Has Johnny Damon Earned a New Contract?

Johnny Damon is having his best season as a Yankee and has picked a good time to do so.  In the final year of his contract, Damon would like to return to the Yankees after 2009 but the Yankees have an abundance of outfielders including several good young ones.  Damon’s success in 2009 is making the Yankees’ decision of whether to retain him a tough one.  Batting second in the order, he is hitting for power and taking advantage of the new Yankee Staidum’s right field power alley. 

Damon has just as much power as Hideki Matsui, who will also be a free agent after the season.  Matsui has been strictly the Yankees DH this season and although he has played well, his injured knee limits his outfield abilities.  I don’t see the Yankees resigning Matsui just to DH.  At least Damon gives the Yankees some options.  He can basically play all of the outfield positions.  The DH in the Yankees lineup can be anyone, especially now that some of their stars are aging.  Damon can still play the outfield well and he still runs well too.  The knock on him is his throwing arm.

Damon on a one year term makes sense for the Yankees.  I’d rather see the Yankees re-sign Damon than Xavier Nady.  The 2010 free agent outfield class has a few big names including Matt Holliday, but Damon has proven he can play in New York and would be a better option than most of the potential free agents.  Giving Damon anything more than a year is questionable but maybe he won’t want to re-sign for just one year.  In that case, I’d have to think the Yankees will move on without him and look elsewhere.  If Damon really wants to remain in pinstripes, he’ll take what the Yankees offer him.