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| Johnny Damon will be out for at least the next few days with a minor case of turf toe, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. |
Our View: Look for Damon to return to action sometime next week, and he should be completely fine by the start of the season. Don't let this bit of news affect your ranking of him heading into your draft.
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| Skipper Jim Leyland is considering using Johnny Damon in the No. 2 spot in the Tigers' batting order, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Austin Jackson would be the top candidate to bat leadoff in that scenario. Leyland noted that Damon had a good year with the Yankees from the second spot in 2009, and wants to use him where he will be the most effective.
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| An anonymous source close to Johnny Damon reported to the Associated Press that he has passed his physical with the Detroit Tigers, completing the one-year $8 million deal. |
Our View: So Damon is officially a Tiger. He is expected to take over the leadoff role that was left open by the departure of Curtis Granderson, but fantasy owners should proceed with caution when considering Damon this season. Now that he's out of the hitter friendly confines of New York his stats will likely take a hit. Most notably his power numbers.
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| It has been confirmed that Johnny Damon agreed to a one-year deal with the Tigers worth $8MM, according to the Associated Press. The contract is pending a physical. |
Our View: The 36-year-old vet should see regular playing time in left field, and there is also belief he will serve as the Tigers' lead-off hitter - hence filling the void left by the departure of Curtis Granderson to New York. The Braves and White Sox were the other teams interested in acquiring Damon.
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| Updating an earlier report, Johnny Damon's one-year deal with the Tigers is believed to be worth around $8MM, according to Tim Brown's (Yahoo! Sports) twitter page. |
Our View: The veteran outfielder will be motivated to perform well this season, in his bid to reel in another contract. As of now, it does not appear that his contract with Detroit has an option for 2011.
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| The Tigers are reportedly nearing a deal with Johnny Damon, according to Tim Brown's (Yahoo! Sports) twitter page. |
Our View: The Tigers were the top candidate to sign Damon, namely after the rival White Sox pulled out of the chase. Detroit has a good club, and Damon should continue to post solid numbers if he stays healthy (and if they officially reel him in).
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| The White Sox have pulled their offer to Johnny Damon that was reportedly worth $6 million for one year, according to ESPN.com. "It became clear to us in our recent negotiations that the money that we were offering was not going to be good enough for Johnny at this time," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said. |
Our View: That appears to leave the Tigers as the only known pursuer of Damon at the time being, though Williams did not dismiss the possibility to re-opening up negotiations with Damon and his agent, Scott Boras. The Tigers are rumored to have offered Damon one-year for $7 million, although it's tough to tell which numbers are accurate at this point with all the rumors floating around.
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| Detroit has offered Johnny Damon a contract, according to the Tigers' Twitter page. |
Our View: No word yet on the value of Detroit's offer. That makes two AL Central rivals vying for Damon's services, as the White Sox have reportedly extended Damon a one-year, $4.5 million offer. You have to believe a decision from Damon will come sooner rather than later.
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| Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that the White Sox have offered Johnny Damon a one year, $4.5 million deal. He also says Damon does not sound keen on playing for the Tigers. |
Our View: The plot thickens? Or is there even a plot? Expect Johnny Ballgame to settle for one of his numerous low-ball offers soon.
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| Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports retracted his previous tweet stating that the White Sox made a second offer to Johnny Damon. |
Our View: Chicago's first offer still stands, and is not believed to be as high as Detroit's.
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| The White Sox have made another offer to Johnny Damon, according to Ken Rosenthal's (FOX Sports) twitter page. |
Our View: Details regarding the new proposal were not disclosed. The White Sox continue to compete with the rival Tigers to acquire the veteran outfielder's services.
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| According to Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi, there is "nothing imminent" between the Tigers and Johnny Damon. |
Our View: Hopefully Damon and his agent Scott Boras know what they are doing. If he is still not signed after this week, teams may tire of the wait and simply give up. Stay tuned.
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| The Tigers and Johnny Damon have exchanged proposals, according to FOX Sports. |
Our View: A deal is not yet believed to be close though. The Braves haven't raised their ante to reel in Damon, making the White Sox the next closest challenger to the Tigers.
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| According to MLB.com, the White Sox are interested in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, but likely can't afford him. |
Our View: Apparently the Sox have about $4 million dollars that they can allocated towards a Damon signing. But with him already getting a reported $7 million, one-year offer (possibly two years, $14 million) from the Tigers, this pursuit seems to be a pipe dream for Chicago. Expect Damon to follow the dollars.
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| According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Tigers have offered Johnny Damon a two-year, $14 million contract. |
Our View: They are also offering him a one-year, $7 million deal. Considering the ordeal Damon has gone through this offseason, expect him to pick the two-year pact. Stay tuned.
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| ESPN's Jayson Stark says Johnny Damon is nearing a one-year, $7 million deal with the Tigers. |
Our View: He is said to be mulling several offers, but Detroit's is the most lucrative. The Braves, Rays and White Sox are reportedly the other serious bidders.
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| Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports that the Braves have "at least" $6 million to spend on free agent outfielder Johnny Damon. |
Our View: Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean they will spend it all, only that, if they so choose, they could likely work out an agreement. The Tigers remain their "main threat" for Damon's services.
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| The Braves did in fact make an offer to Johnny Damon, according to Tyler Kepner's (New York Times) twitter page. The offer was reportedly for $2MM now and $2MM deferred. |
Our View: It would be similar to the Yankees' proposal if the Braves opt to raise it a little bit. There was a conflicting report that the Braves' offer is for around $5MM though.
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| The Tigers are "devoted" to pursuing free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports. |
Our View: Meanwhile, the Braves are reportedly willing to pay him $5 million. Finally, his pursuit is heating up. Stay tuned.
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| The Braves' interest in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon has "increased," according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: They reportedly recently made a one-year offer, and have had long-time Brave Chipper Jones reach out to him. Couple this with the fact that Damon recently said he would enjoy playing in Atlanta, and we might soon have a deal. Stay tuned.
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| According to Fox Sports, Johnny Damon is standing firm in his demand for a two-year deal. |
Our View: All that can really be said is "good luck with that, Johnny." Despite his very productive 2009, the perception around the league is that his stats were largely a product of the launching pad that is the new Yankee Stadium. Couple that with his age, and you have a recipe for no team going beyond one season in any potential contract offer.
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| The Braves remain a potential Johnny Damon landing spot, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: Of course, they are reportedly waiting to see "just how desperate" Damon and his agent Scott Boras get before making a formal offer. This is likely the attitude of most teams eyeing Johnny Ballgame. Stay tuned.
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| Johnny Damon has commented that he could land in Tampa Bay, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. |
Our View: The source noted that Damon signing with the Rays is a long-shot though, and believes the veteran outfielder is still more likely to join the Tigers.
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| The Tigers and Braves remain the teams most interested in Johnny Damon, according to Fox Sports. |
Our View: The Braves are still only interested in him if he is willing to play for next to nothing, however. He seems most likely to end up in Detroit, though owner Mike Ilitch will have to free up some money, which has been tight in Motown this offseason, to make it happen.
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| Johnny Damon could be nearing a deal with the Tigers, according to the Detroit News. |
Our View: The word is Detroit and Damon have come to terms on a one-year deal, but Damon is holding out for two. That is something the Tigers seem steadfastly against doing, however. Stay tuned.
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| The Braves are not actively chasing Johnny Damon, according to Mark Bowman of MLBblogs.com. |
Our View: Atlanta could become more serious about Damon though, if they have a need for an outfielder due to injuries or if his price tag drops. The Tigers still have Damon on their radar, but are not close to inking him.
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| The Tigers are not close to signing Johnny Damon, according to the Detroit News. |
Our View: Detroit is interested in acquiring Damon's services, but it is uncertain what kind of deal he would ask for. He would provide veteran leadership to their young outfield if he does land there though.
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| The Tigers are interested in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Damon's agent, Scott Boras, has a very good relationship with Detroit's front office, and could steer his waylaid client to Motown. It would be better than playing in Toronto, at least. Stay tuned.
