Ken Davidoff has it also:

The #Yankees and Nick Johnson are engaged in serious discussions, but Johnson hasn’t taken a physical exam yet.

Maybe this is why they had to part with Wang. A Wang and a Johnson on the same team.. that’s like a hot dog bun with two hot dogs.

I’m excited for a Johnson return.  But more importantly, is the injury pool going to focus on when he goes on the DL, or what body part gets injured?

But more importantly, is the injury pool going to focus on when he goes on the DL, or what body part gets injured?

Why choose?  Let’s run two!

[2] How about who puts up more walks, Cano in 1 season or Johnson in 1 month?

So many RLYW dreams coming true. Kennedy traded for an important player, Nick Johnson returning to the Yanks.

I hear Cashman is legally changing his name to (lantern).

[1] Remember when the two pillars (ahem) of the rotation were a Wang and a Johnson who was randy?

[6] I thought his name was The Big Unit? Oh.. wait.

[6] And they actually went jogging together once!

It would be so nice to finally, six years later, redeem that dumbshit trade…........

The 2002-2003 Yanks don’t get the credit they deserve. The ‘02 team was stampeded by a rampaging Angels squad, and the beautiful triumph over the Sawx in the ‘03 LCS was overshadowed by the ‘03 WS loss and the ‘04 embarrassment, but those were two of the best squads of the Joe Torre era. In fact, I’d put the ‘02 Yanks against any non-‘98 Yankee team from 1996-2009. And Nicky was a huge part of both those teams. I really was looking forward to years and years of Nicky at first and Alfonso Soriano at second. And while I have no problem with Sori’s departure in favor of A-Rod, I still miss Nicky and really hope he’s actually coming back.

[4] This made me snarf my iced tea…

‘03 LCS was overshadowed by the ‘03 WS loss

Jeff Weaver! Serenity now! Hoochie Mama!!!

“I really was looking forward to years and years of Nicky at first and Alfonso Soriano at second.”

I should have just enjoyed the 5 WAR but I found Soriano’s 40-40 pursuit in 2002 immensely annoying.

Just totalled up the dollars and salary columns at Fangraphs for A-Rod.  They get the sum of the dollars right but not the sum of the salary (well, there is an asterisk by total).  Anybody understand?

The vaunted NJASDJDH foursome is back to 50%

WOOO!

$5.5 on a one year deal.  No wonder Cash let Matsui walk.  Really like this move.

I hope he’s not done.  (lantern), that is.

I love this potential signing.

[3] The DH portion of that quartet was an unmitigated disaster.

[16] And now the DH portion is a strength!

NJASDJDH

If I’m not mistaken, when that user name originally came into being, DH was still about as well known as TB.

Who doesn’t love this signing.  Nick’s got to be thinking he can stay healthy boost his power with the stadium and cash in big time next year with the Yanks.

Cashman has done a nice job of pacing the acquisitions.. gives us a lot to talk about.

Ok, so it eems like we’ve got a DH. Now what? Do we still need a LF?

Hadn’t DH been pretty famous as a college QB?  And wasn’t he already traded to CIN for DN and back again before the user name was coined?  Who the hell is TB anyway?  And whose screen name was that?  Fabian’s?

Ok, so it eems like we’ve got a DH. Now what?

Nady, perhaps.  But it’s almost certain now that the Yankees aren’t seriously considering Holliday.

Who the hell is TB anyway?  And whose screen name was that?  Fabian’s?

Tom Brady.
Yes.

was Johnson for Javier Vazquez really a “dumbshit” trade?

ESPN says Vazquez was one of the top 100 in the ‘00’s.  Ranked a couple of spots of below behind the God Mo.

[24] No.  Vasquez was like 28 and one of the 5 best pitchers in the NL at the time.  Juan Rivera looked fungible, as did . . .  Was it Randy Choate?  It was basically a 28 y.o. starter who looked like a stud for 25 y.o. 1b who might be a star + some chumps.  You do that trade any time .

I want to cry, I’m so happy.

Go ahead, cry.  I’m told it’s okay.  I never have myself.  Except at the first 15 minutes of “Up.”

