The Yankees and Nick Johnson are moving toward a one-year deal for the left-handed hitter to be the club’s DH, and it could be announced Friday morning.
Asked today by The Post if there was deal to be announced, Brian Cashman said, “Not at this moment.’’
Johnson has drawn interest from the Mariners and Giants to play first base, a position that isn’t available to him as a Yankee because Mark Teixeira is entrenched there.
However, the chance to return to the Yankees, who picked Johnson in the third round of the 1996 draft and dealt him to Montreal in December 2003, is enticing to him.
Johnson, 31, would replace Hideki Matsui, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Angels. Johnson batted .291 with eight homers and 62 RBIs in 133 games for the Nationals and Marlins last year and had an impressive on-base percentage of .426.
A career .273 hitter, Johnson hits lefties (.292) better than righties (.266) and sports a .402 on-base percentage.
Considering Johnson’s extensive injury history — he missed all of the 2000 and 2007 seasons and appeared in 73 games in 2004 and was out for 63 games in 2003 — the contract is expected to include incentive clauses.
Johnson made $5.5 million a year ago and fits into the Yankees’ budget.
If Johnny Damon doesn’t return, Johnson could hit second between Derek Jeter and Teixeira, although his lack of speed is a detriment in that spot of the order. His power numbers should spike playing 81 games in Yankee Stadium.