Will D’Backs Let Randy Johnson Leave?
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News takes a look at the possibility of Randy Johnson leaving the Diamondbacks this winter. Ringolsby says the D’Backs aren’t sure if Johnson will remain committed after he gets the five wins needed to reach 300. Plus, Johnson doesn’t travel with the team these days. Arizona GM Josh Byrnes weighed in on the Big Unit, saying they’ll wait a few weeks before engaging in contract talks with him.
Johnson is an interesting free agent. He’s 45 years old, yet he posted a solid 3.91 ERA in 184 innings this year. His control is excellent, and he’s still a strikeout pitcher even though his average fastball is down to 90.8 mph. He earned a $10MM salary this year, with additional signing bonus money coming in the future. We’ll have to ask Eddie Bajek whether Johnson’s shutout last weekend nudged him into Type B territory. If so, the D’Backs will have to decide whether to offer arbitration.
Odds And Ends: Angels, Glavine, Johnson, Santana
A few minor notes from around the MLBiverse…
- Ken Rosenthal spoke before yesterday’s national broadcast and said the Angels are looking for a veteran shortstop, though Rosenthal feels it will not be easy to find one.
- Tom Glavine may opt for retirement if Dr. James Andrews determines he needs Tommy John surgery. Glavine is a free agent at the end of the season.
- On the other hand, Nick Piecoro says another Hall of Fame-bound free agent-to-be, Randy Johnson, will most likely return in ’09.
- The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review takes a look back at the Mets-Twins trade for Johan Santana and how both teams have fared.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Odds and Ends: Kendall, Laird, Giles, Manny
Today’s linkage…
- A friend pointed out to me how strange it is that the Twins were willing to take on Jarrod Washburn‘s salary and give up Boof Bonser but chose to trade Johan Santana before the season. If Bill Smith could go back in time, would he still make that deal?
- A Gary Sheffield acquisition by the Rays is "unlikely but not impossible," according to one Buster Olney source.
- As expected, Jason Kendall‘s option for ’09 vested. He’s off the list!
- The Rangers were willing to trade Gerald Laird and a solid prospect to the Marlins for Chris Volstad.
- The Padres are wavering on Brian Giles‘ 2009 option. Scott Miller also wonders if they’ll be able to take on Trevor Hoffman for another year.
- Miller says the Marlins had a deal for Manny Ramirez worked out, but the commissioner’s office killed it because the Marlins would’ve been getting draft picks rather than a second player. Manny would’ve vetoed it anyway.
- Rob Neyer thinks the Yankees will exceed a $200MM payroll if need be next year.
- There seems a good chance Randy Johnson pitches next year.
- Randy Winn and Bengie Molina may be traded this winter.
- Missed this one from Monday – the White Sox acquired reliever Franklyn German from the Pirates for a player to be named later.
Odds and Ends: Bay, Roberts, Cliff Lee
And here we have some random links I’ve collected over the past day or so.
- The Bucs will try to fill their open 40-man spots through low profile moves, not unlike the Jason Michaels one. They won’t move Jason Bay or Xavier Nady until they’re truly out of it. 4.5 games out of the wild card, they still have a prayer here on May 9th.
- Keith Law’s top 60 prospects list for the June draft has been published. Shortstop Tim Beckham heads the list.
- Gordon Wittenmyer looks back on the Cubs players rumored to be traded for Brian Roberts.
- Juan Uribe, partially on the strength of a great takeout slide, still has life with the White Sox.
- Nick Piecoro reminds us that the D’Backs were close to acquiring Cliff Lee in a deal for Carlos Quentin this winter. That would just be unfair, Lee as a part of that rotation. Ken Davidoff notes that the Mets discussed Lee as well.
- So…did the Yankees really have a shot at Micah Owings in the Randy Johnson deal?
Heyman’s Latest: Lofton, Owings, Sabathia
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up.
- Heyman and Buster Olney both believe the Cubs should sign free agent Kenny Lofton to help fill in for Alfonso Soriano. However, Olney noted that the Cubs don’t seem interested.