I agree that the trade made sense. The one cautionary note was that Vazquez led MLB pitchers in abuse points in 2003.

was Johnson for Javier Vazquez really a “dumbshit” trade?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk4Ntcq5uNg

The 6 year nightmare is over:

http://www.replacementlevel.com/index.php/RLYW/direct/2003_12_05_120000_am

[29]  good point, but that probably means that trading him AWAY was the “dumbshit” trade instead of letting his arm recover.  Vazquez would never have been a #1 in the AL, but had they just had a little patience, he probably would have been a fairly consistent 200 inning mid-rotation starter on a reasonable contract.  in other words, what they signed Pavano to be….

just to be clear, i have as much of an NJ mancrush as anyone here and am very pleased with this.  OBP JESUS!!!!

was Johnson for Javier Vazquez really a “dumbshit” trade?

I think Johnson was worth about a half a win more than Vazquez between 2005-2006 when you adjust for the latter’s one year in the NL.  But I’d defer to SG’s numbers on the matter.

[31] - Signing Mike Cameron right now would be an excellent move, but that’s not going to happen.

I’m amused.  And…

Mike Cameron would have to be signed to a multiyear contract to come to New York, while Lofton will only be in pinstripes one season.  That opens the way towards pursuing prospective free agent Carlos Beltran next offseason, who will be the ballhawk and hitter the Yankees want.

Yeah, I saw that. Also Pettitte…

I opposed trading for Johnson, despite his stellar 2004 season, because of his age and pre-existing back and knee issues. But I thought he would have one CYA-caliber season and then begin to decline.

Vazquez replaces the retired Roger Clemens more than adequately,

retired, lol.

Vazquez has to be the single most confusing pitcher in baseball history.  he’s extremely durable with peripherals that could possibly belong to a Hall of Famer, yet the results are all over the map. 

he’s only 32 years old and he has 2253 K’s.  he’s in the top 50 of all time and will probably jump to about 30 by the end of next season.  he has a chance to finish in the top 10 in K’s and will probably crack the top 100 in IPs.  his K/9 is #26 all time. 

just an odd career.

*Squeeeeeeeee!*

[38] He is a great under the radar fantasy pick up. Those K’s hook you up.

Kepner:

Johnny Damon on Yankees: “It’s part of baseball. Teams try to make moves in hopes to improve their club. I wish them all the best.”

I regret my irrational glee at getting rid of Johnny Damon.  I can only assume it’s because I will rarely have to stare awkwardly at that swing in the future.

Is it seriously a one-year, $5.5 deal?

Huzzah!!

[41] I guess that’s it then. That definitely sounds like an ‘it.’ That’s about as ‘it’ as you get.

[41] This is another cool tweet from Kepner:

2 guys in MLB with a better OBP than Nick Johnson in ‘09: Mauer and Pujols

How could Damon possibly believe this?

the team was told by a conduit of Damon that unless the team was willing to offer at least $13 million a year—the outfielder’s salary in 2009—in a multi-year deal, the Yankees shouldn’t even bother making an offer.

WTF, Johnny?!?

I don’t get how this is a lock that Damon is gone. I mean, it’s LIKELY, of course, but I don’t get that it is a lock. Did a Yankee source say that?

Can we get a number crunch on NJ vs. Matsui? I didn’t follow prospects ten years ago so my irrational love goes to Godzilla. I would bet Matsui plays more games.

I like the Johnson signing a lot.  Now, I presume Cashman will finally sign (or trade for) a pitcher or two.  After all, he said that his three biggest priorities were pitching, pitching and pitching.

That definitely sounds like an ‘it.’ That’s about as ‘it’ as you get.

It sounds like that, yeah, but this is also a guy who apparently is saying don’t bother to make an offer if it isn’t a multi-year deal for $13 million, so how can you take what he says seriously?

a lot of people hated the Damon signing, but he was an excellent Yankee.  outside of the first half of ‘07, Damon was pretty great for all four years.

both sides made out well on this contract.  neither side is obligated to continue the relationship, there shouldn’t be any hard feelings.

the double steal was one of the greatest plays in Yankee history.  nothing will change that.

[49] I was really just trying to squeeze the Seinfeld reference in there.

Poor Miranda.

Granderson + Johnson > Damon + Matsui
Granderson $ + Johnson $ < Damon $ + Matsui $
Cashman = Lantern

How could Damon possibly believe this?

Boras knows how to negotiate with the Yankees.

