Johnny Damon Wants to Come Back to New York Yankees

Via the NY Post:

Johnny Damon will be wearing a new hat next season and he is very open to it having NY on the front of it.

“I would love to have that as an option,” Damon told The Post when asked if Johnny II in The Bronx were a possibility. “It would be very exciting to go back there.”

Damon was informed by the Tigers they will look elsewhere to find a designated hitter and since they have young outfielders, it’s time for the 36-year-old with 2,571 career hits to move on.

“They told me they are looking for a prototypical type DH like Adam Dunn,” Damon said. “They said they need that type of bat in the middle of order. I am a No. 1 or 2 guy, so...”

Damon’s OPS dropped nearly 100 points this season, and he was limited to just 36 games in the outfield while DHing in 97 other games. He earned $8 million and repeatedly turned down offers to rejoin the Yankees at around $4 million.

He may want to rejoin the Yankees in 2011, but it’s hard to imagine them even offering him the $4 million they offered him a year ago. He may not even have a clearly defined role even if Lance Berkman, Marcus Thames, and Nick Johnson do not return, as Jorge Posada will probably have to DH more than ever with Jesus Montero coming up.

So realistically, Damon is probably only coming back to the Bronx if he accepts a bench role at much less money than he is accustomed to earning.

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