Yanks may sign Damon if years are right

[Providence A's]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/printe...y-sports-print

The Yankees are starting to get serious with Johnny Damon, and according to a person familiar with the Yankees' plans, they'll be "very strong" players if Damon will consider a four-year offer.

The Yankees might try to get creative by offering an "out" clause, extra incentives or a higher annual salary. Discussions are intensifying, but agent Scott Boras has requested seven years, and Yankees people say they don't anticipate going past four.

Boras said yesterday, "The market's very strong for Johnny ... Our position on seven years is serious, and clubs are aware of it."

Two AL execs said they still see Boston as the favorite to re-sign Damon, and Newsday has learned that Red Sox owner John Henry recently got involved in negotiations. Damon expressed unhappiness over what he saw as Boston's opening low-ball offers in an interview this week with Newsday, but Henry might save the day for his disjointed front office.

Word is, two other potential players for Damon are the Orioles and Dodgers. Baltimore has quietly begun talking about Damon; however, the Orioles likely are a long shot because Damon's looking to play for a winner.

One competing GM said of the Dodgers: "They paid $13 million [a year] for a .275 hitter [Rafael Furcal], so don't bet against them doing something stupid."

Rocket relaunch?

With the Mets dominating headlines thus far, George Steinbrenner is anxious to grab attention. The Yankees would love to bring back Roger Clemens, and Clemens' people just told them he's interested if he decides to return. They also said he won't decide until after the World Baseball Classic.

The Astros and Rangers are Clemens' other likely landing spots, and although Houston's location and flexible travel rules give the Astros an edge, it's believed that Clemens was put off to some degree by the Astros' otherwise relaxed clubhouse atmosphere.

The Yankees are in on Nomar Garciaparra, who's attracting interest from the Dodgers, Braves, Padres and Indians. The hometown Dodgers have an advantage, although Garciaparra is close to Indians manager Eric Wedge and utilityman Lou Merloni.

The Yankees also are eyeing former Met Octavio Dotel.

I wouldn't sign him for more than 3-4 years. And Clemens won't be back with Houston since the declined arbitration (they can't sign him until 5/1). Where would Nomar play? Right bench?

[Saber]

The years are the whole issue on Damon. He won't sign for 7, but Boras will take a very long time to come to that conclusion.

[love_that_reefer]

The Yankees already have too many DHs on this team.

[Providence A's]

Now they've "cooled"

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/inde...l=1&thispage=2

Damon indicated, while speaking to WBZ-TV in Boston on Thursday, he is close to deciding between Boston, the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"There's a good chance," he said of leaving the Red Sox. "We're still talking. I should know in the next couple of days."

But one baseball official with knowledge of the Yankees' plans said there was "nothing going on" with Damon and the Yankees, who do not want to sign him for more than four years.