[50] I agree.  I love the Trader.  I hope he makes his money and plays well, and if he comes back to the stadium in another uni, gets a rousing ovation.  But what he’s asking for contract-wise definitely didn’t make sense for the Yanks, especially when NJ can be had for one year and $5.5 mil.

So it’s official?

Yankee fans booed Abreu. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a “trader” sign next year.

Granderson couldn’t come across as more of a gentleman than he did today.  Seems like such a nice guy.  But he better hit hahaha…

“Granderson + Johnson > Damon + Matsui”

Do we know this? Factoring in projected playing time, wasn’t Johnson’s baseline only 1 WAR? Maybe you all are more optimistic about his health than I am.

Official Yankee Rule: No walkoff pies for Nick Johnson. That has “scratched right cornea” written all over it.

Yup, I certainly gained a lot of appreciation for the Trader. He does have an incredible amount of baseball smarts. And was really worth that contract. I will wish him well wherever he goes. Really fun player.

[41] I guess that’s it then. That definitely sounds like an ‘it.’ That’s about as ‘it’ as you get.

Am I the only one that got this obscure reference?

Followed by “detached right retina.”

Granderson projects at 3.1 and Damon at 1.7 (just grabbing from previous threads).

so does Matsui project greater than 2.4?  seems unlikely, since that’s what he put up last year.

And “sprained right wrist while clutching eye.”

[62] Well at least somebody did.

question:  with Boras shopping Matt Holliday, what benefit does it get him to allow Damon to fill the Yankees LF need with a short-term cost-effective solution so early in the offseason??

maybe i’m off the mark, but maybe Damon really does want to come back and would be willing to take a paycut, but Boras is setting his price absurdly high so the Yankees start thinking “why would i pay Damon $13M, when i could jump into the Holliday game for $18M??”.

i know Boras has brass ones, but 3-4 years at $13M/year for Damon at this point is just delusional and idiotic.  and Boras isn’t delusional or idiotic.

discuss.

[62] Well at least somebody did.

Seems like Damon is looking for this, that, and the other.

[67] Well, hopefully the ‘benefit’ is that he’s not doing something that unethical. If Damon really wants to go back to the Yankees, and Boras jams it up so that he can squeeze an extra $15M over 6 years for Holliday, that’s pretty messed up.

[67] Never thought of it that way, but I wouldn’t put it past Boras.

Am I the only one that got this obscure reference?

Oh, I got the reference, but I thought j was just using the reference to say that this was, indeed “it” for Damon.

This is fun.

I thought it was a dumbshit trade six years ago because I didn’t think Nicky was worth giving up to get Vazquez. And remember ‘04 was when Giambi went down with intestinal parasites, and instead of Nicky, the Yankees were stuck with the dessicated remains of Tony Clark and John Olerud at first.

Of course, it’s really Roger Clemens’s fault for not really retiring…..

Ken Davidoff (who is more reliable than GAK3) is saying it’s pretty much a done deal.

[67] If Boras was willing to breach his fiduciary duty to that degree, he wouldn’t have as many high profile clients as he has.

[67]

I think the Yankees want Matt Holliday and Matt Holliday wants to play for the Yankees.

I think both parties understand this, and that Holliday is playing the market much like Teixeira did last year, with the Yankees saying something along the lines of, “Call us before you sign anything and we’ll see what we can do.”

Not sure if this totally makes sense, but I think the fact that Holliday and Damon are both Boras clients is in play this way: 

Boras knows the Yankees really want Holliday.
Boras knows Johnny Damon wants more than the Yankees are willing to give him.
Boras knows that Damon’s chances of getting the contract he wants are better while the Yankees are still without a leftfielder, so other teams will have to bid against the Yankees.
Boras is trying to prolong the inevitable Holliday-Yankee marriage until he can get Johnny Damon signed somewhere else.  It doesn’t hurt Holliday to wait as long as the Cardinals are still in the mix.

i know Boras has brass ones, but 3-4 years at $13M/year for Damon at this point is just delusional and idiotic.  and Boras isn’t delusional or idiotic.

discuss.

There are 30 teams and he only needs to find one with a delusional/idiotic GM. It’s what he does best and this is all part of it. In this market Damon should get roughly what Abreu got(2/18) but I wouldn’t be surprised if Boras gets someone like SF or Seattle to give him for 3/35 or so.

It’s an idiotic category, but Team of the Decade goes to the Yankees, acc. to Caple.

