Newsday reports that the Yankees have been in touch with Johnny Damon — the same Johnny Damon who didn’t leave New York on the greatest of terms — about a possible reunion. The Yankees’ plan, according to that report, would be to give Damon some at-bats as the designated hitter (Jorge Posada will get the bulk of those at-bats), as well as the occasional day in left field (to rest either Brett Gardner or, if Gardner were to play center, Curtis Granderson).
The Yankees’ bigger need is a right-handed bat, even though that market has thinned. But more important, it doesn’t seem to be a particularly good fit for Damon. From the Post:
“I am trying to figure out what role they want me for now that [Jorge] Posada is the DH,” Damon said. “It is a matter of at-bats. I want to find the team with the most at-bats.”
With the Yankees, he’d be a fourth outfielder, an insurance policy — a Marcus Thames, if you will. (Thames, by the way, is still available.) And the 37-year-old Damon told the Daily News that other teams have expressed interest in signing him as an everyday player. Add that all up, and it’s not hard to see why “a source close to the outfielder” told the News that it’s “unlikely” Damon would return to the Bronx.
Yankees, Damon discussing possible reunion [Newsday]
Yanks, Damon discuss Bronx return [NYP]
Johnny Damon, Yankees ‘unlikely’ to reunite in 2011 despite Newsday report of discussions: source [NYDN]