Johnny Damon’s free-falling salary demands will not get the Yankees back in the hunt for the left fielder, but the Braves are still pursuing the free agent, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s David O’Brien.

The belief was that after Atlanta acquired Melky Cabrera in the Javier Vazquez trade they would not be adding another outfielder. But with Damon now possibly getting a deal similar to the one Bobby Abreu got from the Angels last year — one year, $5 million — Atlanta could steal him. The Yankees have claimed that their budget allows them $2 million to sign a left fielder.

Cabrera and the Braves avoided arbitration today by signing a one-year, $3.1 million contract, according to The Associated Press.