It's official, Damon's career as a Yankee is over and now we can finally move on. But if you listened to GM Brian Cashman the whole off-season, and believed him, then you would've already known that Damon wasn't going to be a Yankee because Scott Boras has lost his swagger.
Unless Damon wanted to come to the Yankees for one season that would've been fine. Sometimes fans don't think about the future, especially Yankees fans who think they need an all-star at every position.
Damon was great for the Yankees. He changed the World Series with his unbelievable at-bat against Brad Lidge. His two stolen bases was the reason A-Rod got such a great pitch to hit to drive Damon home from third.
What Damon did in the playoffs will be missed. Hey, if I were Manger I would feel more comfortable in October with Damon in the batters box, rather than Curtis Granderson or Nick Johnson. Simply put, Damon battles to the end. And although baseball players aren't considered tough, Damon is just that.
If we look past this season which I think Cashman and the Yankees are doing by setting a $200 million budget. You'll know that Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford and Joe Mauer are free agents.
I don't see Mauer leaving Minnesota. Actually, I hope he doesn't leave Minnesota because it's better for baseball that way. That is, as long as the Red Sox don't try to get him. Then the Yankees have to.
As for Crawford and Lee. The Yankees would improve the outfield by getting Crawford in 2011, and with Pettite most likely retiring after next season, Lee would be an expensive replacement.
Any dime the Yankees save this season will be part of putting together their 2011 roster.
But don't worry Yankees fans. The Yanks are still the favorites this season to win it all, even without Damon and Matsui. They're rotation has improved with the acquisition of Javier Vazquez. Just that makes them the favorites. Even though I'm looking ahead to 2011 to help understand the loss of Johnny Damon, Yankees fans need not worry. They'll be back in the World Series without their two World Series heroes.
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