In the past week the Arizona Diamondbacks have offered a package of players to the New York Yankees in exchange for Randy Johnson, a baseball official said.

In need of starting pitching -- and a marquee name that will draw more fans -- the Diamondbacks have offered a package of at least three players, including a major-leaguer. They would also want a 72-hour window to negotiate an extension with Johnson, who is owed $16 million in the final year of his contract. The Yankees, according to the official, don't want to pick up any of Johnson's salary.
...
The official said the San Diego Padres are also involved in trade discussions. It's believed that right-handed reliever Scott Linebrink could be the centerpiece of a deal.

I mean, the AZD-backs are willing to throw $16M+ down the toilet to get their only-ever NAME pitcher back, knowing he just had back surgery for the second time and his knees are shot? How do they expect to get him ready to pitch, wheel him out in his wheelchair when pitchers and catchers report?

Curt Schilling asks, "What about me?"

San Diego right now appears to be the most likely destination for the five-time Cy Young Award winner, but the Dodgers, Angels and Diamondbacks are all said to be in the mix. One of the officials, familiar with the ongoing discussions, used the phrase "several bona fide offers" to describe what the Yankees are mulling and said the Yankees probably would not have to include any money.

I can't believe the level of interest Johnson is generating. Apparently in addition to AZ, the Pads, Giants and Angels have talked to the Yanks about him. The fact that the Yanks wouldn't have to throw in money is staggering.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...6p-406772c.html

The Dodgers' aggressive GM, Ned Colletti, already has signed Jason Schmidt for the front of his rotation and his interest may be in part to keep Johnson away from the division-rival Padres.

Why is this trade so hard to believe(from the D-Back perspective)? The major leaguer is probably salary going back. The thing is, RJ isn't that bad. Even though he's fallen far off what he was... what he was was a HOFer. The injuries are a concern, yes. The issue is he no longer can carry a pitching staff; he's no longer an "Ace." He's still can be a very productive member of your pitching staff.

I personally think the Yankees are getting too cute and getting themselves in serious trouble. Thier pitching is seriously suspect to me. They need RJ, even at his reduced level.

The only way this move makes sense is if Clemens returns to NY. I can't see that... if they do, they really sold out on the no contract perks, team comes first thing. Plus, Clemens only will pitch a portion of the season... As much as I love facing the Unit, I kind of would like to see this trade and see the Yankees get caught real short on starters.

I'd have to think that if they dealt 16 million dollars worth of salary they'd pursue another starter. If so, they would not be real short on starters. Chances are they'd be a lot younger.
I think the surprise is really at the market. If I had told you two years ago, after the Yankees got RJ that he would be 43 coming off back surgery and posting an era of 5.00 they would be able to fathom trading him without eating a big chunk of salary you would have likely laughed at me. I know I would have.

In exchange for Johnson, it's possible the Yankees could be looking at San Diego reliever Scott Linebrink, a righthander they've always liked.

They wouldnt be able to get a starter back in trade, so that leaves:

1) Clemens - who may not want to come and won't/can't pitch a full year

2) Zito - who is a downgrade from Johnson, although he at least is likely to make most of his starts.

Color me unimpressed.

What starter could they pursue who would give them what even the 2006 RJ gave them?

Do you really think that over the next few years, a 43 year old Randy Johnson with bad knees coming off of back surgery will be a better pitcher than 28 year old Barry Zito?

I hope RJ gets dealt to SD for Scott Linebrink. He's a 30 year old right handed reliever and had a REC 7-4 | SV 2 | ERA 3.57 | WHIP 1.22 while opponents batted .243 against him. Color me as unimpressed with Scott Linebrink, especially with the Yankees thin rotation. Even if the MFY's sign an average SP in Barry Zito for $100mil that leaves them unable to acquire real SP talent next year with Zambrano on the market.

I agree SF2,,,I think Linebrink is severely overrated. When the Sox were talking about getting him I was unimpressed and was hoping if they did get him it would be for abe alvarez or his equivalent...I.E Junk. He could be a decent set up man...but the NL West is no indication of dominance in the AL East.

I hope RJ gets dealt to SD for Scott Linebrink. He's a 30 year old right handed reliever and had a REC 7-4 | SV 2 | ERA 3.57 | WHIP 1.22 while opponents batted .243 against him. Color me as unimpressed with Scott Linebrink, especially with the Yankees thin rotation. Even if the MFY's sign an average SP in Barry Zito for $100mil that leaves them unable to acquire real SP talent next year with Zambrano on the market.

