The Diamondbacks appear no closer to reacquiring Randy Johnson than they were last year, with two-pronged money issues the sticking point, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday. While the D-Backs and New York Yankees seem near agreement on the players the Yankees would get for Johnson, questions remain. How much of Johnson’s $16 million 2007 salary will the New York Yankees pick up? What sort of two-year package is palatable to Johnson (the D-Backs have said they would like him in 2008, too), and will Johnson agree to restructure some of the $40 million due him in deferred compensation? The D-Backs have not entered into the formal 72-hour negotiating window with Johnson since the players to be traded have not been finalized, but through talks with the Yankees it appears that Johnson’s camp has been made aware of several financial options available.
According to Newsday, the Yankees are moving closer to signing free agent Doug Mientkiewicz. The Daily News said the same thing last week. Mientkiewicz would probably be in line for a one-year deal worth $2 million-$3 million. If signed, he'd be the Yankees' first baseman against right-handers. Free agent Mark Loretta, Andy Phillips and Josh Phelps would be candidates to platoon with him.
The Yankees have reportedly turned down Arizona's request to have a window to work out an extension with Randy Johnson. It's probably not a deal killer, assuming the Yankees are willing to pay a portion of what Johnson is owed next season. The finances have to be worked out before the Diamondbacks will make the deal. Source: SI.com
Why would they turn it down if they were at all interested in getting this deal done? Maybe now that Zito signed they're having second thoughts?
Why does Zito have anything to do with it? No one in the organization liked Zito as anything more than a #4 starter. The reason they're doing the trade is to accomodate Johnson's wishes to play close to home, and to free up payroll (likely for a run at Clemens). They probably turned them down because San Diego jumped back in the mix, and they want to get the best deal possible in place before they allow Johnson and the team to negotiate an extension.
I disagree. Dealing Johnson leaves our starting rotation very thin (does anybody actually believe that Pavano will pitch effectively next season?) and I think that Cashman's gut instinct is warning him against making the move. Zito, though he's overpaid, is reliable and would have fit into our rotation nicely behind Mussina and Wang. I'm certain that the Yankees would have pursued him after ditching the Unit if he were still on the market.
The only reason the deal won't get done is because Johnson isn't getting the money he wants in an extension. Johnson's a bad pitcher who's going to make $16M. He can be replaced easily, and it wouldn't take overrated Zito to do it. Cashman's smart enough to realize this, and will try very much to trade him. Oh yeah, and Clemens will probably be the one to replace him.
I think I speak for most Yankee fans when I say FUCK PAVANO! I hope he doesnt throw another pitch for the Yankees. I wouldnt mind a rotation of 1. Mussina 2. Pettite 3. Wang 4. Igawa (if he proves himself in spring training) 5. Hughes/Karstens I think that Igawa is the key in getting Clemens. If he fails then the Yankees would go hard after Rocket. If he proves he can pitch well then I dont think that the Yanks will put that much effort into it.
Just going by what was reported, how the team wasn't impressed by him at all when they faced him, and that he wouldn't be effective in the AL East.
The Yankees have reportedly signed left-hander Ben Kozlowski to a minor league contract. Kozlowski, 26, had a 3.79 ERA and a 78/40 K/BB ratio in 97 1/3 innings for two Double-A and two Triple-A teams last season. The former Rangers prospect should be in the bullpen at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees were disappointed that Zito signed in San Fran and wanted him to replace Johnson in the rotation, but they were simply outbid by the Giants. I don't know where you got your information from, but I've read several articles contradicting it. The thing with dealing Johnson is that it does leave us with a ton of uncertainy, no matter how you slice it. In Buttleman's potential rotation, we would be putting a lot of faith into Igawa (who has never thrown a pitch in the majors and who's 89 mph fastball leaves me concerned) and Rasner/Karstens (I don't believe that Hughes will see any MLB action this year.) I don't like Johnson and I'd love to see us get out of his contract (and get any value for him) but I'm not comfortable with dealing him for minor leaguers and putting our season in the balance while we wait for Roger Clemens to decide where (and when) he wants to pitch next year.
