YankeesRedSox.com

If you are a player that is young or in his prime, Scott Boras is THE MAN. If you are an aging player, perhaps you should consider negotiating yourself or changing agents and playing less risky bluff hands that Scott Boras is willing to do...

I suspect we're only getting half the story here. Part of the "disconnect" may have been that Cashman really wanted to get the team younger - so he played hardball with Boras when given the opening, hence the comment that ended, "We believed him".

Damon, in my view, really has become not much more than a DH - and those guys, if well paid, are about $5 - $7M. Johnny may have needed to come to that realization in his own way and on his own schedule, which was not Cashman's schedule. Plus with S(o)B the agent whispering evil things, there was no guarantee that Damon could have been signed. Sooooooo, the guy is gone and I suspect he's gone for good. Damon saying he won't rule out a return completely ignores the reailty that Cashman will always be looking for better, stronger, more productive, less expensive options.

completely off target but did you see this:

check this out

Mitchell-

I think Buster Olney had a very good analysis of the situation today- http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4872112&name=olney_buster

BL

That's a pretty funny article. I like the comparison to polo.

Let's face it, if you weren't a fan of either team you would probably want everyone to just shut the hell up about the rivalry.

Personally, I think the rivalry isn't as good as it once was. 2003+2004 to me was the pinnacle. Both teams were so good and so competitive. Every game was blood and guts and you got the sense that a lot of guys didn't like each other.

Now you have Pedroia and Jeter as BFF's and the sizzle isn't the same. I still love it, but it definitely isn't as fierce.

it is cyclical and will get nasty again, just need some head to head playoff matchups - it's been since 04 hasn't it?

Good point, but I still think some of the "juice" is gone because of '04.

you know as Yankee and RedSox fans we cannot use the term "juice"...

Peter,

May I trouble you for the "executive summary" of Olney's article? I don't pay for the privilege of being an ESPN Insider. There may be others frequenting this site who are just as cheap as I am . . . Thanks.

Greg- Sure thing (And for the record, I don't either, I just use Andy's credit card # for the subscription ;-))

1- After Yankees traded for Granderson they tried to engage Damon in talk and were told don't make an offer if it includes a pay cut.

2- When Damon's "camp" (Olney's word) heard of the Yankees deal with Nick Johnson, they contacted New York. The Yankees floated a two-year deal, but were rejected.

3- Last week Damon reached out to the Yankees, but when they offered a deal around $6 million (with incentives) they were told he had other deals, including multi-year ones and he wanted more than $6 million.

Here's the last part which I think really sums it up:

Think of this like trying to get a date for the senior prom, and Johnny Damon as the target who keeps saying no. The Yankees wanted Damon more than anybody else has wanted Damon, and Damon has repeatedly turned them down -- for a time essentially telling them to not even bother calling.

So they got another date.

Is that their fault?

Peter,

Thanks for the post.