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Why Damon won't be dealt

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There is a lot of Johnny Damon-for-Joe Crede speculation. The Yanks, however, strongly indicated they feel Damon has greater value than Crede, who is coming off of back surgery that robbed most of his 2006 season and is a year from free agency with Scott Boras as his agent. With Alex Rodriguez gone, the Yanks envision having to, perhaps, manufacture runs more in 2008 and Damon is their most legitimate on-base/speed leadoff man. In addition, the Yanks felt Damon played much better as he got into better shape during last season. And they feel he will be in better condition to begin spring training in February than he was last year. Also, the Yanks think Damon became a well-above average defender in left and they may emphasize defense more in the post-Rodriguez world, as well.

New York Post

Johnny Damon, Al Bello/Getty Images Johnny Damon, Al Bello/Getty Images
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November 6, 2007  08:42 AM ET

I can see the AL East becoming the Boras All-stars (Boston) vs. the Non-Boras All-Stars (Yankees) eventually.

It might be interesting to see how Boston does once they've completely loaded up with the self indulgent Boras All-Stars.

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November 6, 2007  09:02 AM ET

Damon can still be a productive left fielder. I wouldn't trade Damon for Crede, based solely on Crede's injury status, which is a huge question mark.

November 6, 2007  09:49 AM ET

I would make that trade. Get Crede only as a stopgap option for now. The Yankees don't need another aging outfielder right now. They need a 3B. I don't trust Wilson Betemit as the everyday 3B. I would make that deal.

November 6, 2007  09:56 AM ET

Damon may be aging but he is a gamer and he hits against good pitching. I am glad they are saying they want to keep him.

November 6, 2007  10:23 AM ET

This trade won't happen. Why? Because Crede will be a free agent after next season, is represented by Scott Boras, and do the Yankees want a repeat of what happened with PayRod this season? I think Hank Steinbrenner was really ticked off at how Boras handled the opt out, and he's not dumb enough to be suckered twice in a row.

November 6, 2007  10:23 AM ET

Damon is someone that the Yankees have to keep for the playoffs, he seems to come up & do well in big game circumstances!!

Plus the Yankees don't want Damon to go to another contending team & be the final piece to the other team's puzzle for a championship.

November 6, 2007  11:25 AM ET

How about no one wants to take on his contract and his aging, injury prone legs? The Yankees will absolutely have to eat some bucks to get a deal with Damon done.

November 6, 2007  11:42 AM ET

with cabrera, abreu, godzilla and damon, they should stay put. one of them (outside of cabrera) is going to be hurt or just old, like the years prior, and you will need the other outfielder.

besides damon is a gamer and a lead off guy with on base pct., and crede is not a huge upgrade on betemit. let betemit be the stop gap between the former 3rd baseman and the next. crede is injury prone and repped by borass.

if anything, try trading damon to minnesota, bound to lose hunter, for one of their young arms, even if just for some solid bullpen relief, and throw in some cash.

better yet, damon to san fran, in need of a few bats and some offense, and a young arm not named hughes, job or kennedy PLUS some cash for the contract of damon in exchange for one of their young starters.

November 6, 2007  12:35 PM ET

Damon, Mussina and Giambi, contracts that can't be moved without eating cash. Moose and Giambi have one more year.

November 6, 2007  12:54 PM ET

Agreed 4192jc, Damon is on the decline physically and in market value too.

I see A-Rod getting kick in the b.a.l.l.s. for being selfish/money hungry. Someone tell me which Yanks came closest to EARNING this salary this year?

A-Rod-------27m
Giambi------23m
Jeter---------21m
Clemens---18m (prorated)
Abreu-------15m
Pasada-----11m
Moose-------12m

Some over-paid under achiever in this bunch.

November 6, 2007  01:21 PM ET

Actually I sometimes dis Abreu, but i really don't totally dislike him, I think he kind of earned his money. And, obviously Posada. Jeter is over paid and was only paid that money as an ego thing by George way back when. ARod's money is debatable. He did have a monster year and he did keep the Yankees from falling out of the pennant race early. It was a team effort in the end but he was resposnible for some big wins early. And ,regardless what the experts say, games in April sometimes can mean as much as games in late September when the year is all accounted for. I grudgingly give him a pass and only because of the Texas discount.
That still leaves 53 million plus dollars, if you adjust Jeter's contract, that could bespent on other needs for 2008.

November 6, 2007  01:36 PM ET

SoFlaBoy, you forgot Farnsworth and Pavano. The Yankees are stuck w/those 2 through 2008 too.

2009: No Giambi, Moose, Pavano, Farnsworth, Pettite, Abreu, Clemens, A-Rod .... what is that ? A billion ? can't wait !

November 6, 2007  01:45 PM ET

Seriously. Hold out hope that the Twins keep Santana then the Yanks can just go get him next off-season without giving anyone up.

November 6, 2007  01:45 PM ET

Wait, Clemens is signed through 2008?

November 6, 2007  01:55 PM ET

No.

November 6, 2007  01:56 PM ET

Didn't think so.

November 6, 2007  01:57 PM ET

snogshag to quote pimpylooka from yesterday: Nooooooooooooooooooo!
Ya had to go and bring up those two didn't you? I will still hold out hope against hope that somehow Farnsworth can still turn it around or the Yanks can dump him. Pretty please.....

 
November 6, 2007  01:57 PM ET

No, Clemens was one and done as far I was aware.

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