Johnny Damon and the Yankees: What They Need to Do to Reunite for 2010

All right, I've had enough.

I am sick and tired of the cat-and-mouse games the Yankees, Johnny Damon, and Scott Boras are playing all winter long.

Enough is enough. And I am especially talking to you, Brian Cashman.

This whole act has gone on long enough. We all know Brett Gardner is not going to be the starting left fielder when the 2010 season comes along in April.

If we thought that Gardner was going to start, you would have never traded for Curtis Granderson to begin with.

So lets end the standoff on both sides. What I am about to do is preach to both sides and be the voice of reason.

Let's start with the Yankees and Cashman. Brian, we know you want Damon back. You did offer him a two-year deal, but took it back when you signed Nick Johnson. You have yet to find another left fielder to be the replacement.

We've heard the rumors of numerous players that the Yankees might be interested in, but personally, none of them are as good as Damon is.

OK, so his defense isn't what it used to be. So what? We're not looking for a Gold Glover out there. We just need someone out there for 145-150 games in left field, which Damon is still capable of doing.

His offense though, is still outstanding enough to start everyday. He's close to becoming a full-time DH, but that's not in 2010.

In 2010, Damon is still a left fielder, and Cashman, you need to bring Damon back to the Bronx. The fans want Damon back, Damon wants to come back, and deep down, we all know you want Damon back.

Now, for Johnny and Scott.

So, this free agency period hasn't worked out like you hoped. That four-year deal didn't come around like you wanted, and really, at age 36, never was going to happen.

You really should have taken the two-year, $14 million deal with the Yankees when they offered it, but what's done is done there.

Any other team who has been recently interested in your services has gone on record as saying they aren't interested.

The Giants are done. The Tigers aren't interested and the Braves are a little crowded to fit Damon in. The Mets don't make sense either, so really, where else are you going to go?

We know you like playing in New York and playing at the new Yankee Stadium. You hit a ton of home runs there and have a ton of popularity from your time in pinstripes. It doesn't have to end anytime soon.

The fans don't want to see you in another uniform in 2010, and really, nobody is offering you a contract to join a team, so you are kind of stuck.

And Johnny, retirement at 36? I doubt it. All of us doubt it.

All of you guys need to come together, sit down, and make some sort of agreement. A simple one-year deal or even a one-year deal with an option for two both sound really good right now for Damon.

I bet if Cashman really tried hard enough, he can find the budget and space to get Damon back in pinstripes.

Who are you really going to sign Cashman, Rocco Baldelli? He can't ever stay healthy long enough to be on the team.

Johnny, I know it'll be tough to take a cut in pay, but this is where you love to play baseball, in New York.

Yankees Universe is where your fan base is, the people you point to before every game. It might suck to take a cut in pay, but if you want to be a Yankee and play baseball still, you are going to have to do it.

For the sake of the team, I really hope the two sides can get together really soon and figure this out. The team is almost set and the starting lineup is almost set, except for the left field spot.

It's still reserved for No. 18. End the stand-off, gentlemen.

Bring Johnny Damon back to the Yankees in 2010.

Get it done, Cashman.