Diamondbacks Rumors: Johnson, Winn, Valverde

Some D-Backs tidbits courtesy of Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic..

• The club is still waiting to hear back from Kelly Johnson on the offer they made to him last week – believed to be for about $2MM.  Johnson's people told the D-Backs that he has better offers out there, but if all things were equal he'd prefer to play for them.
• Arizona continues to be interested in free agent Randy Winn, but it seems as though Winn is looking to be a starter.  While the Diamondbacks can't guarantee him that, Piecoro says that he would likely get a fair amount of at-bats with them.
• The D-Backs remain interested in bringing back Jose Valverde, but at their price.  A "scenario the Diamondbacks would consider" would be to offer him a one-year deal at a lower base salary than he is seeking (perhaps in the $5MM range) with a promise not to offer him arbitration after 2010.  This way, Valverde could hit the open market unencumbered by draft pick compensation.  Piecoro notes that he has "no idea" if Valverde would agree to that.
• While they don't feel as though adding a starting pitcher is a neccessity, Arizona will monitor righty Jose Contreras.  The 38-year-old posted a 4.92 ERA with 7.2 K/9 for the White Sox and Rockies last season.