gsnts725 Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Damon would move for Hunter Yankee willing to play right field if New York acquired Twins star BY JASON WILLIAMS Pioneer Press Just because the New York Yankees signed Johnny Damon to play center field doesn't mean there isn't room for Torii Hunter. Damon told the Pioneer Press he would be willing to move to right field if the Yankees were to acquire Hunter. Hunter has talked openly about playing for the Yankees if the Twins do not show a commitment to winning beyond this season. "I know how good Torii Hunter is, and he would be a good fit," Damon said before Friday night's game at the Metrodome. "We still have Gary Sheffield (in right field), which Gary may end up moving to the DH spot. I'm sure there's a lot that we can do. Whatever makes the team better." Hunter, a five-time Gold Glove winner, is in the final season of an original four-year, $32 million contract, with the Twins holding a $12 million option for 2007. Sheffield is in the final year of his contract with the Yankees. New York is expected to pick up his $13 million option for 2007. Damon, in his first season with the Yankees, pointed out that when he was with the Kansas City Royals in 1999, he moved to left field to allow then-star prospect Carlos Beltran to play center field. Damon was asked if he would be willing to switch positions again to make way for Hunter. "I had to do it for Carlos Beltran to make his job easier in the big leagues, and he seemed to do pretty good," Damon said. "Yeah, it doesn't matter to me. Whatever needs to be done. It's all about going out there and trying to win. (Hunter is) definitely one of the game's best players, but I'll leave that up to (Yankees general manager) Brian Cashman. I can't be running my mouth." Rumors swirled early in the offseason that the Yankees would make a run at Hunter, 30, who has spent his entire major league career with the Twins. The Yankees, instead, signed Damon to a four-year, $52 million contract on Dec. 23. Damon, known throughout his career as a team-first player, confirmed Friday that he told a mutual acquaintance of his and Hunter's in the offseason that he would be willing to move if the Yankees pursued the American League's top defensive center fielder. Hunter said Friday that the mutual acquaintance informed him during the offseason what Damon had said. "That's an honor he would say that," Hunter said. "That shows you what kind of a guy Johnny Damon is. But right now, I'm just going to focus on winning the division with the Twins. After that, we'll see." Hunter declined further comment. With several contracts set to expire after this season, the Twins face the possibility of rebuilding in 2007 if they do not make the playoffs. Hunter, the outspoken face of the Twins' franchise, recently said he does not want to be a part of a rebuilding team and desires to be on a World Series contender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJermaineFromQnz Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 yeah, pick him up... put him on the tab... dontrelle as well... aka DESTROY BASEBALL AND STILL LOSE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike1 Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 yeah, pick him up... put him on the tab... dontrelle as well... aka DESTROY BASEBALL AND STILL LOSE? IT's funny that a mets fan is crying about the yankee payroll after the spending spree that you're team has been on the past 2 offseasons. Met fans know more then anyone that payrolls dosn't garuntee you anything. The yankees play by the rules and pay their luxury tax (that is CLEARLY having an impact) Met fans should shelve their inferiority complex about the yankees and worry about their own team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 MAKE IT HAPPEN!! Sheffield for DH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJermaineFromQnz Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Yankee fans know more then anyone that payrolls dosn't garuntee you anything. fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsnts725 Posted April 15, 2006 Author Share Posted April 15, 2006 o yeah at least the yanks are in the playoffs every year unlike the cough cough mets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cmart28Coles87 Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 yeah, pick him up... put him on the tab... dontrelle as well... aka DESTROY BASEBALL AND STILL LOSE? Its called building the best team you can. Win the WS and make the mets look like trash. Even though they already are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 MAKE IT HAPPEN!! Sheffield for DH Sheffield for GET THE **** OUT OF NEW YORK AND USE YOUR ROIDS ELSEWHERE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike1 Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Sheffield for GET THE **** OUT OF NEW YORK AND USE YOUR ROIDS ELSEWHERE I agree with dumping sheff but not for hunter. he dosn't hit NEARLY enough to play right and damon can't throw enough to move to a corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutout Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Sheffield for GET THE **** OUT OF NEW YORK AND USE YOUR ROIDS ELSEWHERE No problem with that...What the hell was Steinbrenner thinking signing him rather than Vlad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Its called building the best team you can. Win the WS and make the mets look like trash. Even though they already are. I thought Yankee fans don't care about the "hapless" Mets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike1 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 I thought Yankee fans don't care about the "hapless" Mets? I don't think the mets are hapless and i don't care if they win or not. I worry about my team. somthing more mets fans should do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Translation : as long as you keep sending those checks,Ill play left out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCarl40 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 In theory you usually put the guy with the strongest arm of your OFers in RF. Sheff has a cannon, Vlad does too, etc. Putting Damon in RF means running to 3rd from 1st and scoring from 2nd almost every single time. But, hey, go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbn007 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 In theory you usually put the guy with the strongest arm of your OFers in RF. Sheff has a cannon, Vlad does too, etc. Putting Damon in RF means running to 3rd from 1st and scoring from 2nd almost every single time. But, hey, go for it. Solid, yes. Cannon? No way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Solid, yes. Cannon? No way. You say cannon, I say Jessie Barfield....man did I love watching that guy throw guys out from RF. Best I've ever seen in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbn007 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 You say cannon, I say Jessie Barfield....man did I love watching that guy throw guys out from RF. Best I've ever seen in person. I am old enough to remember watching Al Kaline, in the 1968 WS. Now there was a guy with a cannon. Same with Clemente of Pittsburgh. Same with Reggie Smith of the Bosox, as well as "Dewey" Evans. Best of the more recent crop, I remember Ellis Valentine of the Expos. He had a cannon that had to be seen to be believed. So did Dave Parker of the Pirates, although he played mostly LF. But what an arm!! There are others over the years, but these guys stand out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.