- Apparently the Yanks pushed hard to get Micah Owings in the Randy Johnson deal a few years ago. Ross Ohlendorf still looks interesting, at least.
- Heyman has heard whispers about C.C. Sabathia having arm problems but admits there’s no real evidence. Sabathia threw 256.3 innings last year (postseason included), an increase of almost 60 IP over 2007.
Odds and Ends: Schilling, Piazza, Howard
Tax day roundup…
- Some mild drama over whether Curt Schilling would consider pitching for the Yankees next year. He reiterated that he won’t. It takes two to tango, anyway.
- Pedro Martinez may be out until June. Nelson Figueroa‘s chance continues, with Claudio Vargas as the backup plan. The Mets still have a solid rotation without Pedro.
- Mark Healey has heard rumblings that the Reds and Yankees are looking at Mike Piazza.
- Phillies Nation on why they would trade Ryan Howard.
- Bill Barnwell looks at the four trades Randy Johnson trades. I thought the Unit looked respectable last night, though it’s hard to gauge against the Giants.
- Susan Slusser believes a recent roster move indicates that the A’s are playing to win in ’08. They’re in first place at the moment.
- The Dodgers rolled out the red carpet for bloggers.
Odds And Ends: Crede, Marlins, Canó, Bonds
Some interesting tidbits this afternoon before I check out:
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that one of Brian Sabean’s top advisors, Ted Uhlaender, was present to witness Joe Crede’s homer off of Arizona’s Max Scherzer on Saturday. Seems more and more likely, as Crede proves his back is fine, that he will be moved to the Giants. Will the White Sox get Kevin Correia in exchange for Crede? The White Sox need a back-of-the-rotation guy, and Kenny Williams and company think they can win this year. So prospects probably won’t get it done. While the Giants could conceivably use Rich Aurilia or Kevin Frandsen at third, Sabean will most likely be unable to resist Crede’s 2006.
- Juan Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel digs up this little tidbit: The Florida Marlins haven’t signed a player to a multi-year contract since December 2005, when they signed Carlos Delgado to a four-year, $55MM contract, and Paul Lo Duca to a three-year, $18MM deal. One would hope that this trend will end soon enough, and that owner Jeff Loria will open the purse strings for Hanley Ramirez when the time is right.
- Tyler Kepner of The New York Times explores the relative surprise that Robinson Canó has been considering his draft position and reputation as a prospect, and details how frequently the Yankees almost dealt him before he made the big club. Canó was nearly dealt for Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltrán, and Randy Johnson in different instances.
- AP Sports Writer Bob Baum explains that Bud Selig isn’t trying to keep Barry Bonds from being signed. Selig stressed that each club is free to deal with whomever they please.
D’Backs Still Searching For A Starter
The D’Backs’ loss of Livan Hernandez should become official today when he declines their offer of arbitration. That leaves the team with a rotation of Brandon Webb, Randy Johnson, Doug Davis, and Micah Owings. The Big Unit is a question mark, so a starter must be acquired.
Back on November 15th, Nick Piecoro noted the team’s interest in Matt Clement and Bartolo Colon. But the Diamondbacks are sticking to their no bonuses/no escalator clauses mandate. So that pair will probably look elsewhere.
Hiroki Kuroda received a three-year offer and a pitch video featuring Randy Johnson. He’ll visit Arizona next week. If he chooses Seattle, L.A., or Kansas City, the D’Backs will have to move on. It’s rumored that the Ms added a fourth year to their offer.
The big name is Dan Haren. Jack Magruder says Arizona’s proposal included two of Carlos Gonzalez, Emilio Bonifacio, and Brett Anderson. Magruder believes the A’s are also seeking Major Leaguers, which makes sense. So that huge untouchables list might have to be compromised if the D’Backs are to get Haren.
Randy Johnson Trade Dissected
Steve Gilbert of MLB.com gets an inside look at the Randy Johnson trade. Originally, it was going to be a three-team deal where a mystery AL club would send a first baseman to the Yankees. Perhaps it was Richie Sexson on the Mariners?
Johnson should make his season debut Tuesday against the Padres, Arizona’s main competition in acquiring him this winter.
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).