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| According to Jordan Bastian on Twitter, the Blue Jays have shown interest in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon. |
Our View: The Jays contacted Damon's agent, but have yet to make a formal offer and are likely waiting for his price tag to drop. He would be a nice fit in Toronto as they need a force at the top of their lineup and it would give him a chance to stick it to the Yankees plenty of times as both teams reside in the powerful AL East.
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| The Yankees and Johnny Damon have "gone all Leno and Conan on each other," according to the New York Post. |
Our View: As in their divorce is going far from peacefully. Both are accusing the other side of lying, and neither seem particularly happy about the outcome. All told, despite Damon's advancing age, considering the season and postseason he had in 2009, it seems rather classless that the Yankees would not make Damon a competetive offer.
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| The Reds will not pursue outfielder Johnny Damon, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. |
Our View: It is unclear who was asking if they were, but either way, we now know they are not. After spending most of the past decade playing for championships in Boston and New York, Damon would likely be loath to play in Cincinnati, anyways.
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| Although the club recently discussed adding him, the Braves no longer have interest in signing free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to NBC Sports. |
Our View: With ballyhooed prospect Jason Heyward nearly ready to join the big leagues, the team simply doesn't want to commit the $4-to-$5 million it would take to land Damon. As of now, the only two teams with any public interest in Damon are the A's and Rays. Stay tuned.
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| The Rays have emerged as a possible destination for free agent Johnny Damon, according to the New York Post. |
Our View: The A's, Reds and Tigers all remain interested as well, though the Yankees are no longer a realistic suitor following their signing of Randy Winn earlier today. The Rays have been unable to move Pat Burrell but would still consider adding Damon as their primary designated hitter if he came cheap enough.
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| According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Johnny Damon returning to the Yankees is an "extreme longshot" unless he is willing to accept a one-year, $2 million deal. |
Our View: The Yanks' continued insistence that they only have $2 million to spend on their opening in left field is borderline insulting to the rest of baseball, considering if a desirable left fielder suddenly became available tomorrow, they would no doubt commit more than $2 million. And despite Damon's age of 36, the Yanks refusal to play him more than $2 million is also insulting in light of the fantastic season and World Series he had for them in 2009. Nothing has really been learned from this whole ordeal other than New York puts their foot down when it comes to their unseemly payroll at the oddest of times.
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| Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that even with the Oakland A's committing $10 million to Ben Sheets on Tuesday, they still may end up signing outfielder Johnny Damon. |
Our View: This would be an interesting move for the A's considering how much money they gave Sheets and how many outfielders/designated hitters they have. With Rajai Davis, Coco Crisp, Ryan Sweeney, Jack Cust and Jake Fox all in tow, there just might not be a spot for Damon, even if he comes cheaply.
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| The Oakland A's are indeed interested in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to the Oakland Tribune. |
Our View: While the A's are currently "set" in the outfield with Rajai Davis, Coco Crisp and Ryan Sweeney, here's guessing they would be able to find a spot for the considerably more talented, even at age 36, Damon. Stay tuned.
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| The Athletics are believed to be interested in Johnny Damon, according to Buster Olney's (ESPN) twitter page. |
Our View: Oakland covets a veteran outfielder and a bat for the middle of their lineup. Damon is viewed as a plan B if they are unable to reel in Ben Sheets.
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| Johnny Damon is unlikely to return to the Yankees next season, according to the New York Times. |
Our View: The team has given him a deadline of this weekend to decide whether or not he is returning. In order to do so, he would likely have to accept a low base salary, in the $4-to-$5 million range. Despite his collapsed market, he probably still believes he can get more than that. Stay tuned.
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| The Yankees have told Johnny Damon that he needs to decide in the next few days whether he wants to sign with them (likely for no more than $5 million), or else they'll move on and sign another outfielder, according to SI.com. |
Our View: Damon and the Yankees remain far apart on what amount of money would be fair for a one-year deal, so it looks like New York may end up moving on to a list that includes Reed Johnson, Randy Winn, Xavier Nady, Jim Edmonds and Jermaine Dye. A signing of either Damon or one of those names appears likely at some point next week.
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| A friend of Johnny Damon's has said that the free agent has considered retirement, according to the Bergen Record. |
Our View: While we don't doubt that the idea has crossed Damon's mind, we'd be utterly shocked if he actually decided to retire. Expect him to find a suitor eventually, though it seems like his asking price will have to come down.
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| The Yankees and Johnny Damon have had no recent contact with each other, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. |
Our View: It remains to be seen where Damon will end up, and there have been conflicting reports regarding the Yankees' interest in bringing him back. It's tough to know what to believe and what not to, so we'll have to stay tuned with this situation.
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| Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports believes Johnny Damon will ultimately end up back in the Bronx for the 2010 season. |
Our View: He makes the good point that New York could still use a talented left-handed hitter to man left field. Considering the Yanks' outfield currently consists of Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher, odds are Damon and New York eventually kiss and make up, especially after the monster season he had in 2009. Stay tuned.
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| Despite rumors to the contrary, the Tigers claim to not be interested in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. |
Our View: This isn't hard to believe considering all the salary Detroit has dumped this offseason. They might be able to consider him for a one-year deal in the $4 million range, but for the moment, the Tigers don't seem like a likely suitor for the long-time veteran's services.
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| Unless Johnny Damon is willing to "essentially play for free," he will not be a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2010, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. |
Our View: Bowman believes Atlanta would only sign him for $1-to-2 million. While his price has fallen dramatically since the Yankees bowed out of his "sweepstakes," he should still be able to make at least double that. Stay tuned.
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| The Tigers are the latest team to be linked to free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: The veteran outfielder has a career .363 average at spacious Comerica Park, and the Tigers are in need of another outfielder and some pop after trading Curtis Granderson to Damon's old team, the Yankees, this offseason. If his price has come down enough, he could be a very good fit for the suddenly thrifty Tigers.
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| There is almost a zero percent chance that outfielder Johnny Damon will be back in pinstripes next season, according to the New York Post. |
Our View: The Yanks are claiming to have just $2 million available to spend on their hole in left field. That would put them well out of Damon's price range. For now, the Braves and Giants, both clubs with noted affinities for aging talents, appear to be his most likely landing spots.
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| David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweeted that the Braves did not make an offer to Johnny Damon, despite a rumor that has been circulating. |
Our View: It is uncertain if the Giants are still interested in Damon after adding Aubrey Huff as well.
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| The Giants continue to express interest in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. |
Our View: Jack Cust is also on the team's radar. Getting older doesn't seem like the smartest thing for one of the league's perpetually oldest teams to do, but considering the pop Damon's bat still has, and the utter lack of pop the Giants' lineup has, it would probably be a good move, especially considering how much cheaper he's gotten since it's clear the Yankees are not interested in his services.
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| David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes that Johnny Damon could be a fit for the Braves if his price tag drops well below $10MM. |
Our View: The Yankees could take a shot at retaining him if his price drops low enough too. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports previously stated that he thinks Damon will land in either Atlanta or San Francisco.
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| Aging free agent outfielder Johnny Damon will most likely end up with the Braves or Giants, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. |
Our View: Both teams have noted affinities for aging players, so neither would be a surprise. Both are also in desperate need of a boost on offense, and while Damon will be 36 next season, and away from the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium, he has never had a down season, and would be a nice addition to either club.
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| The Hardball Times reports that Johnny Damon will likely be a bargain this offseason. The 36-year-old outfielder is believed to be seeking a two-year deal. |
Our View: Damon tied a career high with 24 home runs last season and scored 107 runs. His fantasy value would retain the most value if he re-signed with the Yankees, but the team is believed to be seeking out cheaper options. With better defense, Damon would be much more sought after.
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| Newsday indicates that Johnny Damon may be the Mets' top alternative if Jason Bay elects to sign somewhere else. |
Our View: The Mets certainly need a leftfielder, and it appears that Damon and the Yankees are parting ways. Currently, Bay is holding out for a guaranteed fifth year that the Mets have so far been unwilling to offer. Damon's left-handed bat would certainly fit well within their lineup, but don't expect him to sign until both Matt Holliday and Bay are signed.
