UPDATE: Uh oh. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told The Journal News moments ago that Heyman’s report of a deadline is “not true.” Considering Heyman’s involvement, it’s probably worth noting now that Damon is a Scott Boras client.
3:51pm: It appears free agent outfielder Johnny Damon could be close to finding a home for the 2010 season.
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman said this afternoon that Damon “has days” to accept a low-salary offer from the Yankees and the Newark Star-Ledger’s Marc Carig received a text from the 36-year-old outfielder stating that he “should have a team in a week.” Exciting stuff.
Damon batted .282/.365/.489 with 24 home runs, 82 RBI and 107 runs scored last season for the Yankees but he’s drawn very little interest this winter for a variety of reasons. Clubs are beginning to factor in things like defensive metrics and the outfielder ranks poorly by such measurements. He’s looking at a large dip in pay from the whopping $13 million that George Steinbrenner and Co. paid him in 2009.