YANKEES: Johnson and first base updates

First with Johnson. The Yankees have reportedly reached an agreement to send Johnson to Arizona though the deal is not yet finalized. The D-backs have been given a 72-hour window to negotiate the extension with Johnson.

The Yankees will receive in the deal: Luis Vizcaino (reliever), Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson (both minor league pitchers), and Alberto Gonzalez (a minor league shortstop).

I am a bit mixed about the players that the Yankees are receiving. To start, Vizcaino is a great reliever for the Yankees. Brandon Medders was the other reliever that was being discussed in the deal who was younger and would cost less but Vizcaino has been in the game longer, at 32, and has a consistent record of a 3-something ERA each season. The reason the D-backs were more willing to depart with Vizcaino is because his contract is up next season and he is due for a raise. Though Vizcaino is a bullpen upgrade, he is certainly no ideal setup man. He had reportedly wore out his welcome with the White Sox but this is not a big surprise. The American league has much better hitters and Ozzie Guillen has a big mouth.

Ross Ohlendorf was one of the three major pitching prospects being named in the deal. However, Micah Owings and Dustin Nippert were the two highly touted names according to Fantasy Reports. Owings was selected in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft and was believed to be major league-ready by this season. He has some very good stuff. Dustin Nippert dominated Double-A with a low ERA in both 2004 and 2005 but he held the most risk of the three after making a resounding recovery from Tommy John surgery about a year ago. Ohlendorf is a decent pitcher but nothing to get all gung-ho about. He appears to be more trade bait for later on than a future Yankees starter.

Steven Jackson, at less than 2 years older than me (I am 22), had only one stint in the minors and it was for AA TEN. He pitched in 24 games and posted a good 2.71 ERA. Nothing more to be said about this pitcher at this point.

Lastly, Alberto Gonzalez, at age 23, has only one year of statistics. He hit .288 in 128 games with AA and was promoted to AAA in 2006 playing 4 games. On November 23, after the major league 2006 season was over, was announced as being on Arizona's 40-man roster. This is good news for the Yankees who, without Miguel Cairo, really do not have a solid replacement if Derek Jeter were to go down during the season but Gonzalez is still considered one of Arizona's lesser prospects.

Despite not picking up another top prospect in Owings or Nippert, the Yankees are still getting a good deal. They are only spending about $1.5-2 million of the 16 million that Johnson is due next season, while there was speculation that they would be spending up to $6 million of his salary. I guess the Yankees didn't see fit to spend more for Owings or Nippert. Maybe the asking price was too high or Arizona wasn't willing to depart. Nonetheless, factoring in luxury tax and Vizcaino's salary for 2007, the Yankees are shedding about $18 million dollars off their payroll in this transaction. Good money that could be used in a Roger Clemens deal or another subsequent pitcher acquisition.

Johnson's vacancy will likely be filled by the plethora of pitching the Yankees have including: Karstens, Rasner, Hughes, Sanchez, Pavano, and possibly Clemens. They would be fine without him but I really feel they need Clemens to stand up against Bostons rotation, especially if Matsuzaka is the real deal.

Since the specifics of the deal have already been discussed to baseball's commissioner, the Johnson deal is expected to be completed within a few days, after the contract extension is agreed on.

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As for Yankees first base news, a deal for Doug Mientkiewicz looks all but done. Doug (because it takes too much effort to spell out his last name) is a career .270 hitter and at 32 he is a veteran. Everyone remembers him as the guy who caught the final pitch in Boston's World Series victory and then refused to return the ball. Good for him. Johnny Damon highly regards Doug for his exceptional glove at first base and says that he might not be an all-star hitter like the rest of the Yankees but he definitely saves runs on the field. As another left-handed hitter on the Yankees, expect him to switch with Andy Phillips/Josh Phelps depending on their opponent. Having this combination makes sense as Andy is a right-handed hitter and can play other positions including third. Still, if Jeter or Cano were to go down, there is a good chance that the Yankees give newly-acquired Gonzalez a shot. This acquisition almost guarantees Giambi's permanent DH spot against AL teams as he experienced wrist troubles last season. I wouldn't be surprised to see him put in against NL teams though, or maybe even later in the game as a pinch hitter.

The contract for Doug will likely be one-year at $1.5 million. All that is left is a physical.

UPDATE: I said before that the Yankees were shedding $18 million in salary but reports now keep saying that they have shedding $14 million. Don't know if they have factored in the money saved through luxury tax or it could just be my mistake.