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| Buster Olney of ESPN.com thinks that Johnny Damon would be a perfect fit with the Cardinals. |
Our View: The Cards are desperately trying to land Matt Holliday, but if the deal fails to come to fruition, Damon could be a more affordable option. The only hitch is that both players are represented by Scott Boras, and he'll likely wait on Holliday as he stands to command much more cabbage. Boras could end up steering Damon to the Mets to try and get paid big on both fronts.
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| Johnny Damon may be interested in signing with the Braves, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
Our View: Were that the case, he would have no shot at getting his desired $11 million yearly salary. Maybe at age 36, he'll realize he has enough money. With Scott Boras involved, Atlanta fans shouldn't count on it.
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| Players inside the Yankees' clubhouse have been lobbying for the team to re-sign free agent Johnny Damon, according to AOL Fanhouse's Ed Price. |
Our View: While the lobbying of teammates certainly can't hurt Damon's chances of getting re-signed by the Yankees, it probably won't help much either. He'll still likely have to decrease his demand for $11 million per year.
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| Johnny Damon would like $13MM per year to consider returning to the Yankees, according to ESPN. |
Our View: That is the figure he made in the final year of his four-year deal in 2009. The Yankees are likely to pursue Mark DeRosa if they are unable to retain Damon.
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| Johnny Damon is yet to be offered a contract from the Yankees, according to the New York Daily News. |
Our View: Damon's rep told the club to not bother proposing a deal unless it is at least for three years and worth $13MM per season. New York won't be able to satisfy those figures, meaning Damon is likely going to wear a new uniform in 2010.
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| Johnny Damon is the Yankees' first choice to be the team's designated hitter in 2010, according to the New York Daily News. |
Our View: But not if he keeps demanding a three or four year contract. Hideki Matsui remains an option were Damon to bolt, while free agents Mike Cameron and Mark DeRosa could come into the fold. New York still seems like Damon's only plausible 2010 destination, but with Scott Boras running the negotiations, you never know.
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| The Yankees have opened contract negotiations with outfielder Johnny Damon, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. |
Our View: Unless Damon is practically begging to come back, this could take a while with Scott Boras being his agent. Expect him to end up back in pinstripes, however, and for Hideki Matsui to go elsewhere.
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| GM Brian Sabean stated that Johnny Damon is not a fit for the Giants, according to the Mercury News. |
Our View: Damon's market value could go down after the Yankees acquired Curtis Granderson. Damon has played all 15 seasons of his career in the AL, and it is uncertain if he would be open to signing with an NL club.
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| The New York Yankees have declined to offer salary arbitration to any of their big free agent players, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: That means that Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte all went without offers today. The club is believed to want all three back, but now that any other potential suitors won't have to surrender draft picks if they sign them, their markets could become more competitive.
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| "Multiple" teams are interested in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to the New York Post. |
Our View: "Usually, when there is a free agent like this, there are three to four teams who are seriously interested," were the words of his agent, the infamous Scott Boras. While Boras refused to name teams, tonight at midnight is the deadline for the Yankees to offer Damon salary arbitration. Once that process plays out, the bidding for the 36-year-old, two-time world champion should begin in earnest.
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| Newsday speculates that Johnny Damon has played his last game in a Yankee uniform. |
Our View: He's seeking a pretty penny, and with the Yanks also having Hideki Matsui at their disposal, they don't, at least for the moment, seem inclined to give the 36-year-old Damon a long-term deal. Whether anyone else will remains to be seen.
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| Johnny Damon says he will not take a pay cut to return to the Yankees in 2010, according to the New York Daily News. |
Our View: He expects things to move slowly, and is reported to be using Bobby Abreu's recent two-year, $19 million deal with the Angels as a barometer. He will almost certainly end up back in the Bronx.
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| FoxSports.com is reporting that Scott Boras may use Bobby Abreu's two-year, $19 million contract as a baseline for negotiations for Johnny Damon's next deal. Both players will be 36 on opening day, and Damon is coming off an excellent season in which he hit .282 with 24 homers. |
Our View: The Yankees have made Damon their top priority this offseason, and it looks like they might have to spend a bit more that originally thought. Expect him to be back with the Yanks, and don't be surprised if his deal exceeds Abreu's.
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| According to Ken Davidoff on Twitter, the Yankees are making Johnny Damon their top free agent priority this offseason. |
Our View: This means that Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte will have to take a back seat for the time being. Scott Boras is likely the reason that the Yankees are focusing their attention on Damon, and he'll also be the reason that Damon ends up raking in more than he deserves. He'll be looking for a four-year contract, but don't expect that to happen. When the dollars settle, Damon should have a two or three-year deal and the Yankees will likely be completely out of the running for Matt Holliday.
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| Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees are "strategizing ways" to retain Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte. |
Our View: So wildly overpaying for all three then? It is always amusing when the Yankees act as if they are being thoughtful and prudent with their money and decision-making, but the bottom line is, if they decide to keep all three players, they will pony up the money and the years to keep all three players. There is not much strategy involved. Whether or not they will eventually have to bench Damon or Matsui probably won't factor into the equation.
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| Yankee outfielders Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Eric Hinske, and Xavier Nady all filed for free agency on Monday, according to MLB.com. Catcher Jose Molina also filed for free agency at the same time. |
Our View: No surprises here, but it will be interesting to see what the Yankees do with these guys. There has been interest in bringing Damon back, but Matsui made a case for himself by winning the World Series MVP. It looks like Nady will be gone, and Hinske could possibly be back in a reserve role. All of these players should have no problems finding a taker for their services, whether it be in a starting capacity or in a reserve role.
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| Johnny Damon left Wednesday's World Series game after the third inning with a strained calf. Damon was replaced by Jerry Hairston in left field. |
Our View: Damon suffered the injury on the bases, as he scored from second on Hideki Matsui's two-run single. This could potentially be a big loss for the Yanks, but the good news is that they are already up 4-1.
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| Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman thinks the Yankees may be amendable to re-singing World Series stud Johnny Damon to a two-year, $16 million deal. |
Our View: He also says that Damon's World Series heroics may have caused his price to go up, however. If the Yanks decide not to bring him back, the White Sox and Giants are among the teams rumored to be interested.
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| Johnny Damon was 3-for-5 with an RBI, two stolen bases, and two runs scored as the Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the World Series with a 7-4 win on Sunday. |
Our View: Damon scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth. He got credit for two stolen bases after taking second off of Brad Lidge and Carlos Ruiz. Third baseman Pedro Feliz covered the bag but no one was availble to cover third. Damon made a heads up play and out ran Feliz to third. He was 2-for-12 in the Series before tonight, but is hitting .294 in the postseason.
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| Johnny Damon gave the Yankees their first lead on Sunday in Game 6 with a two-RBI single. The Bronx Bombers never looked back as they rolled to a 5-2 win over the Angels, clinched their 40th pennant and are headed to the World Series for the first time since 2003. |
Our View: Damon finished the day 2-for-4 with those two aforementioned RBI, and totaled five in the ALCS. He hit an even .300 for the series and was a run-producing spark plug in front of the big boys while hitting in the two-hole.
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| Johnny Damon has been scratched from tonight's lineup against the Royals due to rainy conditions at Yankee Stadium, according to Tyler Kepner's (New York Times) twitter page. |
Our View: Melky Cabrera will roam in left field with Shelley Duncan in right. Damon has dealt with back issues recently, and the Yankees held him out as a precaution.
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| The New York Daily News is reporting that Yankees' outfielder Johnny Damon expects to return to the lineup on Sunday after missing the previous two games. Damon has been dealing with tightness in his back and hamstrings. |
Our View: Damon was in pretty bad shape on Friday, but he told manager Joe Girardi that he was available yesterday. Girardi decided to give him anothr full day of rest, but expect him to return today. He should be fully ready to go when he does return to the lineup, so get him in.
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| Johnny Damon is out of Friday's lineup due to a stiff lower back, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Melky Cabrera will roam in left field in his place, and Nick Swisher will bat in Damon's regular No. 2 spot in the order.
