Damon and Yankees May Actually Head Separate Ways, It Appears

Last weekend we heard that discussions between the Yankees and free agent outfielder Johnny Damon were back on, but just a few days later it appears they didn’t get very far and probably ended with this question posed by general manager Brian Cashman.

Yesterday, Cashman advised beat writers that it’s probably in their best interest to not pay attention to Damon rumors that might be out there.

“Don’t bother paying attention,” Cashman said . “Johnny’s physical abilities exceed our financial abilities at this point in time.”

On top of Cashman’s flat out denial that the Yankees are interested in Damon comes this tidbit from the NY Post’s Joel Sherman:

“To date, Steinbrenner has been adamant that the Yanks, by how they calculate payroll, will not exceed $200 million,” Sherman wrote in today’s Post . “So ownership has rejected multiple requests to revisit signing Johnny Damon.”

That’s not to say that there is no way that the Yankees could sign Damon, but his agent, Scott Boras, would have to stop playing games with the Yankees and actually come up with a realistic salary. He initially wanted a multi-year deal worth at least $10 million (there was a proposed two-year $26 million deal at one point).

That’s not happening though, not in this market. If he doesn’t sign with the Yankees, he will find a team interested in signing him, since we’ve heard the A’s could be a suitor , but he’s not receiving multiple years or $10 million anywhere.

Related Stories

• January 27, 2010 -- Girardi Lays Out Some Tentative Plans (0)
• January 26, 2010 -- Scott Boras Still Playing Games with Cashman and the Yankees (4)
• January 26, 2010 -- A’s Sign Sheets and Could Still Sign Damon (3)
• January 25, 2010 -- Oakland A’s Could Be Interested in Damon (0)