Yanks mapping out plan to keep Damon, Pettitte and Matsui?
November 10, 2009, 10:00 am by iYankees · 6 Comments
In Joel Sherman’s (NY Post) latest, citing inside sources, he writes that the Yankees are “strategizing ways to retain all three of their major free agents — Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui.” Damon and Pettitte are the primary concerns, says Sherman, however, Matsui is certainly a player that the Yankees would be inclined to retain, it seems, if the price is right. That could depend, though, on what Damon is willing to accept in order to return.
Sherman goes on to note that the Yankees are more concerned with resigning the trio of Damon, Pettitte and Matsui than they are with signing any of the three principal free agent players—John Lackey, Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. This is because of financial apprehensions, as they are hesitant to offer multiyear deals to “thirtysomething” players (Lackey and Bay fit this category, Holliday does not) and enjoy the flexibility provided by one-year deals. They could, however, become involved with any free agent of interest, including Lackey, Holliday or Bay, if the “market falls dramatically.”
Finally, Sherman says that the Yankees “recognize” that they will likely “have to double” Andy Pettitte’s 2009 base salary of $5.5 million in order to retain him for next year (plus, there could be some additional incentives, as well).
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
It would be nice to get all three guys back, but at the same time I don’t know if I really want Damon back. His defense really bothers me. I’m surprised the Yankees are so willing to bring resign him.
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Agreed. Damon’s defense is miserable enough for me to want to move on.
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We need, for once, to buy low and sell high. We have totally MAXIMIZED what we are ever going to get out of Damon and Matsui. Damon, until the playoffs, didn’t hit a homerun for about 5 weeks ending the season. His defense is awful. I realize he was a key part to winning the World Series but for once we need to cut the ties when WE are ahead. If we bring damon back it will be a huge mistake. His career is on the decline and will never reach last years numbers. He’s already embarrassing in left. I hope the Yankees don’t get caught up in the emotions of winning a World Series. Matsui is a full time DH who is hurt WAY too much. Again, I realize that he had a great World Series, but again he’s going to continue to break down. If we bring back Matsui then we can’t use the “revolving DH” to give half days off regularly to our aging stars such as Jeter, Rodriguez, and Posada. I love both Damon and Matsui and am very grateful for what they have done and helped to achieve in NY, but their time is done. Cashman, please see it is time to cut ties with both of them. You can let them both go and sign Matt Holliday, who WANTS to be a Yankee, and forget about left field for the next 7 years and SAVE money. This is no knock on Damon or Matsui, it’s just time to move on.
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I think you’re right that we need to divorce Damon, but I’m still a big Matsui fan and think he should return at the team’s DH in 2010. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to rest his knees, which would allow other Yankees to DH from time to time (also, if we rid ourselves of Damon, the rotating DH would mainly apply to A-Rod, Jeter, and Posada—only three players). The Yankees got out ahead with Abreu and aren’t regretting it. Why they seem very willing to do the opposite with Damon is somewhat mind boggling.
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I totally agree with what you said about the Yankees and Abreu. I hope what I hear about Damon wanting 4 years is true because then there is no way the Yankees bring him back. If they want to bring back Matsui, I don’t have an issue with that as long as they let Damon go. I look at the Matt Holliday situation similarly to what the Yankees did last year in signing Teixeira. Here is a solid character player, an all-star player, that wants to play in New York. You can put him in left and just forget about it. Just like you have at first with Teixeira. When you have the opportunity to add this type of impact player, you do it. Just like Teixeira last year.
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Matt I agree again. Tex and Holliday are both similar cause they’re both perfect for the Yankees. Tex was am easy choice and since the Yankees need a LF, Holliday is the easy choice. I think the Yankees could surprise everyone again and sign Holliday
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