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| Johnny Damon could miss the last two games of the Yankees/Red Sox series this weekend after exiting Friday's contest in the first inning with a bruised right knee, according to the New York Daily News. |
Our View: it is "very unlikely" that he will play on Saturday, and "questionable" he'll go on Sunday. Eric Hinske will start in his place.
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| According to Mark Feinsand on Twitter, Johnny Damon exited Friday's game against Boston after fouling a ball off his right knee. |
Our View: Damon finished his at-bat and was removed after striking out. He was replaced in left field by Eric Hinske. Consider him day-to-day.
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| Johnny Damon was scheduled to get the night off on Friday, but he played and crashed into the wall while making a catch. He hit his left shoulder and forehead and escaped serious injury. Still, Damon will likely sit on Saturday, the New York Post reports. |
Our View: Fantasy owners in daily transaction leagues should plan on benching Damon. We're not worried about the minor bumps he suffered on Friday night.
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| Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning on Monday off Tampa Bay's Brian Shouse. The home run was Damon's 17th of the year and the 200th of his career. |
Our View: Damon has been a fine five-tool player the past near decade-and-a-half, a career .288 hitter with 370 steals and now 200 home runs. With 17 jacks already in 2009, he could potentially reach his career high of 24 that he set in 2006.
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| According to the New York Post, Yankees' outfielder Johnny Damon is expected to return to the lineup on Monday after missing Sunday's game with a sore back. Damon injured his back while sliding into home on Friday. |
Our View: Damon sat yesterday just to rest the back up and get it healthy, so he should be safe to deploy in fantasy rosters tonight. He is starting to show signs of age, but his numbers are more than serviceable for fantasy owners as long as he is on the field.
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| The Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that Yankees' outfielder Johnny Damon is out again on Thursday while dealing with some minor injuries. Damon hit his knee against the fence on Wednesday, and he also hurt his calf a few days ago. |
Our View: None of these injuries are serious, but he was pretty sore again today. Expect him to play at some point this weekend, but we will keep you updated on his status going forward.
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| Johnny Damon is not in the starting lineup for the Yankees on Monday. The team decided to go with an outfield of Eric Hinske, Brett Gardner, and Melky Cabrera for the afternoon affair with the Blue Jays. |
Our View: Damon is probably getting the day off to rest up, but it doesn't look like there is anything to worry about going forward. He is a solid play in all leagues at this point, and he should be back in the lineup tomorrow.
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| Johnny Damon returned to action tonight at Atlanta after missing the last game with a sore left calf. |
Our View: He is roaming left field, and batting in his usual No. 2 spot in the lineup. He should be safe to return to fantasy duty.
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| Johnny Damon will be held out of tonight's lineup at Atlanta to rest his ailing calf, according to Bryan Hoch's twitter page. |
Our View: Melky Cabrera will roam in left field in his place, with Brett Gardner in center and Nick Swisher in right. Damon will be missing his second straight game, but the Yankees are not concerned with the ailment as of now.
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| Johnny Damon is sitting out Sunday's game at Florida while nursing a sore right calf, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Skipper Joe Girardi noted that his calf is just sore, and held Damon out merely as a precaution. Girardi addded that Damon could pitch-hit if needed.
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| Johnny Damon went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Friday's 5-1 win at Florida. Both of his knocks were singles. |
Our View: Damon has recorded two hits in three of his last five games, and collected his 40th RBI of the season tonight.
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| Johnny Damon is not in tonight's lineup against the Mets at Yankee Stadium, according to the Star-Ledger. |
Our View: Melky Cabrera will roam in left field in his absence, and Damon is dealing with "fluttering eyes." It is uncertain how much time he will need to miss with the ailment.
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| Johnny Damon went 3-for-4 with a tenth inning walk-off home run, a run scored and an RBI as the Yankees came from behind for the third straight time to beat Minnesota. |
Our View: Through 60 May at bats, Damon is slugging .773 as 13 of his 20 hits have gone for extra bases. He is clearly benefitting from the home run friendly Yankee Stadium. He already has 10 home runs this season. He had 17 in 143 games last season.
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| Johnny Damon has been named the AL Player of the Week, according to the Sports Network. Damon hit .419 last week and led the majors with five homers and 15 RBI. |
Our View: This marks the second time Damon earned the weekly honor, the last time coming on August 21, 2006. Damon raised his season average to .314, to go along with nine homers and 25 RBI.
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| Johnny Damon hit his fifth home run in his last seven games as the Yankees beat the Orioles 5-3 on Sunday. The three-run shot was his only hit in five at bats. |
Our View: Damon has now collected 15 RBI in his last six games. His batting average has jumped from .272 to .314 in that span and he is among the hottest bats going right now.
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| Johnny Damon was 4-for-5 with four RBI, a double, and a home run as the Yankees fell 8-6 to the Rays on Thursday. |
Our View: Damon has nine hits, three home runs, and nine RBI in his last four games. He is among the hotter hitters going this week, and as long as he is healthy he should remain a solid mixed league option.
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| Johnny Damon went yard on Tuesday, but it wasn't enough as the Yankees fell to the rival Red Sox 7-3. Damon finished the game 2-for-4 with the home run and three RBI. |
Our View: Damon has shown a nice power resurgence to start 2009, as he hit his sixth of the season tonight. Damon can still steal some bases, and if he keeps scoring runs he will be a value in all leagues.
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| According to MLB.com, Johnny Damon sat out Sunday's game against the Red Sox due to bumps and bruises he suffered on Saturday while banging into the Green Monster. |
Our View: Damon is a little beat up and said that his knee and shoulder were sore, so he took the day off. Any further pain he is expected to play through, so he should be fine to employ in fantasy lineups the rest of the week.
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| Johnny Damon went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and a run scored as the Yankees beat the A's 5-3 on Tuesday. |
Our View: Damon should be in line for another fine season and his first as the No. 2 hitter in the order. He's still stealing bases and collecting extra base hits and likely will provide good value for where he was selected in most leagues outside of the northeast.
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| Johnny Damon had a nice day at the plate on Friday, going 2-for-3 with a homer, two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base in the Yankees' 6-5 win over the Indians. |
Our View: Damon really filled up the stat sheet today, as he did a little bit of everything. He is now hitting .286 on the season for the Yankees, and he has also swiped two bags in his nine games.
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| According to MLB.com, Johnny Damon is out for tonight's game against the Rays. He arrived at Tropicana Field feeling a bit under the weather. He's considered day-to-day. |
Our View: Be sure to take Damon out of your lineup for tonight. You may consider playing a replacement for a while as well, until Damon heats up. He's hitting .227 this season.
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| Johnny Damon went 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored as the Yankees fell to the Orioles 10-5 on opening day. |
Our View: The left fielder was hitting in the No. 2 hole, where his name will be pencilled in all season. The result should be a few more RBI opportunities for a player that tallied 71 RBIs out of the leadoff spot a season ago. As long as he can stay healthy, Damon should provide excellent fantasy value.
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| Johnny Damon was 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two strikeouts as the Yankees beat the Astros 3-1 on Saturday. |
Our View: Damon is hitting a steady .292 this spring and he appears to be injury free. If he can avoid the nagging injuries which hampered him a season ago, he should be in line for another fine performance. Although not spectacular, Damon's overall numbers remained good last season and he continues to show more and more patience at the plate.
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| Johnny Damon tripled and drove in a run in a loss to the Braves Wednesday. After a miserable start to the spring, Damon has upped his average to a modest .222. |
Our View: Damon is aging, but can still be a decent second or third outfielder in a fantasy lineup. Surrounded by All Stars, he should be able to contribute in most five-by-five league categories.
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| Johnny Damon went 0-for-2 with a strikeout on Saturday in the Yankees' leadoff spot. |
Our View: Damon is yet to record a hit in the Grapefruit League this year. He hit .303 last season with decent power, so he should be an asset once he gets going, especially in such a stacked lineup.