The ‘02 team was stampeded by a <strike>rampaging</strike> ‘roided beyond belief Angels squad

Enhanced that for you.

Enhanced that for you.

Brought to you by BALCO.

I can’t shake the feeling that Matt Holliday will stay in St. Louis.

While I love this signing, I still think the Yankees “need” to get a left fielder better than Melky.

The Granderson acquisition was huge, and it (along with Johnson) probably IS better than Damon and Matsui, but just barely.

And since the Red Sox have improved, I’d like to see the Yankees try to do a bit better than just barely improving, especially since an improved left fielder would then turn Melky or Gardner into a GREAT fourth outfielder for when the injuries roll around.

[82] I concur.

I just returned from seeing Avatar in 3d IMAX. Good film, a bit over-dramatic at times but good performances.

Have you guys ever seen a movie in 3D? I hadn’t. It’s mindblowing. I know that Avatar is supposed to be the best 3D movie ever made and was done in true-3D, but I don’t see why all movies won’t be made in 3D in the future. I’m generally an old school kind of guy (I shoot 35mm stills not digital, and think that the film industry should give 70mm a look over digital HD) but 3D is so extraordinarily good.

Avatar is kind of like Dune, where both Herbert and Cameron put as much work into the ecology and environment of the world as they do in the story. 3D helped make the world so visceral and dynamic. It was so wonderfully imersive.

Anyway, go see it.

Also, Yay for Nick Johnson!

The Japanese aren’t the only ones who can write an excellent sounding free agent signing!

From a Thailand news portal:

New York Yankees who had exhibited an outstanding form this season is set to make a strong line up so that they can retain their consistency in the upcoming season. Though the Yankees want to retain their glorious form, Johnny Damon, one of the talented player of the team has decided to quit. It has come to the news that Johnny Damon will quit the team for some payment related issues in the new contract. Yankees officials have made several efforts to renew Johnny Damon’s contract but now it appears their attempts were futile and so they have searched for a talented replacement. As stated by sources, they have started negotiation with Nick Johnson and it is presumed that he will be the No.2 hitter and designated hitter of the Yankees.

As per the reports of the sources, the team is on the verge of finalizing a deal with Nick Johnson, who has started his professional career with the Yankees. Presently, Nick Johnson is a free agent and once the deal is settled, he would once again play for the New York Yankees. Drafting Nick Johnson is expected to be a good move by the Yankees as this year he is one of the best free agents.

In spite of several injuries, the career graph of Nick Johnson is quite appreciating and he is expected to play good game for the Yankees. New York Yankees fans who were upset after Johnny Damon decided to end his association with Yankees must have cheered up as Nick Johnson is expected to be back in the team.

“New York Yankees fans who were upset after Johnny Damon decided to end his association with Yankees must have cheered up as Nick Johnson is expected to be back in the team.”

That’s some crackerjack editorializing. WOOO! Nick!

[6 & 7]

“RANDY JOHNSON stars as: THE BIG UNIT!” (key cheesy 70’s porn music)

Have you guys ever seen a movie in 3D?

A few.  I think all Disney movies are now made in 3D.  Pretty sure one of the first movies in “new” 3D was Beowulf, and that was awesome.  The 3D effects that is, the movie sucked.  A friend and I both came out afterwards saying the same thing, 3D awesome, movie wasn’t.  My wife gets motion-sickness watching 3D *or* IMAX (I think watching a 3D movie on IMAX she would just drop dead), so I only get to see movies in 3D when she isn’t interested in it.

While I love this signing, I still think the Yankees “need” to get a left fielder better than Melky.

CAIRO has Johnson producing 19 runs above average, but not sure how much that would change as a DH in NYS (SG?).  But based on Miranda’s projection in roughly the same number of PA’s, he improves the Yankees by about 1.5 wins.  So they go from a 92-93 win team in the AL East to 93-95.

Here is where SG had them last year right at the start of Spring Training.  A little different b/c it was simulated not just projected.  But basically, they’re right where they were last year.  And though last year had a lot go *right*, it also had a lot go wrong (Wang, Nady missing almost all of the year, ARod missing 6 weeks or so, etc). 

I’m actually to the point I only want one of two LF.  Damon back on a reasonable contract, or Holliday.  Adding top-flight talent you should always do (Holliday is a top-5 LF) if the price is right, and Damon…he adds a lot to the team and it would be nice to see him retire as a Yankee.  Not $13M a year for any number of years nice, but nice.