I think Zito is far closer to an average starter than you would imagine. His peripherals are in a disturbing decline over the past few years. His success has in large part been due to his expansive home ballpark. He is NOT a great pitcher. He is an above average starter who gets hit a good bit on days he can't throw his curve for strikes. The greatest thing recommending Zito is his durability. In that respect he would be a big upgrade over the ailing Unit.

B/c I expect Johnson to retire I think Zito will have more value over the next few years. I would expect RJ to perform about as well next year, though I think if Unit stays healthy(which is no sure thing) he will be better. RJ was fairly unlucky last year.

Signing Zito to me, is a lot like signing Pavano... I would be happy to see them do it b/c they would be expending a tremendous amount of money to lock up a guy with a limited ceiling. I am terribly unimpressed by Barry Zito.

RJ actually wasn't as bad as all that. Sure, he had a poor ERA, but his periphs were pretty good (7+k/9, 3k/bb), he made all his starts, and he managed 200 innings. He also averaged more than 6 IP's per start and managed 2 complete games and 17 wins. He also had Beckett kinda luck this year which didn't help.

He's significantly above league average this year ERA notwithstanding. There's a whole bunch of pitchers who would die for a year like RJ just had at age 43.

What he isn't is an ace. What he is is a solid #3 starter at worst even as knocked about as he was last year. I really expect RJ's ERA to be somewhere in the low 4's next year and at WORST for him to be an acceptable starting pitcher providing a lot of league average innings.

The New York Yankees are seeking a package of three young pitchers from the Diamondbacks for Randy Johnson, including at least one reliever, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

The Yankees have expressed interest in right-handed setup man Brandon Medders, the source said, in addition to several of the five starting pitchers that the D-Backs consider candidates for the two available spots in their 2007 rotation – Edgar Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf and Micah Owings.

Ironically, if we got Johnson, we wouldn't have to pay him $16m, even at full price, since $1.5m is apparently deferred until 2010. Heck, we can just add it to the debt, since reports say we still owe him $40m from his last stint here, part of the deferred salary lump that we're paying off. But there's an interesting point brought up by Mister T in the comments: would Johnson be happy being the #2 in Arizona, behind reigning Cy Young winner, Brandon Webb? He was the Opening Day starter last season for the Yankees (as they thrashed Barry Zito, incidentally!). Does he have the humility to watch Webb, with fifteen fewer years major-league experience, take that spot? Or will it eat away at him? He was never regarded as a great clubhouse presence to begin with, and with the young team we have here, that could be a crucial issue.

I hope RJ gets dealt to SD for Scott Linebrink. He's a 30 year old right handed reliever and had a REC 7-4 | SV 2 | ERA 3.57 | WHIP 1.22 while opponents batted .243 against him. Color me as unimpressed with Scott Linebrink, especially with the Yankees thin rotation. Even if the MFY's sign an average SP in Barry Zito for $100mil that leaves them unable to acquire real SP talent next year with Zambrano on the market.

I'm not worried about the Yankees dealing RJ to go after Zito. In fact, I hope that's what their plan is...


Huh. Red Sox fans hope the Yankees don't get Barry Zito, you say?
Barry Zito 3-Year Splits vs. Red Sox, 2004-2006
2-3, 6.45 ERA (7.20 at Fenway); 7 GS; 38.2 IP; 50 H; 27 ER; 30/22 K/BB; .309 BAA
Yeah. We wouldn't want that coming at us four or five times a year. Especially if it's instead of this guy:
Randy Johnson 3-year Splits vs. Red Sox, 2004-2006
7-1, 4.87 ERA; 10 GS; 61 IP; 59 H; 33 ER; 64/32 K/BB; .252 BAA
Both relatively small sample sizes, obviously, but still.

The problem with that is that Linebrink would only be one piece. Cesar Carillo and "a bat" are rumored to be part of the deal.

I can't find much information about Cesar Carrillo other than he is a 22 year old RHP who last year had a 4.34 ERA 0.98 WHIP 8.1 H/9 2.2 BB/9 7.1/K9 1.2/HR9 and had 46% GB and .276 BABIP at AA last season.

