Yankees decline $15 million option on veteran

[Kathy in Cambridge]

CLEVELAND -- The New York Yankees have decided not to pick up the $15 million club option for next season on Bernie Williams, their steady center fielder on four World Series title teams.

The club had until Aug. 1 to exercise their option on the 36-year-old, who signed with the Yankees in 1985.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2122937



I wonder if the Yankees will make a move for Damon? :think:

[Jersey Devil]

1. No surprise - this was expected - look for Juan Pierre in cf

The Yankees like his defensive abilities and the havoc he causes on the basepaths. Bernie is one of my favorite Yankees, a class guy who has delivered for them for a long time, helping them to 6 pennants and 4 World Series championships. He will have a monument when he retires.

I'd love to see Johnny Damon in pinstripes. Never listened to what he had to say before last year but the more I hear from him the more I appreciate his wit and sense of humor in addition to his ability.

Look for the Yankees to get younger next year and since Pierre is younger than Damon that would fit right in.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. I like Bernie too

He was a great hitter in his prime. Like Damon, he has a rag for an arm but gets to a lot of balls that less speedy outfielders would miss.

I really hope the Sox keep Damon, but I don't think they can afford it.

[nickgutierrez]

7. Pierre has been awful this season

I would be very surprised, and very disappointed, if that's who the Yankees decide on to play CF next season.

[Mojambo]

3. Well, Duh.

Bernie is a shell of the player he once was. At 15 million he'd be a disaster.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him have some moderate success elswhere as a 4th outfielder, but he's pretty close to done.

GREAT player in his prime.

[OneBlueSky]

4. Steinbrenner is salivating over Damon . . .

his pending free agency is one of the reasons the Yanks didn't pursue Carlos Beltran in the offseason . . .

and not picking up Bernie's option doesn't necessarily mean that he won't be with the Yankees next year . . .

[sniffa]

5. eh, he just wants damon on the team so he can

force him to cut that hippy hair.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. LOL-yeah Damon's hair wouldn't go over well on the clean-cut Yankees

:D

[DaveinMD]

9. the Yanks won't sign Damon

They have younger options on the horizon.

[DaveinMD]

8. they will promote

Melky next year. He wasn't ready this year, but will be next year.

[OneBlueSky]

10. hmmm . . . I'm George Steinbrenner . . .

my baseball people come to me and say "Well, George, we can either bring Melky Cabrera up and let him handle center field, or we can go after Johnny Damon . . . whatcha wanna do?" . . .

is there any doubt about George's answer? . . .

[DaveinMD]

12. Going after old players

didn't work well this offseason. George has been won over by guys like Cano and Wang. Damon won't be coming to NY.

[OneBlueSky]

13. can't change the zebras stripes . . . we shall see . . . n/t

.

[DaveinMD]

14. notice

the Yankees didn't trade away prospects at this trading deadline.

[OneBlueSky]

15. mainly because there wasn't all that much out there to trade FOR . . .

other that Soriano and Manny, neither of whom the Yanks need or want, the pickings were pretty slim . . .

I acknowledge that they've made a decision not to repeat past mistakes by trading away their future . . . but when Damon becomes available, George won't be able to resist . . .

and since he'll be a free agent, they won't have to give up anything other than money to get him . . .

[DaveinMD]

16. Burnett

was on the market. There was some other stuff in the market. In years past, they would have traded their top prospects for Griffey. We'll see. I think the mindset has changed.

[matcom]

11. i agree

that is their likely option (barring injury)

[dajoki]

17. i hope bernie stays...

granted, he'll have to take a significant pay cut, but he belongs with the yankees.

[DaveinMD]

18. I love Bernie

but I think its time for him to retire.