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| Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay does not see many players enjoy great success against him, but one that does is Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon. When Damon and Hallady square off on Thursday, the former Boston star does so with a career batting average against Hallady of .342 (27-for-79) and OBP of .409. |
Our View: Damon has had a solid year, providing a little bit of everything for fantasy owners, with 16 home runs, 29 steals and a batting average over .300.
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| Johnny Damon went 2-for-4 and scored the winning run in the Yankees 3-2 victory over the Orioles on Friday. He also got his 29th stolen base of the season. |
Our View: Damon has not reached 30 stolen bases since 2003 but just needs one more to reach that mark despite having serious knee problems earlier in the season.
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| Johnny Damon was given permission by the Yankees to leave the team to attend the birth of his fourth child. The Yankees expect Damon to rejoin the team on Friday, according to the Yankees official web site. |
Our View: Damon has been seeing the ball well lately, having at least one hit in his last five games. Damon's 2008 season has been what fantasy owners had hoped for when they drafted the outfielder.
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| Johnny Damon went 2-for-5 with a pair of homers and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Angels. |
Our View: Damon had been in a rut over the past week, but he is clearly seeing the ball a little better now. Johnny has fallen short of his superstar days, but he is turning in a solid year for fantasy owners.
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| Damon is willing to play first base for the Yankees next season, according to the New York Daily News. |
Our View: Jason Giambi is a pending free agent, but it seems unlikely that the Yankees wouldn't re-sign Giambi or add another slugger at first base. Of course, the major league readiness of Brett Gardner in the outfield does give the team more flexibility.
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| Johnny Damon has been named the Yankees nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, given to a player each year for their contributions off the field, according to Yankees.com. |
Our View: Damon has turned in a very good season for fantasy owners, putting up a .316 average, 25 stolen bases and 12 home runs. While those numbers are surely appreciated, his work off the field is far more important.
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| The Yankees got the hits but failed to convert scoring opportunities, falling 7-3 to the Red Sox. Outfielder Johnny Damon did his part, hitting 2-for-4 with one walk and two homers on the night, finishing with two RBIs and two runs scored. |
Our View: Those are just Damon's 10th and 11th homers on the season, but they are his second and third in the last two days. He has gone 9-for-26 over the past six games, totaling six RBIs and eight runs scored over that span.
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| Johnny Damon has a bruise on the palm of his left hand (near his thumb), according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: It is unclear what his status is for Sunday's game. He was limited to a DH role Saturday, and went 1-for-6 against the Royals.
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| Johnny Damon will make a return to left field in tonight's game against the Orioles, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Damon had been serving as the DH to spare his injured left shoulder. He already had a very weak throwing arm, so runners may look to take advantage of the pop flies he'll surely be tossing in from the outfield.
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| Johnny Damon was 2-for-5 with a three-run home run on Monday in a 13-4 loss to the Orioles. It was his first home run since May 27th. |
Our View: Damon has been himself since returning from a shoulder injury that injury that put him on the DL. He has a hit in all but one game, but Monday was his best game yet. If the Yankees are going to make a stretch run, they'll need Johnny Damon at his best.
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| Johnny Damon went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a walk and a strikeout in the Yankees victory over Boston. |
Our View: Damon is just 3-for-14 since returning from the DL, but the fact that he stole his 14th base of the year bodes well for the future.
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| The Yankees activated Johnny Damon from the 15-day DL on Monday, the AP reports. He will start at DH against the Twins. Damon has been out since injuring his left shoulder on July 4. |
Our View: We would expect to see Damon spending a lot of time at DH in the near future. Hopefully his bat didn't cool off during the DL time. Damon is hitting .368 since the start of June.
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| Johnny Damon could not convince the Yankees to activate him from the DL Sunday, according to the NY Daily News. He resumed a light throwing program before Sunday’s game, but GM Brian Cashman suggested the Yankees want to remain cautious and might still send Damon on a one-game rehab assignment this week, and maybe not until Thursday’s off-day, according to skipper Joe Girardi, before activating him. Damon said, "I let it be known to them that I was ready. I think they want to be extra cautious because what’s hurt this team all year has been injuries and I don’t think they want to see me jump back on the DL. But I actually think I’m fine."
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Our View: So it looks like he won't be back until late next week, meaning you shouldn't activate him from your bench yet.
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| Johnny Damon pronounced himself ready to come off the disabled list Sunday as a DH after a successful batting practice session Saturday, according to the AP. However, the Yankees are still undecided as to whether to activate him. He's been out with a shoulder injury. |
Our View: It sounds like you'll be able to stick Johnny back into your lineups for the upcoming week.
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| MLB.com reports that Johnny Damon (shoulder)took batting practice with the rest of the Yankees prior to Saturday's game against the A's. He was able to take several balls deep into the outfield. |
Our View: Manager Joe Girardi said that it's possible Damon could return to the lineup without playing in a Minor League rehab game. He was hitting .319 prior to his injury.
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| Johnny Damon could hit off a tee on Friday and is hoping to rejoin the team sometime late next week, according to the AP. Damon is out with an injured left shoulder. "Friday could be a big day," Damon said. "It feels a lot better today. It feels much better not doing the drills." |
Our View: This is the first DL stint of Damon's career. He had been scheduled to hit off a tee Monday, but that was moved back after he experienced soreness.
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| Johnny Damon is eligible to be activated from the DL Sunday, but he continues to suffer from soreness in his ailing left shoulder, and won’t likely start hitting off a tee until at least late this week, according to the AP. |
Our View: He noted that his shoulder feels horrible when he wakes up. Manager Joe Girardi wants to pencil him into the Yankees' lineup Sunday, but he is not sure he can do that.
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| Johnny Damon had his first hitting off a tee session pushed back at least a few days due to soreness in his ailing left shoulder, according to the AP. He said, "Had a little tough time sleeping last night. Today it felt a little sore. We’re just going to hold back the swinging at least two more days. Hopefully it won’t be too long of a time."
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Our View: He would be eligible to be activated from the DL on July 20. We will keep you posted on his status.
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| Johnny Damon's shoulder is still too swollen to take part in hitting drills this weekend according to the Houston Chronicle. He hopes that he will start swinging on Monday. |
Our View: Don't count on Damon to be back before the All-Star break.
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| According to the AP, Johnny Damon is hoping to start hitting off a tee on Monday. “It depends if the swelling goes down,” Damon said Thursday. “If it feels good, I’ll start hurrying up.” |
Our View: Damon is on the disabled list for the first time in his major league career. Look for the Yankees to be eager to reinsert his .319 AVG back into the lineup, as soon as he is activated from the DL.
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| Johnny Damon could not avoid the 15-day DL after injuring his left shoulder in a collision with the wall. It is his first trip to the DL of his entire career. |
Our View: Damon had been enjoying an incredible season and hopefully he will return after 15 days. GM Brian Cashman gave that a 50-50 chance. Recent call-up Brett Gardner will start in his place.
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| Johnny Damon is holding out hope his sprained left shoulder won't force him to the DL for the first time in his career, according to the Boston Globe. The 14-year vet said, "I think we'll know more Sunday. If I wake up and I'm feeling the same then I think they're going to DL me. But if I'm improving, they'll try to keep getting me ready."
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Our View: Damon received treatment and did some exercises Saturday, but noted that it could be 10 days or more before he throws again. Fantasy owners should hold him out of their lineups for the new week.
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| Johnny Damon wasn't placed on the DL prior to Saturday's game, but a move may still be coming. An X-ray and MRI revealed a sprained left acromioclavicular joint (shoulder), the AP reports. "He's sore and he's getting some treatment," manager Joe Girardi says. "There's a little bit of swelling in there." The skipper adds that he needs to talk with general manager Brian Cashman and head trainer Gene Monahan before the Yankees decide to make a move. |
Our View: Really? We have a hard time believing that Girardi, Cashman and Monahan haven't already discussed Damon's status. Fantasy owners shouldn't expect Damon to play for the rest of this weekend, and, frankly, it might be easier to set lineups for next week if the Yankees just make a move.
