For a few weeks there Johnny Damon was the entire Yankee offense. At various times this season A-Rod was not yet back from hip surgery, Mark Teixeira was struggling, Xavier Nady was out and even Robinson Cano, who started so brilliantly with the bat, had begun to struggle.

But there was Damon, he of the walk off homers and other game winning homers. Damon sported a decent April with .295/.385/.500/.885 OPS with 4 homers and 10 ribbies. But in May, he has really hit well, hitting .353/.397/.750/1.147 OPS with 6 home runs and 17 RBI's, the most important stat on offense, including the two game winners.

Damon's 4 year/$52 million contract he signed before the 2005 season expires at the end of this year, and Damon seemingly has the ability to be an offensive force at the age of 36. 

Despite his great start, the Yankees should not sign the lefty hitting outfielder for next season.

Many Yankee fans will disagree, and maybe even Yankees GM Brian Cashman will disagree, too. Both the fans and Cashman will think that the Yankees need Damon's offense and he could be a viable player for several more years.

Maybe he will, but the Yankees don't need him.

Even though Damon says he wants to stay in New York and play for the Yankees, he also has the desire to go for 3,000 career hits. That means he needs to play four more season after 2009 and based upon a good 2009 season, Damon would want at least a three year deal in the off season.

That is too much for the Yankees, who need to get younger as a team, not older.

The Yankees will likely be relieved of Hideki Matsui's contract (unless, of course, he has a big season, too and then the fans will want him back next year) and Xavier Nady, who has been nothing short of a disaster in the field and only so- with the bat.

Have I mentioned before how I hated that Damaso Marte/Xavier Nady trade with the Pirates?

They can therefore certainly afford Damon, but with youngsters Austin Jackson coming ready soon, and Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner showing their style of play is good for the team, why bring back an aging player?

Where will the Yankees play him next year? Jackson will be ready, Swisher is still in the mix and Gardner and Cabrera also play great roles on this team and show they belong.

Damon won't play in left field as his defense is brutal and his arm is terrible. Damon looks timid out in the field, and just can not go back on this ball any more. Jackson, Cabrera, or more likely a free agent signing (or trade) will patrol left field in 2010.

Damon also can't DH, because where will Posada play most of his games next year? Posada is slowing down behind the plate and will need to DH and catch some in 2009, 2010 and 2011, as he is signed through those years.

Yanks are all tied up with long term deals with Teixeira and A-Rod and don't need another aging, one dimensional player in Damon for the next several years. If Johnny wants a couple of one year deals, that will probably be OK.

Interestingly, Damon's best bet for 3,000 hits might be as a Yankee hitting in front of Tex and A-Rod on a series of one year deals. Keeps him hungry and motivated.