RLakin
All Star
Tells mates deal to Yanks done
BY SAM BORDEN and BILL MADDEN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
A deal that would put Randy Johnson in pinstripes appeared to be nearing fruition last night, with the Yankees and Diamondbacks hammering out final details.
Although a gag order was in place with both teams, sources told the Daily News that Johnson informed a few of his Arizona teammates that he was going to the Yankees.
Yankee president Randy Levine and incoming D-Backs CEO Jeff Moorad spoke for the second time in two days yesterday, and there were two scenarios under consideration, according to sources.
Both possibilities involved the Yankees sending Javier Vazquez, prospects and cash to Arizona in exchange for Johnson, but the amount of money the Bombers would ship was contingent on the caliber of the minor leaguers.
In one proposal, the Yanks were to trade Vazquez, Brad Halsey, Abel Gomez and Melky Cabrera (lower-level prospects) for Johnson and include about $12 million to make up some of the difference in money owed to the 41-year-old ace ($16 million this season) and Vazquez ($35.5 million over the next three years).
The other proposal involved the Yankees moving Vazquez and higher-rated prospects Dioner Navarro and Eric Duncan for Johnson, while throwing in significantly less money - around $5 million - to complete the transaction. Once the deal is agreed upon, the Yankees then have to work out a contract extension for Johnson; according to sources, they were talking about adding two years to Johnson's pact at $16 million per.
The Diamondbacks were said to be prepared to accept the results of the physical Vazquez took for the Yankees at the conclusion of last season.
It was erroneously reported elsewhere that the primary reason for the Dodgers backing out of a three-way Johnson trade last week was Vazquez's refusal to take a physical.
The D-Backs felt pressure to move quickly on a deal, sources said, because of Johnson's insistence that they resolve the situation by the end of the year. They also want to move payroll and renew their pursuit of Dodgers slugger Shawn Green, who was a central figure in the three-way deal with the Dodgers.
Moorad used to be Green's agent and it's believed that Arizona would have no problem working out an extension for the outfielder in exchange for him waiving his no-trade clause.
George Steinbrenner's desire to make the Unit a Yankee has only increased since the three-way deal collapsed. The Boss has coveted Johnson for years and wants desperately to make him the frontman in a revamped starting rotation that will include Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright and Kevin Brown.
Steinbrenner pushed hard for the Yanks to trade for Johnson last season, but the sides could not work out a deal before the July 31 trade deadline and Johnson went on to finish second in the NL Cy Young voting (to Roger Clemens), despite posting a 16-14 record.
Vazquez, who fell out of favor with the Yanks after a poor second half and postseason last year, has said he does not want to pitch for a West Coast team. If traded, he could demand another trade after one season with Arizona, a distinct possibility since he once fired Moorad as his agent; as a player in the middle of a multi-year contract, he has that right to demand another move if he is dealt.
"I still trust in my abilities," Vazquez told a Puerto Rican newspaper last week, "and if the Yankees trade me, they will regret it."
When it comes to the Unit, that seems to be a risk they're willing to take.
Pair of offers for an Ace
The Yanks and D-Backs were finalizing a swap for Randy Johnson, with the sides spending yesterday discussing these two scenarios. The final deal could end up being a combination of both.
A: In one scenario, the Bombers send Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, and prospects Abel Gomez and Melky Cabrera to the D-Backs in exchange for Johnson. They'd also throw in about $12 million to offset the difference between Johnson's $16 million salary and the $35.5 million remaining on Vazquez's contract.
B: In the other possibility, the Yanks would send Vazquez and top prospects Eric Duncan and Dioner Navarro to Arizona for the Unit. In this instance, the Bombers would include significantly less cash - perhaps in the neighborhood of $5 million – because they'd be losing their two best minor leaguers.
A look back at the Yankees' pursuit of Randy Johnson in 2004.
May 11: The day before a game with the Mets, Arizona GM Joe Garagiola says the Diamondbacks aren't looking to trade Johnson yet - but a deal down the road with the Yankees isn't impossible. "I consider Brian Cashman a good friend - all those guys. So anything that was in the air in the aftermath of David Wells is long gone. If the deal made sense, we'd absolutely (deal with the Yankees)," he says.
June 15: Johnson is asked about a potential trade to the Yankees by reporters. "I haven't heard anything about that. It's not being written (about) in Arizona, so it can't be that big," Johnson says. "Right now, I haven't been approached by either team and it's kind of pointless."
June 30: Two days after making similar comments to the Daily News, George Steinbrenner tells Sporting News Radio, "God, who wouldn't love to have Randy Johnson? He is a dominator and we'd love to have him." The comments upset Arizona owner Jerry Colangelo and MLB begins to investigate a possible tampering charge against the Boss.
July 9: The Daily News reports that Johnson has informed the D—Backs that he would be willing to waive his no—trade clause if a deal is made with a contender, preferably the Yankees. After a game that night, Johnson denies the story, saying, "I haven't been approached by the Diamondbacks yet. They don't have a trade in place yet. I haven't been asked to waive my no—trade clause...Don't ask again, and that's the nicest way I will ask."
