Scott Boras is officially ready for the laughing academy. Four years and $52 million for a 36-year-old outfielder who, while still a fine player, has lost almost all of his defensive value. I have a hard time believing any team will give him even three years.

From what I hear, Damon really wants to come back to the Yankees. Perhaps he needs to communicate that sentiment better to Boras.

[1] I dunno, I'm sure Damon said the same thing when he was with the Red Sox.

Well, that certainly is my reaction.

I do hope he's back and I think the A-Jack trade makes a 2 year deal with him worthwhile. Johnny really should call Bobby Abreu and get a little input on what happened to him last year and what he did this year. The CHONE forecast that I think was run over at RAB (may have been run elsewhere) showed a 900 plus run club with Damon, Matsui or Nick the Stick. In fact the highest output was with Johnson alone, second was a full time seasonal combination of Matsui and Damon (I'm getting old so my memory may be faulty I may have that reversed; Hell, I can't even remember where I saw the damn thing!).

We'll be a dangerous big output club (assuming all goes well) with any of those guys but I would like to get Damon back if they can find a deal that makes sense for both sides. I'd also like to bring Matsui back on a one year basis if he will. He'll be a productive hitter, he deserves a curtain call and I think the fans do as well. At this point there really may only be one guy Matsui may be blocking on the 2011 25 man (read Montero, Jesus) so if it's necessary to do an option with a buy out for a second year I'd have to think about it.

anyone see Gammons' farewell piece for ESPN? Its a good trip down memory lane for the past 20 years

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=gammons_peter&id=4734773

Cash-man....Cash-man.....Come out come out wherever you are!

BTW I don't want Damon back. Go get Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson + Granderson > Matusi + Damon

Nice. And certainly true. I wish Boras could figure out that what he thinks is zealous advocacy for his client really just comes off as clownish grandstanding. Or is that Grandersonstanding?

Anyway, Getting Granderson was brilliant and one of the many reasons is that it ensures we don't have to overpay for Damon. Given how bad Johnny is in the outfield, count me among those who would prefer to see Cashman sign Matsui instead. Matsui could play left in an emergency and that's about as often as I would want Johnny out there given the other outfielders on the roster.

What's with all the Nick Johnson love? I loved him when he was a Yankee, but he's since proven he can't stay healthy or hit for power.

[8] Cliff, I think people are looking at his high OBP. That leg injury was freakish, the second hand injury a couple of years ago is worrisome however. He played in the cavern down here in DC for a time so that didn't help the power numbers but if they're looking for a hitter to fill the 2 hole the value of his OBP numbers are magnified. He's a short term contract guy along the length of what they are willing to give Damon and or Matsui (the overall number is probably substantially lower as well). He's nothing more than that. Not sure it's really "love" and it may in fact be "beer goggles" but if nobody gets hurt and everybody goes home happy what's the harm?

Hearing rumblings that Jonny Gomes might be non-tendered .... now THAT's 1/2 of a DH platoon.

I've been hearing Beltre to BoSox talk, which I thought would be great move.

Then I saw his stats in Fenway (small sample size alert)
http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/Y3ygG

[8] I "love" Nick Johnson if he can be had as a cheap DH/sometimes 1B option...that and he was my favorite prospect in all my years living in Columbus. That said...

[6] Nick Johnson + Granderson > Matusi + Damon

This equation is by no means certain.

Ha, as the days go by I'm less and less interested in Damon. Just get Matsui.

[12] An equation requires equality, little grasshopper.

I think Boras doesn't care if he comes off looking like a clown. That's why he gets the big bucks. He sticks out his neck, and if it turns out to be a big embarrassing, the player just frowns and says he's embarrassed by his agent, and Boras blushes all the way to the bank.

I liked Nick Johnson too, but his bones are made of Balsa wood. Pass.

[14] Aint that the truth.

[13] i hope that's what cashman is thinking too. has anyone heard anything about what matsui is looking for? i've only seen speculation. i'd give him 2 years but i wouldn't be surprised if some clubs would go to 3.

