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L.A. Teams In Mix For Big Unit?

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According to the New York Daily News, you can add the Angels and Dodgers to the list of teams interested in the suddenly-available Randy Johnson.  Furthermore, Roger Rubin and Bill Madden name the Padres as Johnson’s most likely suitor right now.  This thing has expanded beyond his hometown Diamondbacks.

The paper writes that the Yanks already have some offers on the table.  From the Dodgers’ point of view, their interest in Johnson may only be in keeping him away from division rivals.  Perhaps a starter would go back to New York in such a deal.

Johnson’s agent hasn’t been looped in yet, but Brian Cashman will need the pitcher’s consent in any deal.

Randy Johnson Trade Rumors

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Merry Christmas!  I’m sporting a new fleece and decided to duck in with a quick Christmas trade rumor.

While it was denied a week ago, it sounds like discussions are indeed taking place that would bring Randy Johnson back to the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Johnson’s agent and D’Backs general partner Ken Kendrick are mum on the subject.

Ed Price reports that the Yankees don’t want to pay any of the $16MM owed to the Big Unit in 2007.  Arizona’s rotation currently consists of Brandon Webb, Livan Hernandez, Doug Davis, and a competition between Juan Cruz, Dana Eveland, Edgar Gonzalez, and Enrique Gonzalez.  The Diamondbacks are packed with promising youngsters like Conor Jackson and Dustin Nippert.

Johnson had back surgery after the season ended; he turned 43 this year.  He may not be ready for spring training.  ZiPS, which projected pitchers better than anyone last year, predicts a 3.71 ERA for Johnson in 2007 – even as a Yankee.  PECOTA chimes in with a 3.52 projection; it’s easy to be deceived by the 5.00 ERA.  More attention should be paid to his 1.24 WHIP in 2006 – that’s more than respectable. 

UPDATE: Amy Nelson of ESPN reports that Arizona has offered a package of at least three players for Johnson.  Word is that Chad Tracy could be among them.  They’d want a window to negotiate a contract extension.  Nelson also mentions that the Padres have interest and could offer Scott Linebrink.

Additionally, Jon Heyman writes that Johnson initiated the trade idea and that the Giants could be in the mix.  The Yankees seem to be looking for young pitching in return.  Heyman speculates that they could become a possibility for Barry Zito if Johnson is dealt.

Pirates/Yankees/Braves Deal About Complete

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Bucco Blog is reporting tonight that the oft rumored three-team trade between the Yankees, Braves, and Pirates is all but complete.

Mike Gonzalez is taking a requested physical for the Yankees today and, if he passes, it looks like he will be a Yankee for Christmas. The Pirates will be getting Adam LaRoche and the Braves will get Melky Cabrera and at least one unidentified Pirate who is thought to be either Nate McLouth or Jose Castillo. There are a couple versions of this trade running according to Bucco Blog so more as we hear it.

Latest On Yankees and Mike Gonzalez

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A baseball source indicated to MLBTradeRumors.com that the Yankees and Pirates are working on a trade that could be Mike Gonzalez and Nate McLouth for Ian Kennedy and Melky Cabrera.  This is backed up by our good friend Jake at Bucco Blog, where Gonzalez, Kennedy, and Cabrera were mentioned in a recent podcast.

Of the four, the player with which I was least familiar was Kennedy.  The right-handed starter celebrates his 22nd birthday today.  Baseball America ranked Kennedy fifth among Yankee prospects.  BA’s John Manuel indicates Kennedy has excellent command with an upper 80s fastball and a sinking changeup.  He manages to keep the ball down.  Kennedy is still a ways off from the bigs and should start ’07 at high Class A.

I should note that as a 2006 draft pick, Kennedy can’t be traded until one year after he signed, which would be approximately July 15, 2007.  Given that a player to be named later must be named six months in advance, the Pirates and Yankees would have to wait about a month to make such a deal official.  After speaking to a couple of baseball guys, I can tell you for a fact that there is precedent for agreeing to trades in December involving June draft picks from the same year.  Kennedy is fair game for discussion.

Yankees Sign Igawa

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ESPN reported late last night (early this morning) that the New York Yankees have reportedly agreed to a contract with their own Japanese star pitcher Kei Igawa. Igawa should get $20MM (plus incentives) over 5 years according to the report and should fill the Yankees’ fifth starter position in their rotation. That added to the $26MM the Yankees paid for Igawa’a posting fee brings his total cost to $46MM, more than $65MM less than Matsusaka of the Red Sox could cost (if all of Dice-K’s incentives are met).