July 30: With the trading dealine a day away, reports indicate that the Yankees had made no formal offer for Johnson and that the D—Backs had yet to ask Johnson to waive his no—trade clause, though Arizona scouts had recently traveled to Columbus and Trenton to evaluate Yankee prospects, including catcher Dioner Navarro and pitcher Brad Halsey.
July 31: As the deadline passes, the Yanks trade Jose Contreras to the White Sox for Esteban Loaiza, but do not land Johnson. Cashman says the Yankees were "never close" to getting the Big Unit.
Aug. 6: Colangelo is forced out by the Arizona limited partners and replaced by agent Jeff Moorad, who gives up his sports management business to take over the reins. Sources say the primary reason for the move is Colangelo's failure to unload Johnson's salary.
Oct. 21: In the wake of a devastating loss to the Red Sox in the ALCS, manager Joe Torre tells reporters the Yanks' priority must be to improve their pitching during the offseason.
Oct. 26: Yankees brass meets in Tampa to begin discussing winter strategies. Johnson soon becomes a top target once again.
Nov. 17: Garagiola and Johnson's agents discuss the Big Unit's future in a teleconference. Sources later say that Garagiola is resigned to trading the ace lefty.
Dec. 1: Early trade talks break down after the D—Backs reject the Yanks' offer of Javier Vazquez, three prospects and cash. Originally, Arizona had asked for Vazquez, $19.5 million and four top Yankee prospects. In addition, they said they'd expect the Yanks to acquire for them another young starting pitcher from among the A's Barry Zito and Tim Hudson, the Dodgers' Edwin Jackson, the Devil Rays' Scott Kazmir, the Rockies' Jason Jennings and Shawn Chacon, the Tigers' Jeremy Bonderman and the Blue Jays' Ted Lilly.
Dec. 12: Trade begins to heat up again on Johnson's insistence and apparent unwillingness to sign an extension.
Dec. 16: Serious discussion of a proposed three—team megadeal between the Yanks, D—Backs and Dodgers begins. Several variations of the trade are considered, with Johnson, Vazquez and the Dodgers' Shawn Green all in the mix.
Dec. 17: The framework for a deal is agreed to in principle. The trade: Shawn Green, Brad Penny, Yhency Brazoban and prospect Brandon Weeden to Arizona; Javier Vazquez and two Yankee prospects (Navarro and Eric Duncan) to the Dodgers; and Johnson, along with L.A. lefthander Kaz Ishii, to New York.
Dec. 21: At the last minute, the Dodgers - who are being criticized heavily for the proposed trade, as well as for other moves - back out of the deal.
Dec. 27: The Yanks and D—Backs resume negotiations.
BY SAM BORDEN and BILL MADDEN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
A deal that would put Randy Johnson in pinstripes appeared to be nearing fruition last night, with the Yankees and Diamondbacks hammering out final details.
Although a gag order was in place with both teams, sources told the Daily News that Johnson informed a few of his Arizona teammates that he was going to the Yankees.
Yankee president Randy Levine and incoming D-Backs CEO Jeff Moorad spoke for the second time in two days yesterday, and there were two scenarios under consideration, according to sources.
Both possibilities involved the Yankees sending Javier Vazquez, prospects and cash to Arizona in exchange for Johnson, but the amount of money the Bombers would ship was contingent on the caliber of the minor leaguers.
In one proposal, the Yanks were to trade Vazquez, Brad Halsey, Abel Gomez and Melky Cabrera (lower-level prospects) for Johnson and include about $12 million to make up some of the difference in money owed to the 41-year-old ace ($16 million this season) and Vazquez ($35.5 million over the next three years).
The other proposal involved the Yankees moving Vazquez and higher-rated prospects Dioner Navarro and Eric Duncan for Johnson, while throwing in significantly less money - around $5 million - to complete the transaction. Once the deal is agreed upon, the Yankees then have to work out a contract extension for Johnson; according to sources, they were talking about adding two years to Johnson's pact at $16 million per.
The Diamondbacks were said to be prepared to accept the results of the physical Vazquez took for the Yankees at the conclusion of last season.
It was erroneously reported elsewhere that the primary reason for the Dodgers backing out of a three-way Johnson trade last week was Vazquez's refusal to take a physical.
The D-Backs felt pressure to move quickly on a deal, sources said, because of Johnson's insistence that they resolve the situation by the end of the year. They also want to move payroll and renew their pursuit of Dodgers slugger Shawn Green, who was a central figure in the three-way deal with the Dodgers.
Moorad used to be Green's agent and it's believed that Arizona would have no problem working out an extension for the outfielder in exchange for him waiving his no-trade clause.
George Steinbrenner's desire to make the Unit a Yankee has only increased since the three-way deal collapsed. The Boss has coveted Johnson for years and wants desperately to make him the frontman in a revamped starting rotation that will include Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright and Kevin Brown.
Steinbrenner pushed hard for the Yanks to trade for Johnson last season, but the sides could not work out a deal before the July 31 trade deadline and Johnson went on to finish second in the NL Cy Young voting (to Roger Clemens), despite posting a 16-14 record.
