Yankees rumors: Johnny Damon has 'tons of interest' in reunion

If the Yankees determine that their in-house options to supplement Curtis Granderson are not up to the call, there is at least one external option who would jump at the opportunity to play in the Bronx.

Free-agent veteran Johnny Damon told Michael Kay of ESPN Radio yesterday that he has "tons of interest" in rejoining the New York Yankees, relays Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Damon admitted that his chances of putting on Yankee pinstripes again are unlikely, but that he's willing to take a league-minimum salary in order to facilitate it, if necessary.

Damon, now 39, latched on with the Cleveland Indians in 2012 but appeared in only 64 games for the club at left field and designated hitter -- batting just .222/.281/.329 with four home runs -- before being released in early August. Last year was the first time since Damon's rookie season that he failed to appear in at least 140 games.

In response to Damon's comments, general manager Brian Cashman told Hoch that the Yankees plans to "focus on what [they] have at this time," which doesn't rule him out completely but also doesn't bode well.

An 18-year vet, Damon is a career .284/.354/.433 hitter with 235 home runs. Once thought to have a fairly good chance at 3,000 hits, the Caveman now sits 231 hits shy of the milestone without a team to give him that shot.