http://www.nj.com/yankees/ledger/in...66027292990.xml
BY DAN GRAZIANO
Star-Ledger Staff
TAMPA, Fla. -- It was only a rumor, as it turns out, and not even a new one at that. But when Yankees GM Brian Cashman heard talk Wednesday of a trade that might send outfielder Trot Nixon from the Boston Red Sox to the Arizona Diamondbacks for left-hander Randy Johnson, he reached for his phone.
According to a person close to the situation, Cashman began making calls to the appropriate parties to make sure that, if the Diamondbacks were trading Johnson, the Yankees would have a chance to get him. He was told there was nothing to the rumor, which originally surfaced in November.
Cashman declined to comment.
Johnson has a no-trade clause in his contract and would have to approve any deal, but talks with the Red Sox never got far enough that he was approached about it. The Diamondbacks, who traded Johnson's co-ace, Curt Schilling, to the Red Sox in November, believe they have a chance to win the National League West and aren't likely to trade Johnson.
But Cashman's quick reaction shows two things. First, he has to check every rumor and every possibility, in case it turns out to be true, because he can't be in the position of explaining to team owner George Steinbrenner why the Red Sox got a star player and he didn't. Second, it shows how attuned the Yankees and the Red Sox are trying to stay to what each other is doing. Boston reacted badly to the Yankees' trade for Alex Rodriguez two months after they failed to get the reigning AL MVP in their own proposed deal with Texas.
BY DAN GRAZIANO
Star-Ledger Staff
TAMPA, Fla. -- It was only a rumor, as it turns out, and not even a new one at that. But when Yankees GM Brian Cashman heard talk Wednesday of a trade that might send outfielder Trot Nixon from the Boston Red Sox to the Arizona Diamondbacks for left-hander Randy Johnson, he reached for his phone.
According to a person close to the situation, Cashman began making calls to the appropriate parties to make sure that, if the Diamondbacks were trading Johnson, the Yankees would have a chance to get him. He was told there was nothing to the rumor, which originally surfaced in November.
Cashman declined to comment.
Johnson has a no-trade clause in his contract and would have to approve any deal, but talks with the Red Sox never got far enough that he was approached about it. The Diamondbacks, who traded Johnson's co-ace, Curt Schilling, to the Red Sox in November, believe they have a chance to win the National League West and aren't likely to trade Johnson.
But Cashman's quick reaction shows two things. First, he has to check every rumor and every possibility, in case it turns out to be true, because he can't be in the position of explaining to team owner George Steinbrenner why the Red Sox got a star player and he didn't. Second, it shows how attuned the Yankees and the Red Sox are trying to stay to what each other is doing. Boston reacted badly to the Yankees' trade for Alex Rodriguez two months after they failed to get the reigning AL MVP in their own proposed deal with Texas.