Decent, but not great. Anyone have any idea on what he throws or the velocity of his pitches?

Still Cesar Carrillo+Linebrink+"a bat"(oxymoron for SD?) is vastly over-paying for RJ, but the package isn't so exciting.

He should be a fixture in San Diego’s rotation for years to come, possibly as a No. 2 starter.

Josh simply wouldn't do this - it's got to be all Moorad.

Nippert isn't a stud prospect, and Owings profiles as an arm out of the pen. Trading them for a #2 starter isn't a bad deal. Especially if re-acquiring him means they can re-structure the remaining $40M they owe RJ right now.

This will again though put Cashman over the top if he can acquire 3 prospects and some salary for a 43 year old pitcher with a bad back. Even if they aren't worth much, it's still better than going with a 1-year pitcher with a 5+ ERA.

Randy Johnson-S-Yankees Dec. 31 - 1:15 pm et

The Yankees trade talks with the Diamondbacks have slowed over the structuring of a potential contract extension for Randy Johnson, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the New York Daily News.

The D'Backs apparently would like to sign Johnson for 2008, but they want to be creative about it. For one thing, they have only about $10 million to spend in 2007 and Johnson is due $16 million. The Yankees could help there in return for more talent. Arizona could also try to do away with some of the $40 million in deferred money Johnson is still owed by the team, with a future stake in ownership one possibility. A trade remains likely if Johnson wants it to happen. According to the East Valley Tribune, the Yankees could settle for two players from a group of four pitchers: Brandon Medders, Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf and Micah Owings.
Source: New York Daily News

A two-for-one trade involving Randy Johnson could net the Yankees a future front-line starter.
Diamondbacks right-handed prospect Micah Owings is the most intriguing name involved in discussions that would send Johnson back to Arizona, though talks reportedly have been stalled over money issues.

According to one report from Arizona, the Yankees and Diamondbacks already have agreed to a package of two pitchers for Johnson, who is set to make $16 million next season, the final year of his contract.
The Yankees were reluctant to absorb any portion of that salary unless Arizona kicked in one or more prospects on the Yanks' wish list. Also at issue is the $40 million in deferred payments Arizona still owes Johnson, and the Big Unit's apparent request for a one-year contract extension.
As of Tuesday evening, the Yankees had not granted the customary 72-hour window (as they allowed Detroit in the Gary Sheffield trade) for Arizona to negotiate with Johnson's agent.
Johnson has a full no-trade clause, and recently indicated to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman that he'd like to pitch closer to his Phoenix-area home.
Cashman did not return a phone message Tuesday.
Money issues aside, the sentiment remained that the Yankees were committed to moving Johnson back to Arizona, and that Owings and reliever Brandon Medders could arrive in return.
According to one National League scout, Owings is better than any of the three pitchers the Yankees received from the Tigers for Sheffield -- including right-hander Humberto Sanchez, who was the key to the deal.
Sanchez, 23, went a combined 10-6, with a 2.63 ERA in Class AA and Class AAA stints last season, with 129 strikeouts and 47 walks in 123 innings. But the right-hander has had elbow problems.
"If he were [as] good [as people say], he'd be in the big leagues already," the scout said of Sanchez.
Owings, 24, went 10-0 with a 3.70 ERA after his promotion to Class AAA during 2006, and had a combined 130 strikeouts and 51 walks in 1622/3 innings. Like Sanchez, Owings could be ready to contribute in the big leagues as a starter or setup reliever this season.
One NL scout likens the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Owings to the Mets' Aaron Heilman, though Owings is considered to be more aggressive in the strike zone.

Sweeney Murti, who covers the Yankees for WFAN just reported Johnson to the D-Backs for Luis Vizacaino, RHP Steven Jackson, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, and SS Alberto Gonzalez.

Please tell me they are B level prospects at best

A 43 year old pitcher who just had back surgery, costs about 16mil, and had a horrid year last year just fetched 3 prospects. Wow.

All were in Double A last season;
Ohlendorf; 10-8, 3.25 ERA 125K in 177.2 IP. 15 wild pitches.

Jackson; 8-11, 2.65 ERA 125K in 149.2 IP

Gonzalez; .290/.356/.392 6HR 50 RBI

Josh Byrnes ripping off the Yanks......good times!!!

Jackson 25 in March, Ohlendorf is 24, Gonzalez will be 25 in April.