MLB

Damon’s spot in jeopardy

INDIANAPOLIS — The way Brian Cashman sees it at the moment, lefty swinging Curtis Granderson will be the Yankees’ No. 2 hitter against right-handed pitchers.

That, however, doesn’t mean the GM has turned his back on last year’s second-place hitter, Johnny Damon. It’s simply stated because Damon is an unsigned free agent.

However, Cashman talking openly about his latest acquisition hitting in Damon’s spot indicates the Yankees are hatching a plan to live without Damon.

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“Against right-handed pitchers, he would bat second as of right now,” Cashman said of Granderson, who batted .183 (33-for-180) against lefties last season. “Against left-handed pitchers, down in the lineup.”

According to Scott Boras, Damon’s agent, Granderson doesn’t profile as a No. 2 hitter. And him becoming a Yankee enhances Damon’s chances of coming back, although it’s highly unlikely the Yankees will go more than two years at roughly $20 million.

“Obviously, Granderson’s strengths are his defense and his left-handed power,” Boras said. “But obviously his detriments are clearly he is not a No. 2 hitter. With his power, as with most power hitters, come strikeouts [141 a year ago]. His skill sets and strengths are not in that phase of the lineup.”

Boras, who is searching for a three- or four-year deal for the 36-year-old Damon, believes the Yankees aren’t turning their back on Damon by Granderson.

“I think it dramatically enhances the ability of the Yankees to have those two players on the field together,” Boras said of Damon, the Yankees’ left fielder last season.

“I have talked to Scott and that’s where we are at,” Cashman said. “We are going to gravitate to things that make sense.”