Thursday, December 17, 2009

Johnson Deal Imminent

According to the Post, the Yankees are close on a one year deal with the next Carl Pavano, Nick Johnson. The deal is for one year, and probably around $6M. Considering Johnson can't play in the field w/o seriously hurting himself, this signing suggests that if Matsui had waited a week he'd be back in pinstripes. This also may be a sign that the Yanks are done waiting for Damon to realize he's old as hell. Consider this from Joel Sherman. The Yankees will now turn their attention to finding another starter, if only to avoid making Posada angry.

11 comments:

Rich Mahogany said...

This would be another solid move by the Bronster. Nicky J gets on base like it's going out of style.

Anonymous said...

I would have prefered a world series mvp.

Liza said...
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Roberto E. Alejandro said...

Here's my issue, which goes along with the previous post. Are we better off signing Johnson at $5.5M or just adding that to what we were offering Damon for $25.5M over two years? Apparently Boras caved on the three year demand in light of the Johnson development, but not the annual salary demands. Considering Johnson's injury history, I know it's one year, but if he goes down, that's a big hole as we have to replace our number 2 hitter and then find another bat (sorry, I don't want Miranda there yet), aren't we better off with Damon? Mixed feelings about this. You figure Johnson will avoid injury only DHing, but we lost Chien-Ming Wang to a trot from 3d to home.

cr1 said...

Roberto, I'll see you on the Damon argument and raise you the Matsui argument (why if we want a pure DH are we settling for a lesser one). Signing Johnson does not make great sense to me from either perspective.

Rich Mahogany said...

I agree that signing Johnson and signing Damon are not mutually exclusive. They are not even in competition for the same position.

With Matsui's and Damon's contracts ending the Yankees needed a DH and a LF. I'm fine with Johnson replacing Matsui, but he doesn't somehow become a replacement for both Matsui and Damon.

The Yankees still need a LF. Melky/Gardner is an ok fill-in but Damon is better, and Damon can DH if necessary. I believe that if Damon relents a bit on his salary demands and takes something like 2/$20, the Yankees bring him back. It makes too much sense for both parties.

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

At this point, though, Damon risks the Yankees signing another pitching and thus wrapping up their budget. I suspect part of the stinginess is that Cash said, "we'll keep payroll down this year if next year I can spend like last year," and Hal said, "Ok."

Definitely, if you're going to sign Johnson for 1 yr $5.5M, you could've signed Matsui for the 1 yr $6.5M he got in Anaheim (maybe he wouldn't take that paycut from the Yanks, but I've not heard that, I think he just didn't want to wait and then find out the Yanks rather have Damon).

It would be weird for the Yanks at this point to sign Damon. If only b/c it has seemed all along that they would not bring both Matsui and Damon back. Considering Johnson's deal, and if Damon comes back at 2yrs $20M, why not have tried to sign both Matsui and Damon in the first place? I know Johnson is younger than Matsui, with a higher OBP (higher than Damon too I think), but he's not the proven clutch hitter Matsui is. I understand not wanting to risk whether Matsui stays healthy all year, but part of me feels like the Yanks have been dicking around a bit here too. At least I will if they go ahead and sign Damon anyway.

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

apparently, not signing Matsui had more to do w/ concerns about health than money.

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

Matsui was indeed concerned that if he waited too long he wouldn't have many good options left.

Anonymous said...

"I would have prefered a world series mvp."

Like John Wetteland? It really screwed the Yankees over when we didn't resign him after 1996!

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

I know, we didn't do anything in '97, hopefully we don't have to watch the Indians play the Marlins in the WS next year. Though it's weird when Anonymous fights himself.