Major League Baseball

DAMON WOULD 'LOVE' RETURNING TO BRONX

Published Oct. 11, 2010 10:10 p.m. ET

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YANKEES NOTES

Johnny Damon will be wearing a new hat next season and he is very open to it having NY on the front of it.

"I would love to have that as an option," Damon told The Post when asked if Johnny II in The Bronx were a possibility. "It would be very exciting to go back there."

Damon was informed by the Tigers they will look elsewhere to find a designated hitter and since they have young outfielders, it's time for the 36-year-old with 2,571 career hits to move on.

"They told me they are looking for a prototypical type DH like Adam Dunn," Damon said. "They said they need that type of bat in the middle of order. I am a No. 1 or 2 guy, so . . ."

It's into the free agent pool for the second straight winter. Last year Damon and the Yankees couldn't agree on money and years and he left under a bit of a cloud.

Damon made $8 million this season and hit .271 with eight homers and 51 RBIs with 81 runs in 145 games.

*** When Hank Steinbrenner wanted to acquire Johan Santana from the Twins after the 2007 season, general manager Brian Cashman was against giving up prospects and then having to spend big money to sign the left-handed starter who went to the Mets. And there was another reason.

"We weren't a player away from competing for a championship," Cashman said yesterday. "Our system wasn't as deep and Brett Gardner wasn't ready to take over for Melky Cabrera in center."

The package the Twins wanted consisted of pitchers Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Cabrera.

Cashman persuaded ownership to hang onto the prospects and save the money to sign CC Sabathia.

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