My "other" vote was Claudell Washington circa 87-88. Damon will be better defensively, but Washington was a similar offensive player when he joined the Yankees at age 32, and was moved to center.

Damon will be much more important to the current Yankees than Washington was. By giving them league average offence and defence in center, albeit at an exorbitant price, the team shores up one of its' major weaknesses. It's no longer a bad defensive club, but an average one. When you combine that with slightly better than average pitching, and an awesome offence, the Yankees look to me like a much better club entering 2006 than they did entering 2005.

That was my initial impression too, Mike, that this is a major upgrade for the 2006 Yanks. I was surprised at the bad reception it's getting from Yankee fans at Primer.

Those who selected DiMaggio and Mantle -- even Combs -- please step up and defend your selection! I don't see it.

As a NYY fan, I like the acquisition, but think a best-case scenario is a vintage 1971-73 NYY Part 1 Bobby Murcer, about .280 with 15 homers and 30 SB. Damon has a little more speed than Murcer, and a little less power. Oh, All-Star appearances and Gold Gloves from Damon would be nice, as Bobby M provided those, too before the bad-for-both-teams All-Bobby swap with the Giants around '74-'75 for Bonds.

Mick, I like the transaction from the Yankee perspective too, but Murcer 71-73 is a very optimistic take. Murcer posted OPS+ of 181, 169 and 134 in those years (he was 25-27). In other words, Murcer was, at that stage of his career, a great player.

Damon's career OPS+ is 102 and he's now 32. He'll do well to sustain his career mark over the next 3 years.

Yes, that's why I said "best case." A best case ending up with Mantle or DiMaggio in their least effective healthy states is wildly over-optimistic. That's "We can expect Dustin McGowan to win 28 games next year and finish second on the team to Halladays 33 wins" optimistic.

It's gotta be Mickey Rivers, though Damon has a little less speed at this stage of his career than Mickey had in his Yankees year. Aside from having a bit more power (in absolute, not relative terms) Damon is essentially the same hitter Rivers was.

And they both have/had wet hot dogs for throwing arms!

Incidentally, Robert, in Rivers' first three years with NYY, he played in three World Series as their CF. So I am in favour of that comparison holding up!

Damon has a much better eye than Rivers. Mickey walked once for every three or strikeouts. Johnny's rate is almost even.

Why does that sound like a public school reader, with "Mickey and Johnny" instead of "Dick and Jane"?

It would make an even better public school reader if it read "Mickey walked once for every three or four strikeouts." Never mind.

Damon is going to have about an .800 OPS this season, .360 OBP and .440 SLG and provide average defense.

Not worth even close to 13 million per season.