You can search for the articles if you want, but these same "sources" said the Yankees weren't impressed with Zito and wouldn't pay a lot for him. Of course they gauged the interest, Cashman wanted to see if he had a shot at getting him way below market value because of his relationship with Boras, but that obviously wasn't the case. I'm not uncertain about the rotation at all. The misconception here is that some people think Randy Johnson is still a decent pitcher. He's not. He's barely going to get his ERA under 5 this year. He'll be making $16M, and constantly pissed off because he wants to be pitching in Arizona. Who needs the headache? Pick up 2-3 solid pitching prospects, and dump him and most of his salary. Barring another trade, the rotation will be fine. Wang, Mussina, Pettitte, and a number of guys fighting for the last two spots. If the rotation needs a boost, they'll go hard after Clemens. If they can't get him, they'll call up Hughes, or Sanchez, or Clippard. There's nothing but positives to trading Randy Johnson for good prospects. Having Randy Johnson as the #4 starter won't be the reason the Yankees win/lose a championship. Also remember, Clemens has never liked RJ at all. I'm sure that's a factor in Cashman trying to trade him (although the main factors are that he's a horrible pitcher, old, injury-prone, not liked by anyone, and has a team out there dumb enough to give up value for him).
thetres no way I buy the fact that the yankees had no interest in Zito. way too much of a coincidence if you ask me that this Johnson deal started heating up right when Zito was the big topic around MLB.....and the fact that the yankees were trying to free up 16 mil
regarding Randy Johnson yesterday, the Yankees did make one move. They reached a tentative deal with first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, and he will be undergoing a physical today. Mientkiewicz, a former Met who recorded the last out of Boston's 2004 World Series victory, should bolster the team's defense at first, allowing Jason Giambi to DH more often. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter batted .283 with four homers and 43 RBIs in 314 at-bats for the Royals last season. He must pass his physical, of course, before his short-term deal becomes official. Multiple teams remained in the mix for Johnson, a source confirmed yesterday amid reports that the Big Unit might be traded to Arizona by the end of the week. As of yesterday afternoon, the Yankees had not allowed any club permission to speak with Johnson or his agents regarding a contract extension, which presumes to be the final part of a trade puzzle with many moving pieces. Yesterday, a report from suburban San Diego's North County Times stated that the Padres remained "definite players" for the 43-year-old lefty. A baseball official confirmed that Arizona was not the only team still vying for the five-time Cy Young Award winner. A second source with knowledge of the talks noted there was nothing new to report over the course of yesterday's business. The Yankees and Diamondbacks apparently still haven't come to agreement on the financial part of the proposed deal. According to the report, the Padres have made their last, best offer. Although Johnson prefers to be closer to his West Coast home, another current Yankee was concerned about his name being mentioned in earlier trade talks. According to Robinson Cano, outfielder Melky Cabrera was dismayed by his inclusion in discussions with Pittsburgh for reliever Mike Gonzalez - talks that eventually faltered. Cano, in New Rochelle yesterday to sign 1,100 items of memorabilia as part of an exclusive marketing deal, said his good friend was rattled by the thought of playing elsewhere in 2007. "He was worried, because he wanted to stay with the Yankees," Cano said. "I tell him that if it happens, to keep playing the way he played." Cano, who played about 20 games of winter ball in the Dominican Republic, said he watched the World Series and thought to himself "that we should've been there. "That's all right," he said. "We get them this year. "We're supposed to make the playoffs, but we have to give some credit to the Tigers." The Yankees second baseman said he didn't know Andy Pettitte but presumed he would help the club. He had not been following the Johnson talks and had no comment I like
Alphabet soup is a malcontent, a month or two into the season he's going to start crowing about how he deserves to play everyday and should be the starting 1st basemen. Then he'll take some more shots at the organization when he leaves next year.
Sweeney Murti reports that Luis Viscaino is likely to be the reliever along with a minor league prospect. It is believed the Yankees do not want to pick up ANY of the $16 million...The teams are getting closer.
