It’s been a while since I posted — there is never an offseason at MLB.com. But it’s time to get back in the blogging game thanks to Johnny Damon’s four-year, $52 million deal with the Yankees.

Now that he is a Yankee, Johnny Damon will have to shave off his beard and cut his hair. (AP)

I like this deal for a bevy of reasons:

? Damon gives the Yankees the leadoff hitter they have lacked since Chuck Knoblauch’s glory days in pinstripes (1998-2000). Damon and Derek Jeter will create a sensational 1-2 punch at the top of the Yankee lineup.

? It’s not Murderers’ Row, but the 2006 Yankees will pack a wallop. Joe Torre can mix and match his lefties/righties and go with a top six of Damon, Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield. Or he can put Sheffield behind A-Rod, giving the Yankees two sick right-handed bats back-to-back. The possibilities are endless.

 

? It weakens the Red Sox. Manny and Boomer Wells want out, Schilling is getting older, there’s no shortstop and center field is vacated. Plus, who leads off? Third-place Red Sox, anyone?

? More speed. If Torre does go with Damon, Jeter and A-Rod up top, the Yankees will have one of the quickest top of the orders in baseball.

? Damon has a weak throwing arm, but he will be able to get to a lot more balls than say Bernie, Bubba and Melky.

? Damon gives the too-corporate Yankees a little attitude. He speaks his mind, and he is a fiery competitor. Too bad he’s going to have to shave his beard and cut off the long hair.

The Yanks have been ripped by the New York tabloids for being too inactive this offseason. I think they have done a fabulous job this winter. Sure, the Yanks overpaid to get Kyle Farnsworth, but he’s got great stuff and again, he is an emotional guy on a team that could have used some personality the last few years. The Yanks also got Octavio Dotel at a nice price, and they added a decent situational lefty in Mike Myers. So while the Mets have been stealing the backpages, the Yankees have made the right moves this winter.

The Empire has truly struck back.