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Johnson Agrees To Extension
According to the Associated Press, Randy Johnson agreed to a two-year, $26MM deal with the Diamondbacks. This complex, drawn out trade will probably be finalized Tuesday.
Josh Byrnes has come up with a couple of solid southpaws in Johnson and Doug Davis to bolster his 2007-08 rotations. Coupled with the acquisitions of Chris Young, Orlando Hudson, Alberto Callaspo and Juan Cruz, I'd say Byrnes is doing quite well. Additionally, the D'Backs signed Brandon Webb to a long-term deal a year ago, before he won the Cy Young. They have Webb at a good price through 2010; he would've reached free agency after 2008.
The Johnson acquisition will create a fierce spring training competition for Arizona's fifth starter job this year. Juan Cruz, Dana Eveland, Edgar Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, and Dustin Nippert will fight for the vacancy. That group of fifth starter candidates could outpitch some teams' rotations (ahem, Washington).
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not sure how i feel about this.
my first instinct is to say the d backs are crazy, but its hard to doubt randy.
Posted by: bsox21 | January 08, 2007 at 01:05 AM
See I wish if I ran a team I'd do what he's doing, or similar. I'd trim down on as much salary as possible, then whammo, spend all that extra dough on Johan Santana or someone like that, and have a ridiculously strong team with young arbitration eligible players. Seperately, I like Randy a lot better on the D-backs.
Posted by: Guitar Hero | January 08, 2007 at 01:16 AM
If he is healthy he's productive in the NL West for these last two years. I think it's solid all the way around, although the prospects are questionable, that was probably part of shedding the majority of the salary.
The Yankees have to be the only team that can trade someone who is possibly their best pitcher, and be better off for it.
Besides, aren't they saving like 30 cents on the dollar in addition to his salary as they approach the luxury tax threshold?
Posted by: plh903 | January 08, 2007 at 01:30 AM
Hey! The only people that are allowed to make fun of the Nats' "starting rotation" is Nats fans!
Posted by: JammingEcono | January 08, 2007 at 07:39 AM
More and more I think the Padres getting Maddux for 10 Mio is one of this winter's bargains.
Posted by: King_Buddha | January 08, 2007 at 08:13 AM
Only the crazy projectionists could think that Randy was or ever would be the yanks best pitcher. He may do well in the NL, but he had no chance against the AL teams that can whack flat sliders.
Posted by: ScottBrosius | January 08, 2007 at 08:24 AM
Honestly,
Signing RJ to an extension is nuts. He's what, 44? Oh well, it isn't my money!!
hmm. Nats' fans, wow.... (bows to the Nats' fans).
Takes a lot to hang in there....
feslenraster.com
Posted by: The Ancient | January 08, 2007 at 09:26 AM
So does this mean RJ won't have the NY cap on in Cooperstown?
Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | January 08, 2007 at 09:52 AM
I thought the cap was chosen by the Hall based on tenure with a team, making RJ a Mariner. I remeber this being discussed about the Rocket as he would be enshrined in a Red Sox cap, unless he never retires and plays another 8 years in Houston
Posted by: ArodSucksAtLife | January 08, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Considering the league office determines which cap now it would have prob been Arizona anyway. I like what the D's are doing and they have more than a "punchers" chance at the playoffs this year.
Posted by: tdogg | January 08, 2007 at 11:27 AM
The Diamondbacks are one of the best ran organizations in baseball. They have one of the stronger minor league systems and they manage to keep an influx of cost effective talent. They play to their strengths and keep competitive for now and the future all while rebuilding on a low budget. Josh Byrnes is one of the more underrated GMs and doesn't get enough credit for the progress he's made with the Diamondbacks organization.
Posted by: TNS | January 08, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Johnson will go in as a Diamondback simply because he won 4 of his 5 CYA there. There was never any real chance he would go in as a Yankee.
Just just like Clemens wont go in as a Yankee, neither will Johnson.
I personally dont like the idea of seeing a 44 (2008) and 45 (2009) Randy Johnson making 13 million a year. But hey at least he isnt on my team.
Posted by: MadBravesFan | January 08, 2007 at 12:07 PM
How about a 97 year old Johnson making eleventy-zillion dollars? Because that's how much they ose him in deferred salary from his last contract.
Hopefully all of the other boxers have a glass jaw, because when you highest OPS+ for anyone with 250 or more AB is a 101(!) it's going to take a lot of magic.
Maybe Webb and Johnson will both win Cy Young Awards this year?
Also, he's not signed for 2009.
Posted by: plh903 | January 08, 2007 at 12:32 PM
That is what is so confusing about this Extension... It is a "Two year extension, but he the first year of the extension is 2007, so it is a restructuring of the old contract, with an addition of another year.
I don't really see whats wrong with this trade, the D-backs already owe out the ass for Randy, we should at least have him pitching for us.
Posted by: Projekt | January 08, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I dont know about glass jaws but I do know the NL West should not be confused with the AL Central or AL East.
