YANKEES: Randy Johnson

Andrew Marchand of the New York Post says that money issues are delaying a trade including Randy Johnson from the New York Yankees to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs apparently only have $10 million to spend for the 2007 season and Johnson is owed $16 in his contract with the Yankees. Also, Johnson's contract is up after this year and the D-backs would like, if he were to sign back with the team, to extend the contract to 2008. This would mean taking a pay cut as they cannot afford the $16million/year price tag that comes along with the Big Unit.

Lets face it, the Randy Johnson that we once know; the Johnson that was with the D-backs from 1999-2004, who had a remarkable career (which included throwing MLB's 27th perfect game on May 18, 2004), is no more. He has lost significant speed on his fastball, which sets up his slider, but there is really no set age anymore for a pitcher to retire. Look at Roger Clemens. Despite posting a high ERA last season with the Yankees and having 2 very disappointing post-seasons, Johnson has still amazingly won 34 games in his two seasons with the Yankees. He still knows how to win. As I remember, he would have his brilliant games (one off the top of my head where he held the other team off base until the 7th inning) and he would have his games where his age showed up, and not the pitcher.

Despite being a slight disappointment in New York, the D-backs are still willing to take him back. For one, he has sentimental value to a team he helped carry into the 2001 World Series to defeat the New York Yankees, along with fag Curt Schilling, who is now coming close to retirement... THANK GOD! The Big 'Unit' reason why the D-backs want Johnson back in the fold is because he is 20 more victories away from 300. This is a huge milestone in a pitchers career and the D-backs would love for him to be wearing their jersey when he does it. He is one of the most, if not the most, respected players in the short history of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Johnson has expressed his desire to move closer to home and this is what sparked trade talks between the Yankees and other teams. The two big players for Randy Johnson are the Diamondbacks and the Padres, though the Yankees prefer the D-backs because they have more prospects. If the D-backs were to falter, the Yankees could always go back to the Padres, who have included impressive reliever S. Linebrink in their trade discussions.

The deal with the Diamondbacks would likely include 2-3 of Arizona's prospects including: Brandon Medders, Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf and/or Micah Owings. The amount and quality that the Yankees get will likely depend on how much they will pay of Johnson's salary when he is turned over to the D-backs. In other words, the Yankees will be paying more to get more.

Rumor has it that Roger Clemens does not like the Big Unit. He might not like him to the point where he might join the Red Sox or sign back with Houston because of the man. In this, it makes sense for the Yankees to unload Johnson, gain some prospects in the process, and enlarge their chances of bringing back Clemens for another season in pinstripes. Of course unloading Johnson alone will not bring Clemens back (he hasn't even officially announced if he was going to return to baseball at all) but having extra money, Andy Pettitte, and an open roster spot couldn't hurt. You'd like to think Clemens would like to end his career with another shot at a World Series ring and Houston can no longer guarantee that. The Red Sox seriously hurt their chances for Clemens when they paid a pretty penny for Japanese pitcher Matsuzaka ($103 million over 5 years), who has never thrown a pitch in the major leagues.

All eyes are on the Johnson trade!