Matsui, Damon available to highest bidder
Popular Yankees join teammates Hinske, Molina, Nady as free agents
Last Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 | 10:12 PM ET
By Doug Harrison, CBC Sports
Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui posted a .615 batting average in the World Series after belting 28 home runs in the regular season. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)A couple of key figures in the New York Yankees' successful World Series run hit the open market Monday.
Series MVP Hideki Matsui and outfielder Johnny Damon are free agents, joining teammates Eric Hinski, Jose Molina and Xavier Nady.
Following New York's Series-clinching win in Game 6 over Philadelphia last week, Matsui and Damon made it known they would relish a chance to repeat as Yankees.
Management, however, had said it's too early to address how it wants to formulate the team for 2010.
Matsui finished the 105th Series with eight hits in 13 at-bats in six games, for a .615 average. The designated hitter also scored three runs.
In 142 regular-season games, Matsui averaged .274 with 28 home runs — the most since he hit 31 in 2004 — and 90 runs batted in. The 35-year-old Japanese veteran was hampered during the season by a sore left knee that had to be drained on more than one occasion.
Damon exited Game 6 against the Phillies after scoring the Yankees' fourth run in the bottom of the third inning. He strained his right calf running to home plate and was replaced in left field by Jerry Hairston Jr.
Damon hit .282 in 143 regular-season contests with 24 homers, 82 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