I can see JD as a LF/DH option for ONE year, but 2 doesn't fit.
In 2011, you have to think Posada is a DH for 60 games.
And no DH for interleague/NL games.
And Jeter and ARod are good for at least 10-15 DH games.
And Montero might be up, DH'ing when Po catches.
I don't think we really need a DH this year, but we certainly don't need one for 2011 (barring serious injury to someone).

If JD wants ANY chance of coming back, then Boris is screwing him.
While nobody takes Boristalk too seriously, there is a point where he could simply turn off Cashman so much, he just goes elsewhere.

Why not ask for 3/$36? Nobody will give JD that, but at least it's in the same universe as what JD's max value is.

I can't imagine Nick signing for one year. As far as his power, YSIII would certainly make him MUCH stronger. I love his bat in the #2 hole, but it's a pipe dream unless he cut the Yankees a serious break.... say 2 years with lots of incentives.

JD (35) 2009: .282 .365 .489 .854 126 OPS+
NJ (30) 2009: .291 .426 .405 .831 122 OPS+ (457 AB)
HM (35) 2009L .274 .367 .509 .876 131 OPS+ (456 AB)

JD career: .288 .355 .439 .794 105 OPS+
NJ career: .273 .402 .447 .849 125 OPS+
HM carrer: .292 .370 .482 .852 124 OPS+

I don't think I really understood the greatness of the Granderson trade right away. It really changed the landscape for the team. Being able to laugh off deals like the one Boras is allegedly pushing is by itself almost worth losing Jackson.

[19] Not only that, but Grandy may be here for 4 years. JD is in LF for ONE year max. So the Yanks might still need another OFer next year without Grandy in the fold.

The only way this is a bad deal is if Grandy is really in decline.... which just doesn't seem right. My guess is he 'Swished' last year.

[12] I tend to view players in combinations. Offensively a combination of Granderson and Damon is worse than Matsui and Damon or Granderson and Matsui. But the Yanks seem a bit determined to let Matsui go, so the question is who should replace Matsui in the lineup, Damon or Johnson.

Combined Nick Johnson (Lifetime OPS .849) + Granderson (Lifetime OPS .828) are better than Matusi (lifetime OPS .852) + Damon (Lifetime OPS .749).

Johnson gets on base more, while Matsui has a better slugging percentage, but when you look at the player combinations --- both Granderson (.484) and Johnson (.447) have higher lifetime slugging percentage numbers than Damon (.439), which tends to mitigate the loss of Masui's slugging. (And I think both will have inflated slugging percentages at the new stadium anyway).

I think its a question of (1) getting on base; (2) age; (3) defense; (4) price; and (5) risk of injury. Granderson fills in for Damon as a hitter (and Melky slides into left with Granderson moving to center). Matsui can't play in the field and is going to cost more money; Nick Johnson could at least spell Teix on occasion, though I really would prefer him as a pure DH. And I think Johnson has a lower price tag than Matsui and/or Damon. And the injury risk between Johnson and Matsui would seem to be a wash to me.

[15] Alex, Nick Johnson played 130 plus games last year. As a DH he wouldn't have to play defense very often. He's younger than Matsui and Damon by 6 years. Matsui's knee might be made of jello pudding by the way. Damon's getting more and more brittle (yeah, he plays through injuries but tends to go through 4 for 48 for those stretches while he does).

Seriously, imagine this line-up

Jeter
Granderson
Teix
Arod
Johnson
Posada
Swisher
Cano
Melky

or even

Jeter
Johnson
Teix
Arod
Posada
Granderson
Swisher
Cano
Melky

I just like the idea of having OBP's of .388, .402, .378, .390 and .379 through the first 5 hitters in the order.

One thing I forgot to mention. I am ASSUMING also that Nick Johnson could be a DH for the Yanks for less than Matsui or Damon. If this is true the Yanks could roll over money to get Sheets.

[4] I'm no conspiracy theorist, and I am longtime Gammons fan, but I thought it was peculiar that when he was going through his "ESPN sent me to every World Series" bit, he went '91-'93-'95-'97-'01-'02-'03ACLS-'04. I'm not saying he didn't give the Yanks props - his bit on Mo is classic Mo and no surprise - but nonetheless, I thought that was strange.