The Yankees and Nick Johnson are talking about the sweet-swinging lefty and on-base machine replacing Hideki Matsui as the world champions’ designated hitter on a one-year deal.
If an agreement is reached, it would be an indication the Yankees will part ways with Johnny Damon, who they view at least as a part-time DH and don’t want him for more than two years and $20 million. The Post reported Tuesday that industry sources indicate Damon isn’t looking to take a pay cut from the $13 million he made last year. Agent Scott Boras is hunting for a three- or four-year deal.
“We have had dialogue, things are moving forward,” agent Rex Gary said of talks between the Yankees and their former first baseman. “Something could happen to speed things up, but it’s hard to predict.”
Seattle is interested in the 31-year-old Johnson to play first base, an opportunity he wouldn’t have in The Bronx because of Mark Teixeira’s presense, but the allure of returning to the Yankees may be the difference for Johnson.
With Matsui an Angel and Damon looking outside The Bronx for work, the Yankees’ DH spot is open. GM Brian Cashman talked recently of promoting Juan Miranda, a left-handed hitter, from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but Johnson has far more experience.
Johnson is a career .292 hitter against lefties. A career .273 hitter with an on-base percentage of .402, hits .266 versus right-handers.
Johnson played with the Nationals and Marlins last year and batted .291 with eight homers and 62 RBIs in 133 games and had an on-base percentage of .426.
“He can still hit,” an NL talent evaluator said of Johnson, who made $5.5 million last season, the final leg of a three-year $16.5 million deal. “He is an on-base percentage guy who will hit some homers in Yankee Stadium.”
Another scout compared Johnson with Damon.
“He will hit like Damon, .280 to .300 with some power and will drive in runs,” the scout said.
Considering Johnson’s injury history, any deal likely would include incentives for at-bats.
As a Yankee, he missed the entire 2000 season with a right hand injury. He was limited to 38 games in 2008 with the Nationals due to a right wrist problem. A fractured right femur late in the 2006 season cost Johnson all of 2007. A lumbar strain and a fractured right cheekbone limited him to 73 games in 2004 as an Expo. As a Yankee in 2003, he missed 61 games because of a stress fracture in the right hand.
Johnson, a third-round pick of the Yankees in the 1996 draft, was dealt to the Expos with Juan Rivera and Randy Choate in December, 2003 for Javier Vazquez.
* Curtis Granderson will be introduced at a Yankee Stadium press conference today, but last night he told The Post’s Dan Martin he hopes to team with Damon in the Yankees’ outfield.
george.king@nypost.com