Vazquez, who fell out of favor with the Yanks after a poor second half and postseason last year, has said he does not want to pitch for a West Coast team. If traded, he could demand another trade after one season with Arizona, a distinct possibility since he once fired Moorad as his agent; as a player in the middle of a multi-year contract, he has that right to demand another move if he is dealt.
"I still trust in my abilities," Vazquez told a Puerto Rican newspaper last week, "and if the Yankees trade me, they will regret it."
When it comes to the Unit, that seems to be a risk they're willing to take.
Pair of offers for an Ace
The Yanks and D-Backs were finalizing a swap for Randy Johnson, with the sides spending yesterday discussing these two scenarios. The final deal could end up being a combination of both.
A: In one scenario, the Bombers send Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, and prospects Abel Gomez and Melky Cabrera to the D-Backs in exchange for Johnson. They'd also throw in about $12 million to offset the difference between Johnson's $16 million salary and the $35.5 million remaining on Vazquez's contract.
B: In the other possibility, the Yanks would send Vazquez and top prospects Eric Duncan and Dioner Navarro to Arizona for the Unit. In this instance, the Bombers would include significantly less cash - perhaps in the neighborhood of $5 million – because they'd be losing their two best minor leaguers.
A look back at the Yankees' pursuit of Randy Johnson in 2004.
May 11: The day before a game with the Mets, Arizona GM Joe Garagiola says the Diamondbacks aren't looking to trade Johnson yet - but a deal down the road with the Yankees isn't impossible. "I consider Brian Cashman a good friend - all those guys. So anything that was in the air in the aftermath of David Wells is long gone. If the deal made sense, we'd absolutely (deal with the Yankees)," he says.
June 15: Johnson is asked about a potential trade to the Yankees by reporters. "I haven't heard anything about that. It's not being written (about) in Arizona, so it can't be that big," Johnson says. "Right now, I haven't been approached by either team and it's kind of pointless."
June 30: Two days after making similar comments to the Daily News, George Steinbrenner tells Sporting News Radio, "God, who wouldn't love to have Randy Johnson? He is a dominator and we'd love to have him." The comments upset Arizona owner Jerry Colangelo and MLB begins to investigate a possible tampering charge against the Boss.
July 9: The Daily News reports that Johnson has informed the D—Backs that he would be willing to waive his no—trade clause if a deal is made with a contender, preferably the Yankees. After a game that night, Johnson denies the story, saying, "I haven't been approached by the Diamondbacks yet. They don't have a trade in place yet. I haven't been asked to waive my no—trade clause...Don't ask again, and that's the nicest way I will ask."
July 30: With the trading dealine a day away, reports indicate that the Yankees had made no formal offer for Johnson and that the D—Backs had yet to ask Johnson to waive his no—trade clause, though Arizona scouts had recently traveled to Columbus and Trenton to evaluate Yankee prospects, including catcher Dioner Navarro and pitcher Brad Halsey.
July 31: As the deadline passes, the Yanks trade Jose Contreras to the White Sox for Esteban Loaiza, but do not land Johnson. Cashman says the Yankees were "never close" to getting the Big Unit.
Aug. 6: Colangelo is forced out by the Arizona limited partners and replaced by agent Jeff Moorad, who gives up his sports management business to take over the reins. Sources say the primary reason for the move is Colangelo's failure to unload Johnson's salary.
Oct. 21: In the wake of a devastating loss to the Red Sox in the ALCS, manager Joe Torre tells reporters the Yanks' priority must be to improve their pitching during the offseason.
Oct. 26: Yankees brass meets in Tampa to begin discussing winter strategies. Johnson soon becomes a top target once again.
Nov. 17: Garagiola and Johnson's agents discuss the Big Unit's future in a teleconference. Sources later say that Garagiola is resigned to trading the ace lefty.
Dec. 1: Early trade talks break down after the D—Backs reject the Yanks' offer of Javier Vazquez, three prospects and cash. Originally, Arizona had asked for Vazquez, $19.5 million and four top Yankee prospects. In addition, they said they'd expect the Yanks to acquire for them another young starting pitcher from among the A's Barry Zito and Tim Hudson, the Dodgers' Edwin Jackson, the Devil Rays' Scott Kazmir, the Rockies' Jason Jennings and Shawn Chacon, the Tigers' Jeremy Bonderman and the Blue Jays' Ted Lilly.
Dec. 12: Trade begins to heat up again on Johnson's insistence and apparent unwillingness to sign an extension.
Dec. 16: Serious discussion of a proposed three—team megadeal between the Yanks, D—Backs and Dodgers begins. Several variations of the trade are considered, with Johnson, Vazquez and the Dodgers' Shawn Green all in the mix.
Dec. 17: The framework for a deal is agreed to in principle. The trade: Shawn Green, Brad Penny, Yhency Brazoban and prospect Brandon Weeden to Arizona; Javier Vazquez and two Yankee prospects (Navarro and Eric Duncan) to the Dodgers; and Johnson, along with L.A. lefthander Kaz Ishii, to New York.
Dec. 21: At the last minute, the Dodgers - who are being criticized heavily for the proposed trade, as well as for other moves - back out of the deal.
Dec. 27: The Yanks and D—Backs resume negotiations.
