Randy Johnson Unlikely To Re-Sign With D'Backs

Johnson is solid for 5-6 innings. You just cant pitch him over that. Thats what Torre did while he was in NY.

yankfan -

I think that is a bit unfair. Johnson was a horse with Arizona the first time around and was coming off a 245 inning season when the Yankees acquired him. There was no reason for Torre to believe he would suddenly regress into a five-inning pitcher. (Regardless, in 2005, Johnson's problems typically came in the middle of a game - he pitched strong early and strong late - but, for whatever the reason, had issues in the 4th inning and between pitches 26-50).

Dbacks get:

Ryan Raburn
Mike Hessman

Tigers get:

Miguel Montero
Yusmeiro Petit

Why would this trade work?

*The dBacks get a power bat in Hessman. He's a good source of power off the bench. To add, a much better option than Tony Clark. As for Raburn, here's a guy who can get a full time gig at second and show off his 20-20 skills.

*The Tigers get an MLB ready catcher and a healthy SP who deserves a starting job. If he gains experience by pitching a full season in the major leagues, not only will he improve but he will also reach his upside. Yusmeiro's stats improve each year. I think he just needs more confidence in himself and in Arizona, he has to pitch every start like his job is on the line. That doesn't help anyone's confidence. If a guy messes up in two starts after pitching amazingly well against some teams with a potent offence - I speak particularly of his performance vs the Marlins and the Astros, you have to blame it on the nine off the dBacks gave Petit. It obviously messed up his mechanics.

I live in AZ. They love their Diamondbacks, when it's not too hot and they are on a 11 of 14 run. What's better than being a fan of baseball? Being a pretender who buys a bunch of team gear. Signing RJ for $8mil to $10mil is easy ... Moichandizin'
RJ's 300th the jersey, RJ's 300th the coloring book, RJ's 300th the thermos, RJ's 300th the flame-thrower!
He's someone they can rally around in Phoenix ... at least until the D-Backs pull a Metropolitan-like collapse in August / September. Yeah, money will be made by selling tickets but, there are a hole bunch of clowns willing to shell out $24.95 to $79.95 for memoribilia of an inconsequential win in a fair-weather friend state.
The Dback Management should be smart enough to do that math.

A 1.23 WHIP, 3.91 ERA. Averaged a little less than a K/inning. Low walk rate. What's not to like? He may not be worth taking a risk on a multi-year deal, but he should easily be in the double digit million dollar range. That's a huge hometown discount if he signs for the rumored amount.

Reds Get-

Eric Byrnes
Miguel Montero

D Backs Get-

Alex Gonzalez
Matt Maloney
Craig Tatum

The D Backs save just about 6 million and also get Gonzalez who they can put at 2B which should be easier for him to play coming back from injury. Byrnes is also coming back from injury and there is concern if he can do what he did in 07. The D Backs send the Reds Montero for basicly Tatum and Maloney but both are very solid prospects and Maloney can help out the pen or be the long relief guy or even end up the D Backs rotation. Tatum can replace Montero in the D Backs system as a quality catching prospect and we all know what those are worth these days.

Little risk for both but also the trade makes sense for both.

Tim what ya think? Others?

I cant see the Reds accepting this offer as it VERY VERY FAR from low risk for them. Eric Byrnes gets 11 million a year and is coming of a year were he damagedhis hamstrings early in the year and then upon returning, proceed to tear both of his hamstrings. The D-Backs would have to trade at least one top prospect to make it worth while for the Reds. Oh wait, they can't. They have none.

unrelated news: Yankees just traded a minor league pitcher for Nick Swisher!

Wow, that is a lowball to be sure. I want the Rockies to look into this. One year isn't too bad, he can pitch at Coors if he could pitch Chase, the milestone of 300 wins would definitely bring some attention, and he would have a chance to shove it in Arizona's face. Plus, he could still be a decent pitcher.

dang, if the twins trade away one of their young pitchers, i would be happy to have randy johnson for 8 million.

As a Tiger fan, I love east indian's trade proposal. Hard not to. Also, I'd like to see Detroit go after Johnson on a one-year deal. I'm not sure he would take it, but I think he would work better than Robertson in the rotation.

Posted by: Calriver | November 14, 2008 at 01:34 AM

Yeah, but from the D-Backs perspective it is a terrible deal. There is a reason why both were demoted for three years.