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| Johnny Damon could be headed to the DL due to his sore left shoulder. The outfielder is eager to see how it feels on Saturday. "I think [today] is the most important day because if there's still a lot of pain [today], I think that's when we can judge how severe it is," Damon informs the New York Post. "But the way it feels right now, I know it's pretty painful." |
Our View: While this isn't good news, it's arguably the best time of year for such an injury. The All-Star game would allow Damon to miss only another week's worth of contests. Fantasy owners should expect to see a lot of Brett Gardner in the near future.
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| An MRI revealed that Johnny Damon suffered a contusion and sprain of his left shoulder during Friday's battle against the Red Sox, according to the AP. Manager Joe Girardi said, "I think the big thing is tomorrow to see how sore he is, to see what type of range of motion he has." |
Our View: He is considered day-to-day and will be re-evaluated on Saturday.
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| Johnny Damon has left today's Red Sox - Yankees contest after slamming into a fence attempting to make a catch, according to the Hartford Courant. |
Our View: The extent of Damon's injuries are not known at this time. We will keep you updated.
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| Johnny Damon (foot) was able to return to the lineup on Thursday night to help lesson the loss of Hideki Matsui, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Damon has gone from needing a trip to the DL to the lineup in record time. He must be a fast healer. It will be interesting to see how he is able to run, but he is back at it for the Yanks tonight.
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| Johnny Damon sat out yet again on Wednesday, but this time there was good news as he said the pain in his left foot arch is improving, according to MLB.com. Rookie Justin Christian started in Damon's place. |
Our View: Damon took 15 cuts in the batting cage and should be available to pinch hit on Wednesday night with the possibility of a return to the starting lineup on Thursday.
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| Johnny Damon was battling so much pain in the arch of his left foot on Sunday, according to the New York Daily News, that he "just couldn't move," giving him "no chance" at the plate or at running down balls in the outfield. Damon was out of the lineup Tuesday night with the same problem, the fourth game he has missed this season. |
Our View: Damon hopes to return today or tomorrow, although he wouldn't rule out the possibility of a trip to the disabled list.
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| Johnny Damon is hoping to avoid the DL, according to the New York Post. "I couldn't move," he said. "I had no chance swinging the bat or running out there, at all." |
Our View: This is not good news for the Yankees who are already dealing with Hideki Matsui's bum left knee.
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| Johnny Damon is out of the Yankees' lineup for tonight due to a sore foot, according to the Journal News. |
Our View: Justin Christian, who was called up today, will take Damon'spot in left field. Hideki Matsui is also not available to roam the outfield tonight due to his knee ailment.
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| Johnny Damon is not in the starting lineup tonight as the Yankees visit the Astros in the second turn of interleague play. Jason Giambi is starting at first base and Hideki Matsui is in left field. |
Our View: Damon is hitting .320 on the season and is 1-for-5 lifetime against Astros right-handed starter Shawn Chacon. There is no obvious reason why Johnny is sitting.
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| Not only did he win the game with a hit in the bottom of the ninth inning, Johnny Damon in fact had six hits and four RBI for the Yankees on Saturday. He also added his tenth SB. This was the first six hit game by a Yankee since May 1, 1986 when Gerald Williams accomplished the feat. |
Our View: Damon is now hitting .326 as he has raised his average from .265 over the past 10 games. In five of the last six games he has had at least two hits doing his best Chipper Jones impersonation.
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| Johnny Damon had three hits and an RBI in the Yankees' 4-2 win over the Orioles Wednesday. He has seven hits over the last two games and is batting .481 over the last eight days. |
Our View: Damon has contributed across the board for fantasy owners thus far with a .288 average, six homers, 24 RBI, seven steals and 32 runs.
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| Yankee outfielder Johnny Damon enjoyed a wonderful evening at the plate despite the extra-innings loss to Baltimore. Damon went 4-for-5 with a walk, hitting two doubles and his sixth home run of the season, totaling three RBIs and two runs scored on the evening. |
Our View: Damon now has a seven-game hit streak running, going 13-for-30 during that span. He also added his seventh stolen base of the season.
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| Johnny Damon went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in Sunday's 6-5 win over Seattle. His hit went for a double, his 14th of the season. |
Our View: He only scored 11 runs over 21 games in May, and is only hitting .266 for the season. He hit his first double since May 8 as well.
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| The Yankees failed to produce a bevy of offense in their 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, but outfielder Johnny Damon was one man looking to lead the way. Damon went 3-for-4 on the night, all singles and none resulting in runs scored. |
Our View: Damon's numbers have been in decline, going 15-for-66 through May coming into tonight's game. Tonight brings him to 7-for-19 over his last five games with four RBIs to show for the effort.
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| The Yankees enjoyed a rather massive surge of offense from the top of their lineup in today's 6-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. |
Our View: Leadoff man Johnny Damon went 3-for-5 with two doubles and his fourth homer of the season (the top performance of the day), grabbing two RBIs and three runs scored. SS Derek Jeter also went 3-for-5 with is fourth double of the season, adding one RBI and one run scored. RF Bobby Abreu went 2-for-4 with a walk, gathering his 20th RBI on the season and adding a stolen base (his second of the year). Last but not least, Hideki Matsui went 2-for-5 in the DH role, hitting two singles to drive in one RBI and adding one run scored (though leaving five runners on-base stings a bit).
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| The Yankees have used several lineups in their four-game series against the Cleveland Indians this weekend, and on Monday night manager Joe Girardi has inserted Hideki Matsui in left field and held Johnny Damon out versus Aaron Laffey and the Indians. |
Our View: Damon has been crushing the ball as of late, but Matsui missed both the Saturday and Sunday games and was due some at-bats.
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| Johnny Damon is all of a sudden crushing the baseball. The Yanks designated hitter had four hits in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Indians.
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Our View: Damon's hits didn't produce any RBI or runs scored but the fact he is seeing the ball is an encouraging sign for all things Yankee.
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| Johnny Damon is quietly playing very well right now, as he has reached base at least twice in nine of his last 13 starts, according to MLB.com. You wouldn't believe it by looking at his .243 batting average. |
Our View: The scrappy outfielder is a fan favorite in New York for good reason, and he will continue to rack up solid run totals while hitting at the top of the Yankees' talented lineup (he has scored 14 runs over 20 games).
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| Johnny Damon is trying to dig himself out of an early season hole. He went 3-for-5 with a double, homer, three runs, and three RBI on Tuesday. Damon has gone deep in back-to-back games and is up to .243 with 14 runs over 20 games. |
Our View: Damon's fantasy stock dropped sharply in 2007 and hasn't recovered but hitting atop the Yankees lineup has its perks. He doesn't have to hit for a good average to make a strong go at 100 runs.
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| Johnny Damon went 0-for-2 on Saturday night and he is now hitting a putrid .197 in 61 AB on the year. |
Our View: Damon does have three SB and nine runs scored which aren't awful totals considering how horrible he has been at the plate, but he needs to get going at the top of the Yankees lineup to help spark the team to some offense.
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| Johnny Damon started Monday's game with a solo homer and he added a two-run double in the fourth inning. He finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and three RBI. |
Our View: Damon managed only one multi-hit game over the previous 12 contests, so it's good to see him have a strong outing.
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| Johnny Damon broke out his running shoes on Sunday. The outfielder walked three times and stole two bases. He chipped in one run and one RBI on a night in which he went 0-for-1 at the plate. |
Our View: What's going on? We thought the Yankees stopped trying to steal bases. Damon's two swipes were the first for the team all season.
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| Johnny Damon , still suffering from flu-like symptoms, was in the spring facility this morning and is expected to take part in the Thursday game.
"You don't want to get too close to me," MLB.com overheard Damon telling a fan.