Make fun if you like but I think they will finish closer than you think.
Posted by: tdogg | January 08, 2007 at 01:24 PM
I agree, I think that the Dbacks actually do have a shot. Their offense is as good as the Giants, and so is their staff. Webb is better than Zito by the way....
I think the Dodgers are the best team on paper, followed by SanDiego. Still, San Fran and Arizona have a shot. No one in this division has a decent offense, and Arizona's rotation is very good (for the NL anyway). RJ will have a good year. Not great, but he will win at least 15 in the NL as long as he is healthy.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 08, 2007 at 02:29 PM
Arizona's offense could be very good. Of course it's all about the kids. Quentin, Young, Drew, Jackson could all be great, or merely pretty good. Tracy should rebound a bit. Byrnes and Hudson are solid, and I think Snyder is very underrated. Their lineup is very balanced.
The bullpen and rotation are both strong.
Overall they're probably the most balanced team - certainly they have a better offense than LA and SD.
I think those 3 are a cut above the rest, but I've learned that somehow, for some reason, you can never count out the Giants.
And I think RJ will have a very good year - thinking an ERA closer to 3 than 4.
Posted by: bobo | January 08, 2007 at 03:38 PM
Really, players don't pick their caps anymore? Doesn't seem right.
Posted by: nickjs21 | January 08, 2007 at 03:47 PM
Due to about 80% of the D-Backs being near-rookies, this team can really go either way.
Quentin, Young & Hairston could all hit 30HR in 550 AB without it being a total shock to anyone in the system.
If they all play near potential, there really isn't a hole in the lineup, other than Pitcher.
Posted by: tmar | January 08, 2007 at 03:54 PM
On the other hand, this team could have a "group slump" of several games and it wouldn't be out of the question either.
Posted by: tmar | January 08, 2007 at 03:57 PM
I say the Dads take the West and it's not even close.
Not really ripping the DBacks lineup or the kids, but there is going to have to be wholesale improvement for them to have much of an offense next year. Generally, things don't happen like that.
When Conor Jackson is your best hitter, you have some work to do.
A lot of nice players, but a whole lot of punchless bats. Unless, like I said you predict wholesale improvement, which is fine, but things just don't work that way.
Posted by: plh903 | January 08, 2007 at 05:44 PM
I don't know about wholesale improvements but there is definitely quite a few differences from what was on the field most of last year.
It's too difficult to predict with so many players in their Freshman/Sophmore years, but the entire lineup will be solid offensively, just maybe not until '08.
Posted by: tmar | January 08, 2007 at 06:10 PM
"I say the Dads take the West and it's not even close."
"A lot of nice players, but a whole lot of punchless bats. Unless, like I said you predict wholesale improvement, which is fine, but things just don't work that way.
"
Uh okay if you say so. Especially since teams that can maybe but a really good rotation out there have done so poorly lately.....
Posted by: tdogg | January 08, 2007 at 07:22 PM
Phil,
You don't see the Dodgers giving them a run for their money? I just think that with their rotation, and any hitting at all, they are going to be the best of the west. Especially if any of their young outfielders play anywhere near their potential.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 09, 2007 at 12:05 AM
I think the dodgers are the best team in the nl west without question. Plus they have an array of young prospects who are all due for some big time mlb numbers
The dbacks NEED their prospects to come through in order to really compete. The dodgers would run away with the division if the likes of Loney, Kemp, Laroche etc etc pan out.
Posted by: GoBoSox420 | January 09, 2007 at 04:30 AM
Yeah, if all the DBacks youngsters recognize their potential/have career years they'll contend. Their pitching is very solid. I just don't see it happening for another year or two.
Anyway, the Dodgers are probably the best bet to contend with the Padres I think.
Maddux might have been the best signing of the offseason. Hensley, Young, Peavy etc.
The Padres lineup looks kind of what the DBacks lineups potential is, if that makes sense, .800 OPS's all around. If the Giles brothers were the hitters they were a few years ago they'd be really scary, bat that is one balanced lineup for a NL West team. Throw in the pitching, and it looks good.
The Dodgers pitching is good, but I'm not sold on much beyond Schidt and Lowe and I don't think either one of those guys is an ace.
I am completely baffled by their offensive moves. Gonzo and Pierre? No sense. Repko and Kemp would be more productive for about $6o million less.
I know that Nomar might break a nail and be out for the season, but I'm not sure why they don't play him at 3B. Start Loney already.
JD Drew is going to hurt, and not only did they lose his production, but they overreacted and made the offense worse for a whole bunch of money.
Posted by: plh903 | January 09, 2007 at 08:14 AM
I missed RJ's press announcement but caught the interview afterwards. He was extremely complimentary of the NYY and spoke well of his time there. He even mentioned that he was OK with the fans booing him during his rough outings.
Posted by: tmar | January 09, 2007 at 05:14 PM