MLB Free Agency: Why Johnny Damon May Be the Best DH Option for the Yankees
January 19, 2012 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
I can still remember two years ago like it was yesterday when I was writing stories similar to this.
They all had the same theme that this current story will.
Which is simple: bringing Johnny Damon back to the Yankees.
In the last week, we’ve talked about the possible designated hitters the Yankees could bring in.
We talked about Carlos Pena, who might be too expensive for them.
We talked about Vladimir Guerrero, who we are all 50-50 on because of his disappointing 2011 season.
And there’s been rumblings about Hideki Matsui making a comeback to the Yankees, but his knees are still a question mark.
In all honesty, the other former Yankee the Yankees are interested in, Damon, is the best option to be the Yankees DH.
Back in the winter of 2009-2010, before a lot of you ever even knew what Bleacher Report was, I wrote several stories demanding Damon back in the Bronx.
A couple you can read are:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/313060-yankees-need-to-bring-back-johnny-damon-now-with-melky-cabreras-trade
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/316855-jason-bay-mark-derosa-signings-should-bring-down-johnny-damons-price
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/329985-what-the-yankees-and-johnny-damon-need-to-do-to-reunite-for-2010
To say I was Damon’s biggest advocate in 2010 was an understatement. I was practically begging the Yankees to bring him back.
Everyone said I was crazy and that the Yankees needed to move on. And what did they move on to?
Signing Nick Johnson as the DH and choosing Randy Winn over Damon for 2010. Yeah, how did that work out again?
Winn was cut by mid-season and Johnson ended up out for the season with another injury.
While Damon stayed healthy and was helpful to the Detroit Tigers.
During the 2010 ALCS against the Texas Rangers, while guys like Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher were swinging at everything and missing, and you can ask my wife, because all I kept saying was, “they can really use Johnny Damon’s bat right about now.”
And right before 2011, the Yankees had talked to Damon about a reunion, which I again strongly advocated for on here, and people still thought I needed to get past Damon.
All Damon brought to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011 was strong leadership and another productive season helping them to the playoffs, while the Yankees ended up benching Jorge Posada before the end of the season.
Jesus Montero was supposed to be the penciled-in DH for the Yankees, but the Yankees traded him to the Mariners, which is why we’ve been doing DH stories all week long.
Montero’s exit leaves an opening for the Yankees to bring Damon back for a reunion.
OK, Damon is 38 years old, is not an outfielder anymore, and is at the end of his career. I know.
But he can still hit very well, he still has power left in his bat, as he showed in 2011 hitting 16 home runs and 73 RBI for Tampa.
Take those numbers and put them in Yankee Stadium; we could be looking at 24-28 home runs for Damon considering the short left-field porch is his ally and always was.
But the intangible Damon brings is clutch hitting and heads-up play.
We all know what he did to the Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series by taking third base because the Phillies weren’t paying attention on the bases.
Money can’t buy that type of intangible to bring to a team. It’s just something a player has, which Damon does.
Damon is exactly the player the Yankees have been missing for the last two years.
Going into 2012, Damon just isn’t playing for a contract, but he is now playing for a chance at history.
Currently, Damon is sitting on 2,723 hits for his career. That’s 277 away, which for Damon, could be done in two seasons since he averages anywhere from 150-185 hits a season.
Could you live with Damon as the DH for two years while he chases history as a Yankee? I definitely could. I think you all could too.
And I know you all could, because in my last two stories, Damon’s name kept popping up as your first choices.
Well now, I’m making Damon my first choice for the Yankees DH in 2012.
It’s the smartest move and the best move to make for the Yankees.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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