No Arbitration Offers
Joel Sherman tweets that the Yankees will not offer arbitration to anyone. I think the decision not to offer it to Damon it fascinating.
By offering arbitration to Damon the Yankees would have secured two draft picks if he had left New York. Think that isn't important? When the Yankees offered arbitration to Tom Gordon and he went to Philadelphia, they got two picks. Those picks became Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy. But, Damon could have accepted and then he probably would have gotten around $15 million in arbitration. However, it would only be a one-year deal. Furthermore, offering Damon arbitration would probably have made other teams more reluctant to sign him because they wouldn't want to forfeit a top draft pick.
Reading the Yankees' tea leaves is always hard, but this leads me to two conclusions. One- the Yankees would prefer to bring back Matsui, bum knees and all over Damon and two- the Yankees are exploring the left field trade market/ free agent market. I have a feeling we will be waiting awhile to find out, but I think Mr. Damon will have a new address (In Queens perhaps?) next year.
Comments
Makes sense Peter. And Hideki's bat, even if it is a part time DH bat, is a good one to keep, assuming the price and terms are right. If he appears in 130 +/- games as the DH, rotating with some of the other elders, it might be a good way to keep his knees somewhat healthy. A clutch, lefty power bat is "goodness" with that short porch.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 2, 2009 04:10 PM
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David DeJesus has just popped up on the radar as being available. Lefty hitting LFer, decent arm with fielding range, decent hitting numbers all around including his OPS - steady Eddie type and as he's a salary dump from the Royals, he can almost surely be had for some Yankees spare parts.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 4, 2009 09:45 AM
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