With Igawa, the Yankees’ rotation is currently looking to shape up with Johnson, Mussina, Wang, Pettitte (pending his physical), and now Igawa. There is still talks of Johnson being traded to make room for either Clemens, Pavano, or even Hughes.

By Adam Howe of Game Four

Randy Johnson Trade Rumors

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Being that it is a slow news day, I feel olbliged to bring up the recent rumors involving 43 year-old starter Randy Johnson.

It certainly could be nothing, as George King reported yesterday that Johnson has not demanded a trade.  Johnson’s agent denied any sort of trade request. 

It seems that the basic premise is that the Yanks would move Johnson to a less stressful location for prospects to make room for Roger Clemens.  Failing that, dealing him could open up a spot for Carl Pavano.  Something tells me Brian Cashman wouldn’t trade Johnson anytime soon as no one knows if Clemens or Pavano are even viable options.

A more likely scenario, to me, is the Yanks considering trading Johnson once Philip Hughes forces their hand.  There is no reason to rush the 20 year-old, and a half-season at Triple A wouldn’t hurt.  But Hughes would not be overmatched in the Majors right now.  There’s also a decent chance that Hughes will be needed as the Yanks’ fifth starter in the event of an injury to Johnson, Pettitte, or Mussina. 

The Big Unit is owed $16MM in 2007 to finish his contract.  I think a lot of NL teams would take the gamble with his age and back to see if he has one more run of excellence.  While the numbers are slipping, Johnson’s peripheral stats and baserunners allowed were still excellent in 2006.

Early Retirement For A-Rod?

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Alex Rodriguez, in an interview with Bob Costas from way back in September, talked about retiring after the 2010 season when his current contract is up.  He backpedaled a little bit, but his words are causing a stir.  Kind of like a delayed steal since he said it in September.  Does this mean A-Rod is less likely to opt out after 2007 to try to get more security?

Bill James gives Rodriguez a 31% chance to reach 756 home runs and a 5% chance to reach 4,000 hits.

Melky Cabrera To Braves?

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Ken Davidoff of Newsday has amended yesterday’s Melky for Mike Gonzalez rumor.  The latest one is Melky Cabrera to Atlanta, Mike Gonzalez to the Yankees, and Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh.  See, everyone’s happy.  Melky could handle LF for the Braves in 2007 and then switch to center after that.

Davidoff mentions that such a deal could pave the way for one more year of Bernie Williams.  Not sure if the Bucs could get more, but I think snagging LaRoche and his 35 HR potential would be a fine return.  LaRoche would still have three years of service time under the Pirates’ control.  The team could return to contention in 2008 if the young pitchers come along.

Melky Cabrera For Mike Gonzalez?

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John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times reports that the Yankees is the most likely destination for southpaw reliever Mike Gonzalez.  Apparently Brian Cashman is willing to part with 22 year-old outfielder Melky Cabrera straight up.

Cabrera held his own as a rookie, batting .280/.360/.391 in 460 ABs and playing the fourth best defensive LF in baseball, according to Bill James’s panel of experts.  What’s more, Baseball Between The Numbers indicates that a typical player can be expected to improve his offensive output by about 15% from his age 22 to age 23 season.  Even in dealing Cabrera, the Yanks would retain the real prize among their position-player prospects: Jose Tabata.  Tabata could be patrolling right field in New York by the second half of ’08.

Gonzalez could be groomed as a possible successor to Mariano Rivera; he has three years of service time left before free agency.  However, Perrotto indicates that the Pirates want more than just Cabrera for Gonzalez. 

Meanwhile, Bucco Blog thinks the entire rumor is bunk.  Jake makes a fine point – that Dave Littlefield is in no rush to trade Gonzalez and will simply sit back and wait until the unbeatable offer comes along.

Making Progress With Kei Igawa

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It seems very likely that the Yankees will sign Kei Igawa to serve as their fifth starter.  According to Igawa’s agent Arn Tellem:

"We are making good progress.  However, I do not anticipate reaching a deal this week."

The two parties still have nearly two weeks left to negotiate.  Igawa cost a hefty $26MM posting fee.  The AL East has recruited all the major Japanese talent this year, with Matsuzaka, Igawa, Iwamura, and Okajima all ending up in the division.  The inevitable Matsuzaka/Igawa pitching matchup should be a fun one.

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