Former Yankees teammates happy for Damon

TAMPA, Fla. - Jorge Posada is "very happy" that Johnny Damon has found a team, but he said the leftfielder will be hard to replace.

"Once spring training starts, it's real ," Posada said yesterday. "We're going to miss the guy in the clubhouse and on the field. A professional guy and a guy that was really key for us throughout the years, and especially last year."

Damon, 36, reached a one-year, $8-million agreement with the Tigers on Saturday. A person familiar with the negotiations said Damon has completed his physical, clearing the way for the team to finish the contract.

"I'm happy for him that he found out where he's going to go because I think, for players, that's an anxious time trying to figure out where you're going to be," manager Joe Girardi said. "I wish Johnny luck. Johnny was good for us here and we all miss Johnny. This is the hard part of the game when those relationships . . . they change a little bit. I'll root for Johnny except when he's playing against us."

The signing makes for an interesting coincidence - an outfielder swap of sorts. The Yankees dealt for Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson, who might wind up in leftfield, and now Damon is a member of the Tigers, likely to play left.

Said Girardi: "Baseball's a funny game."