Despite his body aches, Damon is serving as the designated hitter today but Yankees manager Joe Girardi told the media that he expects Damon to be the Yankees' leadoff hitter and left fielder on opening day. |
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| Johnny Damon will not play on Wednesday due to flu-like symptoms, MLB.com reports. He is day-to-day, and manager Joe Girardi hopes Damon will return for contests on Friday and Saturday. |
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| Johnny Damon didn't play on Tuesday and will skip Wednesday's game, too, in order to rest his bruised foot, according to the AP. "Johnny has a bruised toe," Girardi said. "It doesn’t feel good. It might be a couple days." X-rays and an MRI came back negative, so Damon should return to game action later in the week after fouling a ball off his foot during Monday's game. |
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| Johnny Damon is reportedly fine after X-Rays showed no damage after he fouled a ball of his foot on Monday, according to Newsday. The injury bug likes Johnny Damon, so it is good to see he's alright. |
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| When Johnny Damon left spring training last year, it was because he actually contemplated retiring. "I was just exhausted .... Burnt out," Damon told SI.com Tuesday. "[Retirement] definitely crossed my mind." Eventually, Damon rejoined the Yankees, instead of walking away from the final three years of his $52 million contract. He appears to have his head in a better place and is in better physical shape this spring. Manager Joe Girardi said he plans to rotate Damon and Hideki Matsui through left field and DH to keep them fresh this season. |
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| Yankees GM Brian Cashman told fans in a January event that Johnny Damon arrived last spring out of shape, and that played a role in Damon's shaky performance in 2007, according to the New York Daily News. Damon appears to have refocused himself for his 2008 campaign, though. "I'm ready to go out and prove to everyone that I'm still a pretty good player," he said. "I've been pretty consistent over my career, but when you talk about the good players in the league now my name hardly comes up, and I don't think that's right. I really need to go out there and show people I'm still pretty good." Manager Joe Girardi said he plans to split action at DH and left field between Damon and Hideki Matsui to keep them both fresh this season. |
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| Johnny Damon met with Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman Wednesday, and he left convinced that he wouldn't be traded this offseason, according to Newsday. "They realize how important I am to the team," Damon told reporters. "The way it looks, I'll definitely be back."
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| Johnny Damon was given a routine day off Saturday, the AP reports. Damon hit .297 in August, though not a lot of production came tied to that (13 runs, 12 RBI). |
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| Johnny Damon was unhappy about not being informed about being left out of the lineup on Wednesday, and he suggested that perhaps the Yankees should trade him if they can't get him into the lineup consistently. "As a player, you always want to know what your role is and what's happening," Damon told Newsday. "If I'm still out there on the margin, especially with Jason (Giambi) coming back . . . Anything's possible. I know a lot of teams are interested. With Jason coming back and a number of outfielders going down, the Yankees could probably get a better player now than what they probably got offered July 31." Damon has a limited no-trade clause and two years and about $30 million left on his contract, so he would be tough to move, even if the Yankees do surprisingly decide to deal him.
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| A decision on whether Johnny Damon will be placed on the DL will come today. Damon has been bothered by calf cramps most of the season and an abdominal muscle strain for the past week, according to Newsday. He pinch hit twice over the weekend but did not play the field. Damon said Sunday he still feels the abdominal pain when he swings and even the next day. The outfielder is hitting just .251 on the year. |
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| Johnny Damon appeared as a pinch-hitter on Sunday, giving hope that he might avoid a stint on the disabled list. The Yankees are expected to make a decision on Monday or Tuesday, according to the New York Daily News. Since he was able to single and steal second base in his Sunday appearance, things look promising for Damon, who is dealing with a strained abdominal muscle. |
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| The Yankees should reach a decision on whether or not Johnny Damon will be placed on the disabled list sometime next week, according to Newsday. He has been dealing with a strained abdominal muscle, although he started in center field on Thursday. "It only grabbed me on a couple of swings," Damon said. "I was OK." Damon has yet to land on the DL in his big-league career, so he'll try to avoid it at all costs. |
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| As expected, Johnny Damon took part in Thursday's game. Unfortunately, he was ineffective, going hitless in four at-bats. Damon is battling a strained abdominal muscle, and a trip to the disabled list seems likely. |
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| Johnny Damon will start in center field for the Yankees on Thursday despite his strained abdominal muscle, although the team is also considering placing him on the disabled list. "If this keeps popping up and keeps him from doing his work [the DL] is something we have to seriously talk about," Torre told the New York Post. "We have to look into this and will take the next couple of days to investigate." Damon hasn’t been in the starting lineup since Sunday because of his injury and it doesn’t appear he’s getting better very quickly. He remains a very iffy fantasy option. |
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| Johnny Damon might be headed to the disabled list for the first time in his career, the AP reports. Damon has been bothered since last week by a strained abdominal muscle, which he aggravated Tuesday while taking batting practice. Damon was able to take batting practice Wednesday, however. "He said it felt a little bit better today, but we'll have to see how much better and how it affects his performance," manager Joe Torre said. |
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| Johnny Damon is dealing with a lot of pain in his abdominal muscle. "My rib is shot," Damon told The New York Post. "I am not too happy right now." However, manager Joe Torre doesn’t sound like he’s ready to put Damon on the disabled list. "Johnny is under the weather right now, his side is bothering him," Torre told the paper before Tuesday’s game. "He took BP in the cage and he feels it. We are not going to push it. Right now I would rather have him for one [pinch hit] at-bat than lose him [completely]." Fantasy owners shouldn’t have Damon in their lineup this week because the Yankees can’t use him as their designated hitter since they are in National League parks. |
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| Johnny Damon was able to play on Saturday, going 1-for-4, after sitting out the previous game. However, his sore oblique muscle was still bothering him, according to the New York Daily News. "I felt it on every swing," Damon said. He added that he didn't think the injury would go away soon, though he intends to play through the pain. Damon's proved capable of performing when hurt, but at some point injuries are bound to catch up with him. |
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| Yankees manager Joe Torre said he scratched Johnny Damon from Friday's lineup in the hope that Damon would be able to play Saturday afternoon. Damon said his oblique muscle was bothering him, according to the New York Daily News. Damon tested the muscle by taking batting practice and said he felt pain "on every swing." That doesn't sound very promising for Damon playing on Saturday. He's likely going to be a game-time decision. |
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| Johnny Damon was scratched from the starting lineup Friday night because of an abdominal strain, according to the AP. He had been slated to bat leadoff and be the designated hitter. Damon is available to pinch-hit if needed. |
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| Johnny Damon was back in center field Wednesday after nine straight starts at designated hitter, the AP reports. Damon has been bothered by sore legs this season but said he felt good before the game. "We need to play Johnny in the outfield every once in a while anyway just to keep him going there," Joe Torre said. |
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| Johnny Damon has been working out at first base, but manager Joe Torre said he won't play there anytime soon, according to the AP. "It's not that we don't think he can handle it," Torre said. "At this point, for him to play first, you'd have to find someone who'd be better-suited to DH. Right now, we don't have that person." |
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| With Jason Giambi going on the DL, Johnny Damon will see a good amount of playing time at DH. This would give Damon an opportunity to rest his calves, which have bothered him all year, when he's not hitting, according to Newsday. Melky Cabrera will play center field when Damon DH's. |
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| Johnny Damon, who was not in the starting lineup on Saturday and Sunday due to a cramps in both calves and a sore Achilles tendon, started in center field for the Yankees on Monday, according to the AP. Manager Joe Torre said Damon will play all three games in Toronto, but could get at least one start at designated hitter. |
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| Johnny Damon, who is battling cramps in both calves and a sore Achilles tendon in his right leg, was not in the starting lineup on Sunday, but he did serve as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. Manager Joe Torre said that he may use Damon as the DH in the Yankees series against Toronto, which begins on Monday. |
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| Johnny Damon did not start Saturday because of cramps in both calves and a sore Achilles tendon in his right leg, the AP reports. It is uncertain when he will start again |
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| Johnny Damon was held out of Thursday's starting lineup due to his nagging sore left calf, according to the AP. "It's that strain I had on opening day," said Damon. "It's still kind of there but I'm all right." At this point Damon remains day-to-day due to the injury. Melky Cabrera started in his stead for the Yankees. |
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| Johnny Damon was forced to exit Thursday's game in the eighth inning after his calf cramped up, according to the AP. The same problem knocked him out of Saturday's game, so hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come. |
