Randy Johnson Trade to the Yankees

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

If you didn't look at the money issues, or the fact that any of the players were declining, if you told a Arizona fan they'd hve signed Consuel, Clayton, Sexon, Ortiz, and gotten Brazylton, Green and Penny in trades, they'd be pretty happy. But if you look at the big picture, they overpaid a pitcher on the decline, an injury prone 1st baseman, and gotten a VERY injury prone SP.

 

I know you can't tell by September, but Navarro hit very nicely in the ABs he had. Duncan on the otherhand, I don't think was called up.

Seattle signed Sexson the other day.

I assumed he meant Troy Glaus.

And I assumed he ment Sexson.

[Guest Posada20]

Has anyone else seen this?

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...1p-225322c.html

 

The Big Unit is coming to the Yankees

 

After day-long negotiations at the highest level, the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Dodgers agreed in principle to the blockbuster trade that will put Randy Johnson in pinstripes, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

 

 

The trade has Shawn Green, Brad Penny, Yhency Brazoban and prospect Brandon Weeden going from L.A. to Arizona; Javier Vazquez and two Yankee prospects (Dioner Navarro and Eric Duncan) going from the Bronx to the Dodgers; and the Big Unit along with L.A. lefthander Kaz Ishii coming to New York.

 

The deal most likely will be announced in a few days, with so many players involved. Penny told ESPN Radio last night that he is scheduled to take a physical for Arizona next week.

 

 

The initial framework of the deal did not have the Yankees getting Ishii, but the Dodgers appear determined to shed significant salary in the exchange.

 

 

Along those lines, the Dodgers are now expected to spin off Vazquez to a fourth team, believed to be the White Sox, for a combination of players believed to include first baseman Paul Konerko, lefty reliever Damaso Marte and righty starter Jon Garland.

 

 

There is no cash changing hands in the trade since Johnson and Green both make about $16 million. In one-on-one talks between the Yanks and D-Backs, Arizona had been demanding that the Yankees kick in $19.5 million to help cover the $35.5 million owed to Vazquez over the next three seasons.

 

 

Details of the trade, such as the handling of deferred money and other benefits in Johnson's contract, still need to be worked out and all players must pass physicals before the deal can be officially announced.

 

 

Both Green and Johnson had no-trade clauses but waived them yesterday as part of the final negotiations between the clubs.

 

 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman would not comment on the deal yesterday and Arizona GM Joe Garagiola did not return phone calls.

 

 

The trade was constructed on higher levels within the organizations, after discussions between Arizona and New York were renewed earlier this week when D-Backs incoming CEO Jeff Moorad called Yanks president Randy Levine.

 

 

One of Johnson's agents, Barry Meister, said he had no comment on the situation yesterday, but the 41-year-old lefty has been at the center of the Yankees' offseason plans. George Steinbrenner has coveted Johnson and has frequently called team executives to monitor progress on a potential trade for the ace, even as the Bombers were working out deals with free agent righthanders Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright.

 

 

Trade talks between the teams heated up over the summer, but no deal was reached before the July 31 trading deadline. Discussions picked up again earlier this winter, but the Yankees balked on Dec. 1 after Arizona asked for a package that included Vazquez, Tom Gordon, $19.5 million and a slew of prospects or, alternatively, one of 10 starting pitchers the Yanks would have to acquire from another team.

 

 

It became clear, however, during a meeting last weekend between Johnson's agents and D-Backs executives that Johnson wasn't interested in giving Arizona a discount on a contract extension and wanted to be dealt.

 

 

Two days later, Moorad renewed talks with the Yankees, and now Johnson is heading exactly where he and The Boss want him to go.

 

 

For that to happen, the Yankees had to get other teams involved.

 

 

On paper, the Dodgers appear to be getting the short end. Having given up All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca and their primary setup man, Guillermo Mota, for Penny and young Hee Seop Choi last July, this deal, on the surface for them, amounts to Mota, Lo Duca, Green and Brazoban for only one proven major leaguer, Vazquez.

