TAMPA — In December there was enough common ground between the Yankees and Johnny Damon to get a deal done.

They needed him to play left field or DH and he needed them to win another World Series.

Of course, it didn’t happen and now Damon needs only to pass a physical before becoming the Tigers’ left fielder for $8 million this coming season.

When Damon rejected a two-year pact for $14 million from the Yankees, the club started spending money elsewhere. Curtis Granderson and the $25.75 million on his contract was acquired from Detroit. Andy Pettitte signed a one-year deal for $11.75 million. Javier Vazquez was brought in from Atlanta with his $11.5 million for this season and Nick Johnson was signed as a free agent for 5.75 million.

So, Damon went looking for a job and landed in Detroit.

“Once spring training starts, it’s real,’’ Jorge Posada said. “Your team is set and you know he isn’t coming back. We will miss the guy. He was really key for us throughout the years, especially last year. I am happy for him. I don’t know why he wasn’t signed. I don’t know what the deal was.’’

“I am happy for him because he knows where he is going to go,’’ Joe Girardi said. “For players, that’s an anxious time figuring out where you are going to be. Usually, it doesn’t go on this long. I wish Johnny luck, Johnny was good for us here. We all miss Johnny, this is the hard part of the game when relationships change a little bit. I will root for Johnny except when he is playing against us.’’