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| Johnny Damon did not play on Saturday after his right calf cramped up during his last at-bat Friday night. He is day-to-day. |
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| Johnny Damon, who is recovering from a sore back, will likely play in just one of the two games Thursday, the Yankees official site reports. |
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| Johnny Damon will likely return to the lineup tonight against the Rangers, according to the New York Times. "I know he feels, mentally, a heck of a lot better than what he was," general manager Brian Cashman said after Tuesday's game. "Tomorrow, I know Johnny feels he’s ready to lead us again." |
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| Johnny Damon, who has been bothered by recent back troubles, did not start Tuesday night against Texas but expects to return to the lineup this week, according to the AP. He had flown to Florida on Sunday for several sessions with his chiropractor. Damon said he felt better but that manager Joe Torre wanted to sit him as a precaution. |
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| Johnny Damon saw a chiropractor on Monday about his ailing back, according to the New York Post. He's slated to be with the Yankees today, although it's unclear if he'll be in the starting lineup. Damon has just two hits in his last 14 at-bats. |
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| Johnny Damon will fly to Florida Monday during the Yankees' off-day to have his ailing back examined by his own doctor, according to the Boston Herald. Damon hasn't ruled out the possibility of ending up on the disabled list due to the nagging injury. |
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| Johnny Damon started at DH for the Yankees on Saturday because of his sore back and legs. "He's dealing with some issues," manager Joe Torre told the AP of Damon before explaining that Damon will visit a chiropractor on Monday's off-day. "We'll see what happens after that," Torre added. |
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| Johnny Damon stole two bases in Thursday's loss to the Blue Jays. Despite his assorted nicks and dings to the season (and missing a few starts), Damon already has five steals in 2007. |
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| Johnny Damon returned to the lineup Sunday after just pinch-hitting Saturday, according to the AP. Damon is dealing with a stiff back. |
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| Johnny Damon is expected to return to the starting lineup for the Yanks on Sunday, according to the New York Daily News. He didn't start Saturday's game due to a sore lower back and hamstring, though he did appear as a pinch-hitter. |
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| Johnny Damon said he felt a "burning sensation" in his lower back during the eighth inning last night and that his hamstring grabbed him in the fifth, according to the New York Daily News. "I'm hoping my back is all right. I had trouble with it in Minnesota because of the turf," Damon said. "It doesn't feel as good as it should." It's not clear if Damon will be able to play today. |
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| Johnny Damon was back in the starting lineup in center field Monday, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Damon battled sore calves for a few days but was able to avoid a trip to the disabled list. |
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| Johnny Damon didn't start Sunday in part because of the poor weather, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. It seems plausible that Damon (calves) will be back in the starting lineup Monday. |
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| Johnny Damon pinch-hit in Saturday's game and may not be far away from starting, the Yankees official site reports. Damon has been dealing with a strained calf and hadn't seen any action since Monday. "He's very close (to starting) right now," manager Joe Torre said.
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| Johnny Damon reported "massive improvement" in his strained right calf on Friday, which will allow him to avoid a trip to the disabled list, according to Newsday. He was so improved that manager Joe Torre even considered putting him in the lineup on Friday. That said, it's unclear if Torre plans to re-insert him into the lineup today. |
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| Johnny Damon was feeling much better Friday and won't be placed on the DL, general manager Brian Cashman told the AP. Damon hopes to be available Saturday. "There was massive improvement last night," Damon said. "It feels pretty good today. Yes, I'm proud I've never been on, and hopefully I won't." |
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| Although Johnny Damon is feeling better than he did two days ago, when he said he could barely walk, he is not healthy enough to play and he still might wind up on the disabled list, the New York Daily News reports. Damon is battling sore calves, specifically the right one; an MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain. "Where we go from here, we'll see," Joe Torre said. "We'll see how it progresses and we'll make a decision if we're going to do anything other than to wait for him to get better."
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| Johnny Damon was not in the Yankees starting lineup on Thursday against Tampa Bay due to a strained right calf, according to the AP. He underwent an MRI earlier in the day, but the Yanks have yet to determine whether a DL stint is necessary. "We'll see how it progresses," manager Joe Torre said. "He's obviously going to be our best barometer for this thing." |
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| The Yankees will hold off on making a decision about Johnny Damon until he's re-evaluated today, according to Newsday. Damon is dealing with a strained calf, and a DL stint is looking like a very good possibility. |
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| Johnny Damon's calf cramps may be a bigger issue than originally expected, according to Newsday. Damon said he could barely walk Wednesday morning and he wasn't going to be in the lineup for game in the afternoon (which was ultimately rained out). If Damon isn't better in a couple days the Yankees may have to consider the DL or at least calling up someone else who can play center field. Melky Cabrera is quite capable, but they need a second option. |
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| Johnny Damon, who left Monday's opener due to leg cramps, is hoping to return to action on Wednesday, according to the Yankees website. "It's nothing for the team or any of the fans to worry about," Damon said. "Hopefully we can control it, and hopefully this doesn't happen again." He'll receive treatment today, the Yankees' off day. |
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| Johnny Damon left Monday's game in the sixth inning with cramps in both calves. Melky Cabrera replaced him in center field. |
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| Johnny Damon is expected to miss at least a few days of spring training to take care of a personal matter. "I think it's going to be some time," manager Joe Torre said
Saturday. "A few days or something. He has some personal things he
has to attend to, and we just gave him that ability." |
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| Johnny Damon needed significant treatment on his sore knee in order to play last night, and he was still having trouble running, according to the New York Daily News. He was caught on his left knee by a pitch during Thursday's game, and the joint swelled up considerably. "It's pretty sore," Damon said. |
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| Johnny Damon sat out his third straight game Saturday, the AP reports. He's been resting a sore throwing hand. He has a chance to play Sunday, but the Yankees obviously have no major incentive with the AL East title already locked up. |
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| Johnny Damon was given a night off Thursday in part due to the wet conditions at Yankee Stadium, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Chien-Ming Wang and Bobby Abreu were also scratched for the same reason. |
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| It's not clear if Johnny Damon will be able to play tonight after leaving yesterday's game in the fourth inning with a stiff right groin, according to the New York Daily News. "I don't really know what happened," he said. "When I went to the field, I knew I didn't feel good. I was waiting for it to loosen up, so I waited a couple of innings. It started to feel a little better, but I was still hobbling around. ... I'm hoping it was just something that got stuck and is no big deal. I'm hoping to be in there (today), but if not, I should definitely be there (tomorrow)." |
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| Johnny Damon left Wednesday night's game against the White Sox with stiffness in his right groin, according to the AP. It's uncertain if he'll have to miss any time with the injury. |
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| Johnny Damon, who had missed two games with a stiff back, was back in the lineup on Wednesday, according to the New York Post. He went 1-for-4. |
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| Johnny Damon, who has missed the last two games with a back injury, is expected to miss tonight's game, as well, according to Newsday. "You can definitely live with it," Damon said, "but as far as swinging the bat, that could be difficult ... I was hoping for a major improvement and it didn't feel any better." It's uncertain when he'll be ready to return to the lineup. |
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| Johnny Damon was out of the lineup Tuesday for the second straight night due to a sore back, according to the AP. Manager Joe Torre is not sure when Damon will be ready to return to action. "It's not out of there, unfortunately," Torre said before Tuesday's game. "He had no problems sleeping last night because I guess he took a muscle relaxer. He was getting worked on (before the game) so at that point I decided not to try it tonight." |
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| Johnny Damon, who tweaked his back on Monday, is hoping to be back in the lineup tonight, but he doesn't know for sure if he'll be ready to play, according to Newsday. He hurt his back while he was getting into a car before Monday's game. He's considered day-to-day. |
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| Though Johnny Damon has been scratched from Monday's lineup with a sore back, he is still available for pinch-hit duty, according to ESPN. Damon is considered day-to-day. |
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| Johnny Damon was scratched from Monday's lineup with a stiff back, according to the AP. "His back was locked up so I took him out of the lineup," manager Joe Torre said. "He was trying to get in the car or something, and it locked up. He was all right yesterday." Damon is considered day-to-day. |
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