Without mentioning teams by name, Johnny Damon said the number of clubs he is considering signing with isn’t limited to the Braves and Tigers.
“We have others,” Damon told The Post yesterday.
Asked if he was ready to decide by the end of the week, Damon said: “I don’t know.”
Since the Braves train in Orlando, Damon’s hometown, and the Tigers use nearby Lakeland as their spring training base, each club is desirable to Damon, who has also attracted attention from the Rays.
HUGHES PLANS FIGHT FOR FIFTH SPOT
However, according to published reports, the Tigers are willing to pay him in the area of $7 million for one season and the Braves reportedly offered him a one-year deal for $4.5 million.
Damon, a Yankee for the past four seasons, turned down a two-year pact worth $14 million from the world champions in December. The Yankees signed Nick Johnson ($5.75 million), Andy Pettitte ($11.75 million) and absorbed the $11.5 million Javier Vazquez will make this season.
* Phil Hughes hasn’t been told what his innings limit will be this year, but informed reporters yesterday he believed it would be in the “175-180” range after a workout at the minor league complex in Tampa.
Hughes is the leading candidate for the No. 5 starter spot during spring training. Joba Chamberlain, Sergio Mitre, Alfredo Aceves and Chad Gaudin will also be in the hunt.
At the beginning of last spring training the Yankees put a 140-inning limit on Chamberlain and extended that to 157 1/3.
Hughes’ career-high innings was 146 he threw in 2006 for Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. He tossed 86 frames last year when he appeared in 51 games, including seven starts.
* Even though the Yankees believe Jesus Montero will be a full-time catcher this year, the stud prospect worked out at first base yesterday at the minor league complex in Tampa where he took grounders from instructor Jody Reed.
Montero’s future is with the bat, but there are doubts if he will advance enough behind the plate to be a big league catcher.