Looking Ahead To Free Agency: Johnny Damon

We started the "Looking Ahead To Free Agency" series yesterday with Andy Pettitte (though there's also the added wrinkle, rumored by Jayson Stark, that maybe he'd think of going to pitch for his old buddy, Joe Torre, in Los Angeles after the Yankees lowballed him this past winter). Today we'll look at a man who is "simply Damon-ic": Johnny Damon.

Background: Johnny Damon arrived from Boston in 2006 to much hoopla. He was called all sorts of names in Boston and welcome by most with open arms to the Bronx. Even his pre-introduction haircut was a big deal. But despite the fact that he's lost any type of range he had in the field, with the bat "Johnny be good". Trivia question: who is the only player in baseball to have at least 90 runs, 10 HR, and 10 SB in the past 4 seasons? It's not Derek Jeter or Hanley Ramirez or Chase Utley or David Wright or A-Rod; according to Play Index, it's Johnny Damon himself, who has amassed that total in the past 4 years in the Bronx. The past three years he's hit .286/.362/.448 and averaged 101 runs, 17 HR and 27 SB a year.

What he's done so far this year: The New Yankees Stadium is made for Johnny Damon. So far he's hit .286/.368/.505 with 100 runs scored and matched his career high of 24 HRs. His 127 OPS+ is the highest of his career. When the Yankees got hot in May and August, Johnny was his best with a .920 OPS in May and a .994 OPS in August. His stolen bases are down, but he's turned out to be perfectly suited for the #2 hole in that lineup. He's also perfectly suited for the New Yankees Stadium: he is .297/.391/.577 with 17 HR there so far in 2009.

So do we bring him back in 2010? At the beginning of this season I would have said that was no circumstances how they could, but now I don't see how they can't if the price is right. For the past two years, according to FanGraphs, he's been worth more than $13 million so I think that he's definitely earned his dollars and will continue to for at least another year or two. If Damon is open to either accepting arbitration/signing a one-year offer or negotiating a deal for about 2 year/$13 million, I'd bring him back. The problem is that, coming off a career year, Damon may ask for a lot more money/a lot more years. Another team may give it to him (the Mets?), but I think the Yankees can't go past two years for this guy, especially since he should be relegated to mostly DH at this point.

What others are saying:

• From Buster Olney: "The Yankees could make one lucrative one-year offer to Damon and Matsui and tell them "Hey, we love both of you guys, but we can't keep both -- and we'll keep whoever takes our offer first." They will probably be in a position of good leverage."
• Johnny told the Daily News at the end of August he wanted to stay in the Bronx
• From Ken Rosenthal: "One Yankees official says that it is "very likely" the team will re-sign left fielder Johnny Damon — provided that Damon is willing to accept a paycut from his current $13 million salary as a free agent."
• From Jon Heyman:
  

  The Yankees intend to try to bring back Johnny Damon, probably for about $6-8 million a year (that'll be the first offer, anyway), and might be willing to give him a second year. Damon's been saying in the papers all year that he wants to be back, which is quite a departure from the usual free-agent script and could mean he's that rare player amenable to a below-market contract. Yankees management loves Damon personally, too, and that doesn't hurt. With Hideki Matsui also a free agent (not to mention Xavier Nady), the Yankees could use Damon, who's having a fine offensive season, especially for power (.286, 22 HRs, 68 RBIs and 87 runs)...Damon's making $13 million now, but the Yankees appear to view this case in much the same way they looked at Andy Pettitte, who took a pay cut to $5 million guaranteed to return last winter. Damon shopped himself last time when he felt he wasn't getting the respect he deserved from the Red Sox. But this appears to be a different case.

• MLBTradeRumors points out that Damon will be a Type A free agent which may make him an appealing arbritration offer candidate regardless (though the Yankees could only cut him 20% of his $13 million deal)
• From Jayson Stark: "While the Yankees don't see their top outfield prospect, Austin Jackson, as being ready to move into a regular gig next April, they also don't want to throw a big-buck free agent in his path for the next few seasons. So if you're wondering why you're suddenly hearing so much talk about their interest in bringing back Johnny Damon on a short-term deal, that would explain it."
• Also from MLBTradeRumors: "Earlier in the year, Damon said he'd prefer to get a two-year deal, but said he'd settle for a one year deal with a vesting option if need be. He also said back in May he didn't expect to be brought back in pinstripes"