First from
Joel Sherman:
The Yankees are telling agents that they only have $2 million, at most, to spend on a left fielder. They figure Damon, even in a diminishing market, would never drop his demands that low. The Yanks being the Yanks, of course, could always just create extra money in the budget as they did last year when GM Brian Cashman successfully lobbied Hal Steinbrenner to add Andy Pettitte’s $5.5 million base plus makeable incentives to the payroll.
However, Yankees management clearly felt the Yanks needed Pettitte far more for the 2009 season than they need Damon for 2010.
And here's what
Buster Olney said:
Two things have to happen in order for Johnny Damon to re-sign with the Yankees: First, he must greatly reduce his asking price, and second, Hal Steinbrenner must agree to expand the team's budget. In the past, George Steinbrenner would've done this without blinking, but Hal Steinbrenner has taken more of a business-oriented approach, and it's not a sure thing that Hal would approve such a request about Damon. But because Aubrey Huff has signed with the Giants -- with the possible ripples meaning that Mark DeRosa could be a semi-regular left fielder -- and with the Braves seemingly lukewarm on the notion of pursuing Damon, the veteran outfielder doesn't have a lot of good options.
It seems that Scott Boras completely screwed Damon this time around, wouldn't you say? It's one thing to ask for more money than a player is worth, but to do it in an off-season where the player has absolutely no market is just foolish.
