Randy Johnson

MetsBlog quotes a radio report heard on WFAN from Sweeny Murti: the Yankees traded Randy Johnson to the Diamondbacks for Luis Vizcaino, Steven Jackson, Ross Ohlendorf, and Alberto Gonzalez. 

UPDATE: ESPN reports that the Yankees will pay between $1.5MM and $2MM of Johnson’s ’06 salary.  Additionally, the D’Backs were granted a 72 hour window for negotation with Johnson starting at 3pm CST today.

Some info on the three prospects:

Jackson is a right-handed starter who will turn 25 in March.  He posted a 2.65 ERA and 2.78 K/BB in Double A in 2006.  According to Scout.com, the former college pitcher is a power guy with a "devastating slider."

Ohlendorf is a 24 year-old right-handed starter.  Like Jackson, he pitched in college and made the jump from Low A South Bend to Double A.  He posted a 3.29 ERA and 4.3 K/BB at that level.  His changeup may have been a key to making the Southern League All-Star game this year.

Gonzalez is not our attorney general, but rather a Venezuelan shortstop.  He turns 24 in April and may have been the best defensive shortstop in Arizona’s system.  He hit .290/.356/.392 in Double A in 2006.

The New York Times reports that as of Tuesday night the Diamondbacks have not yet been granted a 72-hour window to negotiate with Randy Johnson, though Peter Abraham reported yesterday that Arizona requested it.

The New York Post doesn’t have new information, indicating that dialogue continues over the financial details.  Newsday says Johnson’s agents are now in the loop and the odds of a deal are good.  Finally, USA Today expects the deal completed by the end of the week.

UPDATE: Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees will not grant the D’Backs a 72-hour window to talk contract with Johnson.  It won’t kill the deal however.

Andrew Marchand of the New York Post writes that while Randy Johnson, the Diamondbacks, and the Yankees all want to make this trade work, they’ve yet to agree upon how much Johnson will make for 2007-08 and how it will be paid.  Ed Price at the Newark Star-Ledger agrees – negotiations continue but the dollars are still the issue.

Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune chips in to mention that the teams have not entered the formal 72-hour negotiating window and offering Johnson partial ownership of the team is not under consideration.  He adds that the D’Backs still have to review Johnson’s medical records, as is the custom in any trade.  Johnson’s back surgery is not expected to hold up the deal.

UPDATE: Peter Abraham of the Journal News reports that the D’Backs have now requested the 72-hour window and it could be granted today.

John Gambadoro of the Arizona Republic has a source indicating that the Yankees want two of Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, and Dana Eveland.  Earlier we’d been hearing Dustin Nippert mentioned and not Eveland.  Gambadoro confirms the involvement of Brandon Medders but indicates an unknown infield prospect could be included – another new rumor.

I have to respectfully disagree with a few of the points made in Gambadoro’s column.  Gambadoro’s main argument seems to be that Arizona shouldn’t trade Micah Owings because he went 10-0 at Triple A despite admittedly mediocre stuff.  While Owings is a mildly interesting prospect, his record shouldn’t be a factor here.  You’d be surprised who can go 10-0 when Lady Luck comes calling. 

Additionally, labeling the Unit a "five to six inning pitcher" is a stretch given that Johnson averaged 6.21 innings per start in 2006.  While that’s a significant drop from 6.64 per start in ’05, it still ranked 21st in the AL.  Not to mention above Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.

According to the Newark Star-Ledger, the Randy Johnson to Arizona trade is "nearing its completion."

The D’Backs would still work out an extension with Johnson, and the Yanks still covet Brandon Medders and a young starter or two.  According to the New York Post, Micah Owings seems to be at the top of the list with Dustin Nippert and Ross Ohlendorf close behind.

Yesterday for the East Valley Tribune, Jack Magruder indicated that the Yankees want a trio of young arms from the Diamondbacks in return for Randy Johnson.  They want one reliever in the group.

Brandon Medders, a 27 year-old right-handed reliever, is said to be a target.  Medders posted a solid 3.64 ERA in 71 innings in 2006, though his 1.68 K/BB ratio is cause for concern.  Magruder indicates that Arizona wants to substitute the pricier Luis Vizcaino instead of Medders.

The other pitchers would come out of this group: Edgar Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf, and Micah Owings.  What, no Juan Cruz?  Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein lists Nippert as a "good prospect" and Owings as an "average prospect."  The others aren’t in the team’s top 10.  That might be a testament to all the young talent in the organization though.

Magruder doesn’t expect the D’Backs to meet this Yankee demand, but perhaps the teams can meet in the middle.