 

 

"(Dodgers GM Paul) DePodesta is too smart for that," a source involved in the deal said. "I'm sure there's another deal - or deals - in the works for the Dodgers where Vazquez is going to fill their needs."

 

 

The White Sox have been interested in Vazquez for months and manager Ozzie Guillen spoke several times at the winter meetings last week about how he believed his club was involved in multi-team trade talks. One White Sox insider said Guillen frequently raved about "what a talented pitcher (Vazquez) is - he'd do really well for us and would fit in well."

 

 

Also, DePodesta saves money on getting Konerko (due $8 million) to replace Green ($16 million) while the Yanks agreed to pay $2 million of Ishii's $5 million salary.

[mike546 0]

RJ, Moose, Pavano, Wright, Ishii and Brown in middle relief!

 

 

The hell? How does Ishii have a 4.71 ERA when he gave up only 155 hits in 172 IP?

[Guest Failed Mascot]

The Yankees will have a payroll of over $200mill

 

Still, this seems alot like the Soriano for A-Rod trade to me. There's an upgrade, but not enough where I care. Let them trade away their farm system, a young pitcher who's mechanics were messed up cause their pitching coach sucks, and spend about $30mill in this deal.

 

Kevin Brown won't settle for middle relief and will make life hell for people.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

RJ, Moose, Pavano, Wright, Ishii and Brown in middle relief!

 

 

The hell? How does Ishii have a 4.71 ERA when he gave up only 155 hits in 172 IP?

They're called walks. New York is going to eat him alive.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Ishii had 99 K's and 98 BB's(!!) in that number of IP which might explain it.

 

Stuff = A rough indicator of the pitcher's overall dominance, based on normalized strikeout rates, walk rates, home run rates, runs allowed, and innings per game.

 

Formula = EqK9 * 6 - 1.333 * (EqERA + PERA) - 3 * EqBB9 - 5 * EqHR9 -3 * MAX{6-IP/G),0

 

Comparing for last season. "10" is average and "0" is a replacement level pitcher. Credit BaseballProspectus for the numbers and formula.

 

Yankees

Randy Johnson: 45

Mike Mussina: 18

Carl Pavano: 13

Jaret Wright: 20

Kaz Ishii: -6

Total: 90

 

Red Sox

Curt Schilling: 31

David Wells: 7

Matt Clement: 26

Bronson Arroyo: 19

Tim Wakefield: 5

Total: 88

 

Interesting to see that the Red Sox are only 2 points off despite having two pitchers that were very close to replacement level. The Yankees could always keep Kevin Brown (11) or Orlando Hernandez (26) in the rotation making their staff far more dangerous. Personally, I'd keep Hernandez in as #5 starter and put Ishii/Brown in the bullpen.

[mike546 0]

100 walks in 172 innings?

 

Jesus Christ.

[Bored 0]

This part of the article should also be pointed out:

Along those lines, the Dodgers are now expected to spin off Vazquez to a fourth team, believed to be the White Sox, for a combination of players believed to include first baseman Paul Konerko, lefty reliever Damaso Marte and righty starter Jon Garland.

[Brett Favre 0]

The Dodger starting pitching won't look so good. Although getting Konerko would help their lineup quite a bit.

[Precious Roy 0]

Ishii won't make the rotation, and if he does, he won't last long. The guy is brutal, with a WHIP that hovers around 1.5. New York obviously has no interest in the guy, he's just a throw in for money reasons. I'd say he's the far more likely MR candidate over Brown.

 

I like this deal, obviously I'm thrilled to have Randy Johnson as our #1 starter, but it will be bittersweet if we don't win it all before Unit retires and Duncan and Navarro pan out.

 

And the idea of Unit without his 'stache is frightening

[Brett Favre 0]

If George let Jeff Nelson keep the 'stache, there is no reason why he shouldn't let Randy keep his.

