Johnny Damon Retiring?

Johnny Damon and his agent Scott Boras read this market wrong. Damon doesn’t have a team and his options are dwindling. He can bite the bullet, get on his hands and knees, crawl back to the Yankees and put his signature on a one-year deal worth about $2 million. He can keep waiting, hoping maybe an injury occurs during training camp and sign with a team then. Finally and shockingly, he can retire. At least that’s what Bob Klapisch of NorthJersey.com believes is one of Damon’s options. Klapisch sites that a friend of Damon said, “Johnny is completely in the family mode right now.” 

Would Johnny Damon really retire? I can’t imagine it. He’ll either wait it out or he’ll take a lot less money than he intended. Settle with the Yanks, Johnny. Take $2 million and try to get another World Series ring rather than retire or go elsewhere. Your options are limited, but you do have options. The Yankees will gladly take you back if you agree to their terms.

Former Yankees Jerry Hairston Jr., who was recently signed by the Padres, spoke on XM radio today with Jim Bowden and said, “Brian Cashmans going to get mad at me, but Yankees didn’t make me offer because he’s waiting on Damon’s price to come down.” The Yankees are expecting Johnny to come walking back with his tail between his legs. I expect it too. 

Would Damon retire just to save face? Instead of biting the bullet and taking a huge cut in pay, would he just call it a career? A coward would, Johnny won’t.