It’s going to be so frustrating watching Damon play for, like, the San Francisco Giants for two years/$10 million.

I never liked rooting for Damon and I never got attached to him, mostly because he was a Red Sox and his role in 2004. 

I’m not talking about anyone here when I say this but I never understood fans love for Damon and hate for A-Rod.  He was “Mr. Long Haired Caveman Idiot” before he came here.  The personification of the Red Sox “Anti Yankee” image and he changed all of that and came here because we gave him the most money.  I never understood why people didn’t see him for that or why they are surprised it’s all about the money now.

I don’t hate him for being all about the money, he should be, and I actually think it’s a good thing that he can fit in anywhere but he never was what people thought of him.

[90] He’d be a good fit in San Fran.  I kind of feel bad for SF fans, they are one of the few teams to turn a consistently good profit, have some young talent, but haven’t had a decent hitter since Barry retired and haven’t made the playoffs in the same time.

[82]

I also concur.  The Yankees don’t seem finished to me.  Again, Nick Johnson is a nice pick-up, but with his injury concerns there must be something else coming down the pike.  Who knows, maybe they DO bring Damon back, but to me, all signs point to Holliday.

[90]  I thought the only reason people wanted JD back was to DH.  As a LF, I think he only projects to be about a half game better than Melky.  Why spend the money?  Either use it to get Holliday or someone else who represents a significant upgrade in left, or use it to get some more pitching.

I really want a LF.  I think we have enough options that the pitching will be fine; all I would pursue is a Duchscherer/Escobar type RP/6th SP.

But Melky in LF is just unacceptable.  With the current personnel, I’d put Granderson in LF and do a strict platoon in CF with Gardner getting all the PT against RHP.  At least that maximizes your defense.

But the Melky/Gardner defensive advantage is likely to be significantly reduced in LF, and the offense just isn’t good enough.

I’d try to trade Melky and a prospect for a real RH bat for LF.

What prospect would that be?  Are you willing to deal Montero?  A team with a “real” RH bat is not going to take Melky + random dude for a very good player.

Feinsand:

Sources say the Yankees’ decision not to re-sign Matsui had nothing to do with money and everything to do with the condition of his knees.

I didn’t hate Damon, I hated his uniform…there are some Red Sox who I just don’t like.  Beckett, Papelbon, Youk and Pedroia…I just can’t stand any of them.  Schilling in his day…so. much. hate.  But Damon, Ortiz, Wakefield and even Manny I just liked.  So Damon coming over was awesome for me, because I knew how angry it made the Red Sox fans who felt the betrayal of the great Trader.  When he made a big deal of getting his hair cut at a poncy salon in the city, and then sang “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in a syruppy voice, I loved it.  The indelible images of Damon as a Yankee for me will no doubt be that double steal, but also when Melky robbed Manny’s home run, and Damon was jumping up the wall right next to him, and grinning like crazy as they ran back to the dugout.  Damon clearly loves playing the game, he busts his ass, and he really was a major contributor to the Yanks.  I’m in the minority, I’d expect, but I think he’d be worth maxing out at a 2 yr $22 million deal, playing the bulk of his time in LF next year.  His defense is clearly dropping off, but I think last year was so much a cliff as an extreme that he’ll regress back from.  He’ll give you subpar defense with solid OBP, a perfect swing for DNYS, and excellent baserunning skills.  If he doesn’t come back, I’ll wish him the best and remember him fondly.

I think [76] nails the response to [67].  If you’re going to be the highest profile agent in the game, it is inevitable that you’ll wind up representing more than one FA at a time, and that two or more of your clients would be well-placed on the same team while said team only has room for one or the other.  Fun as it is to hate on Boras, one of the many things that makes him the best at what he does is that he knows how to use what looks to most people like a conflict of interest to advantage both of his clients.  It’s pretty clear to me that this is what he’s doing here.

Why spend the money?

How much money?  If Damon would play for the reasonable short-term contract that he should be getting at this point in his career, you’d have a nice little upgrade and a lot of depth and flexibility without the long-term implications of signing Holliday.  To me, the problem with Damon isn’t his defense in LF or the fact that he’s not a big enough upgrade over Melky.  It’s simply that he wants too much money.

...wasn’t so much a cliff…