jorge Posada catching-DH platoon worked nicely this year. I wouldn’t mind seeing the same next year plus Jesus Montero. Of course I don’t mind the Yanks bringing in a brand name like Adam Dunn or Vladdy Guerrero.
Vladdy is staying in Texas for another year, and it looks like Detroit is the frontrunner for Dunn. I’d get Jim Thome, that’s like 200+ team HR for the third straight year, and 220+ for the second time in the last 2 years.
I agree on most of what’s been said above. Damon is just not worth pursuing unless it is for a very low salary. Even then I would be hesitant to even offer a roster spot to him. The Yankees will have far better options elsewhere and I think Damon was foolish not to stay in New York in the first place. Sorry Johnny.
I LOVE DAMON, HE IS GREAT AND IM PREATY SURE HE CAN PRODUCE GOOD NUMBERS HERE IN NEW YORK AGAIN BUT I BELIVE WE NEED TO GET YOUNGER SO I THINK WE SHOULD PASS ON DAMON UNLESS IS A BENCH/ROLE PLAYER.
JETER SHOULD BE MOVED BACK TO THE 2 HOLE IN THE LINEUP AND GARDNER SHOULD LEAD OFF.
MANNY OR VLADDY IN NY IS A NO NO.
MONTERO SHOULD BE THE CATCHER NEXT YEAR W/ CERVELLI AS BACK UP AND POSADA DH.
YANKEES SHOULD SIGN THESE FA:
1.CLIFF LEE
2.PETTITE
3 KERRY WOOD OR K-ROD(IF THE METS RELEASE HIM OR VOID HIS CONTRACT)
4.MARCUS THAMES
IF GIRARDI LEAVES TO THE CUBS GET:
1.JOE TORRE
2.TONY PENA
3. BRING BACK LOU PINELLA
Yanks are not going to sign KO-Rod, Pinella and Torre are retired, Pettite is a good bet to retire especially if the yanks win it all this postseason.
Just… shut up. Please.
wow guys you think your part of the team stop saying we cuz your not part of the front office your not part of the team either your just boring fans.you will never get credit for anything nyy does by watching.your not a nyy get over it.as for the topic i see damon as a DH for a team in the al west the a’s could be a fit or the mariners would be smart trying to get him.ihope the tigers make a big signing crawford dunn pena ect for there dh/lf role dont waste money on damon.gardner is more than a solid guy not an allstar but still someone with value.but you all need to realize its the nyy need to do this not WE cuz you sound like you have nothign better to do in your life
Their addresing to their favorite teams. It’s a habit, and besides who really cares, if you do, go sulk and cry about it in your corner. No need to get your panties in a bunch.
500k, buyout of contract for 10k for any reason, no guarantee of playing time, and a clause that states that when he gets injured the yanks can release him at no cost. Counter offer boras?
Hell no Damon, you had your chance to resign and you blew it
WE should not sign Damon. WE should let Montero Earn teh Catcher Job, and ease him in, one pitcher at a time; While posada is fresh at the beginning of the season, he’ll catch 4/5 pitchers while Montero DHs, learns, talks it up with the guys he isn’t scheduled to catch and Catches Hughes. Then he catches Hughes and Burnett come June1. Notice i still have Posada catching Lefties (CC, possibly Andy and possibly an ace FA lefty). Montero catches Nova too because they had good numbers in AAA as battery mates
just out of curiosity, where do you have Cervelli during this scenario?
Ccervelli is jettisoned from the Big League team and is forced to go and work down with Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez, Tyler Austin, and J.R. Murphy.
3rd catcher
If Girardi leaves make Jeter the player manager. Give him 20mill to play and 3mill to manage.
If Girardi leaves pray he takes Burnett with him!!
So give Jeter the job as manager, even though he has ZERO experience in that capacity? And what happens when he still want to play SS but quietly most feel that he may not be best suited at SS any more? Yeah, I can’t see any problem with that. Keep in mind that most player/managers are not full-time players but usually guys on the downside who are more than happy to have a part time role. I can’t see that happening. Yanks need someone at the managerial spot that they can relate to in a owner/manager capacity and I doubt the Yanks want to put themselves in that situation, especially if the Yanks ever struggle. Always will be easier to fire a regular manager rather than a guy like Jeter.
As far as I can tell, Pete Rose is the only player-manager in the last 40 years. It doesn’t really work, there’s too much the manager has to wrap his head around. The days of Lou Boudreau and Leo Durocher making a success of it are over.
Is it only me or has Posada overstayed his welcome as a catcher. He’s honestly really bad.