The Risk of Resigning Johnny Damon

I'd like to play point/counterpoint with Andrew on the issue of whether to resign Johnny Damon this offseason.

Generally speaking, I agree with Andrew that the Yankees should offer Damon a deal in the offseason. But I think they ought to offer him an incentive-laden, one-year deal. Let's say one year, $8 million base, max of $12 million if he bats .290, scores 100 runs, and drives in 75.

Why? Two reasons.

First, there is better, younger talent out there...talent that plays a little D, too. I'd love to pry Jason Bay away from the Red Sox. I'd like Matt Holliday too. So it's not like the market is barren beyond Damon. If he walks away from a one-year, incentive-based contract, so be it. As well as he has played this season, he's getting old and there are suitable replacements out there. But if he really feels the way he says he feels (a la Andy Pettitte) and just wants to remain a Yankee, then he'll sign for one year and earn the money he'd probably get from another team with his performance in the Bronx.

Second, I find it rather suspicious that Damon seems to have his best years in contract years. (Contrast that to a guy like Mark Teixeira, who is having one of his best offensive and defensive seasons in the first year of his deal.) Check out the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde aspect of Johnny Damon:

Boston Red Sox, 2nd and 4th years of his contract:
2003: 141 games, 166 hits, .270/.351/.396, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 103 runs
2005: 148 games, 197 hits, .316/.366/.439, 10 HR, 75 RBI, 117 runs

New York Yankees, 2nd and 4th years of his contract:
2007: 141 games, 144 hits, .270/.351/.396, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 93 runs
2009: 128 games, 142 hits, .286/.368/.505, 24 HR, 76 RBI, 100 runs (with 21 games left to play)

I just think that while Damon deserves credit for an unexpectedly outstanding offensive season this year -- he certainly has benefitted from the favorable dimensions of the New Yankee Stadium, not to mention hitting between two MVP candidates in Jeter and Teixeira -- he will probably not repeat this next year if offered a two-year deal.

So, Brian Cashman, if you want to see this type of performance again, you better be prepared to wait until 2011. That is, unless you offer him a one-year, incentive-based deal for 2010....that's when Johnny will be firing Rockets into the second deck. As loveable as he is, Damon's a guy who needs to have a carrot dangling in his face.