 

Maybe Ishii can turn into the lefty out of the bullpen?

[mike546 0]

If George let Jeff Nelson keep the 'stache, there is no reason why he shouldn't let Randy keep his.

 

Maybe Ishii can turn into the lefty out of the bullpen?

Just what we need, the 2nd coming up Heredia.

[mike546 0]

Supposedley, the White Sox might get in on this trade.

 

Yankees Get:

 

Randy Johnson

Kaz Ishii

 

Dodgers Get:

 

Paul Konerko

Jon Garland

Navaro

Duncan

 

D-Backs Get:

 

Shawn Green

Brad Penny

 

White Sox Get:

Javier Vazquez

[Precious Roy 0]

What's the reasoning for Chicago moving Konerko? Can any White Sox fans shed light on this? Is his contract up next year or something? He was their most consistent hitter last year, who knows how much longer Big Hurt can last, and with losing Mags and trading Lee I'd think they'd want to keep his bat around.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Ya, his contract is up after this year. I believe he makes $8mill.

[The Czech Republic 0]

White Sox are having themselves a nice little fire sale too. Maybe Reinsdorf could put some money into that other team that he owns that Chicago actually wants to see succeed.

[Sass 0]

Do the Dodgers end up losing Yhency Brazoban in this deal for sure? He's the only one I would like to see LA keep in this deal.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I think Brazoban was mentioned as going to Arizona.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

!

 

I was totally suprised to see the Sox get in on this, though I sure wasn't suprised to see them dump Konerko. But I think it's well worth it as we get Javy Vasquez as well as dump Jon "In Japanese, My Name Means Kaz Ishii" Garland. Unfortunatly we had to give up Damaso Marte, maybe my favorite player. He should do well as Gagne's new setup man.

 

 

 

ps - in no way does this begin to make up for the myriad of awful trades K-Smooth has made in his short time as Sox GM. Picture this: that Carlos Lee trade last week may not even make his top 3. Arg.

[Precious Roy 0]

How did you feel about the Garcia trade?

[The Czech Republic 0]

So who exactly plays for the South Siders now?

[Precious Roy 0]

Scott Podsednik, Robin Ventura.......ummmmm.........Ozzie Guillen?

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

for the record, Kenny's top 2 are not debatable

 

1a. Kip Wells, Josh Fogg, etc. for John Richie

1b. Keith Foulke for Billy Koch

 

you can argue the third one.

 

as for the Garcia trade:

 

day of the trade - this is horrible

Garcia signs extension - this is just inconvinent

Guys like Jaret Wright get comparable contracts - this is tolerable

[Jericholic82 0]

well the yanks are really going all or nothing here. especially for a team that nearly made the world series. obviously there weaknesses came out in the last part of the lcs. hope johnson can still bring it.

 

and whats with the continual yankee hate, jeez they blew a 3-0 lead in the alcs and you are still mad at them? we havent even won a world series in 4 years for crying out loud. would it be so bad if we won just one more ws yikes. and I thought the red sox love would end since they ended there curse

 

ah screw it all

 

Im still a fan even after 4 years of frustrating postseason losses

go yanks forever

 

 

ps I hope they win 3 more in a row to really piss off the masses lol

[Slovakia 0]

we havent even won a world series in 4 years for crying out loud.

Hi, I'm a Cubs fan, fuck off and die

[MrRant 0]

Why are you using your gimmick about Czech?

[Slovakia 0]

The Czech Republic hit 10000. I figured that was such a heavenly way to die.

[mike546 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1950729

 

Dodgers sent paperwork.

 

 

Phew.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'm so tired of hearing about this potential deal. Do it or don't already. Jeez.

[Guest LooneyTune]

we havent even won a world series in 4 years for crying out loud.

Hi, I'm a Cubs fan, fuck off and die

I think that point counters every argument possible about a losing team.