Yankees in talks to bring back Damon

Left fielder potentially a DH fit with club's crowded outfield.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Yankees have used the Winter Meetings to move closer to the finish line of the offseason, but discussions are reportedly just beginning with Johnny Damon.


ESPN.com reported on Thursday that the Yankees have opened talks with agent Scott Boras regarding the 36-year-old Damon, who could potentially return to the defending World Series champions as their starting left fielder or designated hitter.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he is leaving Indianapolis with no "next shoe to drop," noting that nothing is necessarily close either on the trade front or the free-agent market.

Boras held court on Wednesday at the Indianapolis Marriott and said that the Yankees' trade for Curtis Granderson should not preclude them from pursuing Damon. Rather, the Granderson addition enhances Damon's value, Boras said.

"Johnny's legs are still good. He runs well," Boras said. "You're going to have certainly a defender out there that has a little more range than the Yankees had before. The other thing is you have a left-handed power component that's going to drive in more runs.

"So I think from Johnny Damon's point of view, with him being more in the upper part of the lineup, it allows Granderson to be where he's better situated -- probably lower in the lineup, behind [Mark] Teixeira, behind A-Rod, behind [Jorge] Posada."

Cashman said that the Yankees line up well defensively right now, with Melky Cabrera in left field, Granderson in center field and Nick Swisher in right field. Brett Gardner is also on the roster as a reserve, and Rule 5 Draft selection Jamie Hoffmann will also receive a look in Spring Training.

Beyond Damon, Cashman has acknowledged interest in free agent Mark DeRosa this week, and ESPN.com noted the Yankees are likely to look at Mike Cameron, a player they nearly traded Melky Cabrera to the Brewers for last winter.

Damon batted .282 with a career-high-tying 24 home runs, 82 RBIs and 107 runs scored for the Yankees in 2009, his fourth year with the team after signing a $52 million contract.