He’s Johnny on the spot
Damon without a contract for ’10
NEW YORK - Johnny Damon will turn 36 on Nov. 5, the scheduled date for Game 7 of the World Series. He has four children, real estate investments in Florida, and lives in a sensible New Jersey suburb during the season.
What Damon does not have is a contract for next season.
As the Yankees work their way through the postseason, Damon is wondering about his future. He hopes to return to the Yankees in 2010 and is not averse to a contract of one or two years.
“I like it here and my family likes it here,’’ Damon said yesterday before Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Angels, in which he went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to propel the Yankees to the World Series. “But I don’t know what is going to happen.’’
Damon had a productive regular season, hitting .282 with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs. His 107 runs were tied for fourth in the AL. Damon also had a healthy .365 on-base percentage.
This season was the 14th in a row in which Damon played at least 140 games, a testament to his durability. That is ample evidence for agent Scott Boras to market Damon as an elite free agent, capable of making a difference for a contending team.
“Not that I’ve been thinking about this, but players who can get on the field every day and score 100 runs, how many guys do that?’’ Boras told reporters in Anaheim, Calif., before Game 3. “Johnny just plays, and he’s got the body type that allows him to do that. If stem cell research were around, you’d want to tap into that gene pool.’’
Damon has said he would prefer to remain on the East Coast, which could limit his options. It also was a stagnant market for free agents in their mid-30s last season.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said personnel decisions will wait until after the playoffs. But the Yankees have indicated a willingness to retain Damon at the right price.
The new Yankee Stadium suits Damon well. He hit 17 of his home runs there, all to right field.
Damon has said at various points this season that he is interested in cementing his place in baseball history by reaching certain statistical plateaus. He has 2,425 hits, 1,483 runs, 996 RBIs, 207 home runs, and 374 stolen bases.
Only five players - Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor, and Joe Morgan - have compiled 2,500 hits, 1,500 runs, 1,000 RBIs, 225 home runs, and 400 stolen bases.
“I like those round numbers,’’ said Damon, who hopes he’s at least “in the discussion’’ for the Hall of Fame once he retires.
