I'm a Mets' fan, but think this is a good move getting Damon. I'm not sure he's worth 52 million though.

Updated: Dec. 20, 2005, 11:09 PM ET
Yankees add Damon to potent lineup
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees grabbed center fielder Johnny Damon away from the rival Boston Red Sox, reaching a preliminary agreement Tuesday night on a $52 million, four-year contract.

Details of the deal were still being negotiated and Damon must pass a physical, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity because negotiations were not yet final.

Damon fills a double void for the Yankees, giving them a speedy center fielder who can cover ground and a leadoff hitter to top a star-studded lineup that also includes Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield, AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi.

Bernie Williams' defense declined significantly over the past four seasons. And while Damon's arm is not much better, he does cover a lot of ground, which is important in Yankee Stadium.

Agent Scott Boras had been seeking a seven-year contract for Damon. The offer Damon accepted was essentially the same as the deal Matsui agreed to with the Yankees last month.

Hooray! A bonafide CF!

It was just announced on Boston news stations and sports radio stations.

WOO F'N HOO! SUCK ON THAT BOSTON!

Hey Irish....now I remember why I hate Jets fans. Oh wait, I forgot. Damn, why did I hate Jets fans......

Anyway, great move for the Yankees. Thing is, why does the pit in my digestive tract make me wonder if Damon won't fulfill the promise that he is supposed to bring to the Yankees for 2006?

Or maybe it was that damn burrito.

ronnie, even you can't bring me down from the high I'm on right now. Marlins will not make the playoffs (as expected) and Yanks will win the Series (as expected)

Lineup:
1) Damon
2) Jeter
3) Sheffield
4) A-Rod
5) Matsui
6) Giambi
7) Posada
8) DH
9) Cano

PS-I hate Dolphins fans probably just as much or more than you hate Jets fans

If we could fix this problem, even better....

Yeah but who are we going to replace him with. I was just thinking about it. How could you possibly make last year's Yankees lineup even more dangerous and then tonight BANG Johnny Damon (captain caveman no more) I'm BUSTING right now!

One word... okay, two words... "Starting Pitching". Let's put our emphasis on that, k? We already have (and HAVE HAD) bats! We need SP's now, or we're totally fucked (again!) !!

Cashman's addressed the bullpen issue and we still have Johnson, Moose, Pavano, Wright, Small, Wang and Chacon. The only other pitcher I'd like to see right now who's on the market is Clemens. I'm glad they didn't throw money at someone like A.J. Burnett

Small Wang aside, I think you're giving them too much credit...

Maybe so but they still got the job done in terms of winning the division title. Sure against Anaheim they fell short but who else should/could they get? I'm so incredibly proud of Cashman for not going on another "spending spree" and trying to compete with Boston (Josh Beckett) or the Mets (Delgado, Wagner, etc).

Interesting

"On Tuesday, Yankees officials told Scott Boras they needed an answer by midnight, because there was a possibility that another center fielder would become available -- maybe someone like Corey Patterson of the Cubs. If Damon wouldn't take their four-year, $52 million offer, they were going to go in another direction.

For the Damon camp, this was crucial: If the Yankees had gone out and made a deal for Patterson or some other center fielder, Damon's leverage in dealing with Boston, and getting the Red Sox to move off of their four-year offer, would have been gone. Without any indication that Boston was going to budge to a fifth-year, Damon and Boras bit on the Yankees' offer, immediately shifting the balance of power in the American League East."

That fuckin' whore Damon can follow Babe Ruth's piano into the lake!

Scumbag!!

Not terribly excited as far as the defense goes. He's a mediocre fielder at best, I remember him making errors in one of the playoff runs quite a bit. His bat is unquestionably strong, and will make a great leadoff. But the point of going out and getting a CF was to get a great fielding CF.

Inquiry - doesn't this mean he'll actually have to shave :p

I'm with you SC. My daughter just called. She's distressed. She is a Bubba fan. Oh, but wait....you're a Red Sock fan. Take him back, take him back,,,,,pleeze.

No shit sherlock. Nice to pick on a team with 50 cents on their payroll, eh? :p

Nice to pick on a team with 50 cents on their payroll, eh? :p [/b][/quote]When did Curtis Jackson sign a contract with the Florida Marlins? :p

I've been waiting for this day for a LONG time! Not to mention it's right before Christmas. I got what I needed, "hope" all you boston fans get yours too :p

I read in an interview a couple of weeks ago that if he went to New York he knew the "apparence codes" they have there and said he would follow them. Say goodbye to Captain Caveman boston

Nice to pick on a team with 50 cents on their payroll, eh? :p [/b][/quote]When did Curtis Jackson sign a contract with the Florida Marlins? :p

[/b][/quote] Nice DJ

Boston F*cked up big time with this one. I guess that's what happens when you don't have a GM.

I'm just so amazed the Yankees got him so cheap, 4 years $52 million

i love the sox and damon but he left for only 12 mil more than sox were gonna pay him what a joke. he is a great lead off man but all us boston fans are sooooooo pi##ed. first they let pedro go now damon manny will be next. what a sad day for the red sox nation

"only $12 Million"?

12 mil after he pays taxes on it and his agent aint crap he has made millions in mlb he is rich. what about loyalty (spelling)

Maybe he can convince Manny or Ortiz to come and play DH for the Yankees now!

Hey Geoff, aren't there rules against using this kind of language on the boards?


I don't know if the Yankee fans are more happy about Damon coming to New York, or his leaving Boston.


Hey SC, what are you going to do when Manny leaves and goes to The Mets? You remember the Mets, 1986, 2 outs, Mookie Wilson, "BEHIND THE BAG BUCKNER!" :p


Don Cardi

Man I NEVER wanted to be in Boston right now so much in my life

Ortiz yes, Manny can go to the Mets. Hey, stranger things have happened (like Damon going to the Yanks) :p