azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Ed Price, Tribune
Unless they seek and are granted an extension, the Diamondbacks have until 10 a.m. today to convince outfielder Shawn Green to join them.
Team officials did not return calls Wednesday. That could mean they were working hard to get Green to agree to a contract extension — a condition of the trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers — or perhaps that they were unwilling to talk because they were pessimistic.
Green’s agent, Greg Genske, also did not return calls.
One person involved said, based on what he knew as of Tuesday night, "I have a hard time believing it’s going to go."
The Diamondbacks are believed to have offered Green a deal that called for him to cut his 2005 salary to $8 million with three more years at $8 million per; that is, four years for $32 million instead of one year at $16 million. Green is thought to have been seeking an average salary closer to $11 million.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees were reportedly close to signing Randy Johnson to an extension, which would complete the other Diamondbacks trade.
Johnson is supposed to go to New York for right-hander Javier Vazquez, lefty Brad Halsey, minor league catcher Dioner Navarro and $9 million. Navarro and minor league pitcher William Juarez would go to Los Angeles for Green and $8 million.
Talks between the Diamondbacks and Green went well before the discussion turned to finances.
According to sources, Arizona had hoped to get Green to agree to take less than the $16 million his current contract calls for his 2005 in exchange for as extension.
Should the Dodgers deal fall through, the Diamondbacks would have to look elsewhere for a right fielder. They could try to rekindle talks with free agent Jeromy Burnitz, or they could move Chad Tracy to right field and play Shea Hillenbrand at first.
That is why, if Arizona cannot acquire Green, it would not go through with a trade that sends Hillenbrand to Toronto for minor league reliever Adam Peterson.
Johnson is expected to get a two-year extension, for 2006 and 2007, at $16 million per season. He is likely to take a physical next week.
Agent Barry Meister said talks with the Yankees are "very forthcoming" and "very honest and open."
Said Meister, "Both Alan (Nero, Johnson’s other agent) and I had multiple conversations with the Yankees and have made progress. Things are ongoing; they’re very encouraging to date. Talks will continue (later Wednesday night) and into (today)."
The Yankees have until 1 p.m. Friday to negotiate with Johnson.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=34289
Unless they seek and are granted an extension, the Diamondbacks have until 10 a.m. today to convince outfielder Shawn Green to join them.
Team officials did not return calls Wednesday. That could mean they were working hard to get Green to agree to a contract extension — a condition of the trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers — or perhaps that they were unwilling to talk because they were pessimistic.
Green’s agent, Greg Genske, also did not return calls.
One person involved said, based on what he knew as of Tuesday night, "I have a hard time believing it’s going to go."
The Diamondbacks are believed to have offered Green a deal that called for him to cut his 2005 salary to $8 million with three more years at $8 million per; that is, four years for $32 million instead of one year at $16 million. Green is thought to have been seeking an average salary closer to $11 million.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees were reportedly close to signing Randy Johnson to an extension, which would complete the other Diamondbacks trade.
Johnson is supposed to go to New York for right-hander Javier Vazquez, lefty Brad Halsey, minor league catcher Dioner Navarro and $9 million. Navarro and minor league pitcher William Juarez would go to Los Angeles for Green and $8 million.
Talks between the Diamondbacks and Green went well before the discussion turned to finances.
According to sources, Arizona had hoped to get Green to agree to take less than the $16 million his current contract calls for his 2005 in exchange for as extension.
Should the Dodgers deal fall through, the Diamondbacks would have to look elsewhere for a right fielder. They could try to rekindle talks with free agent Jeromy Burnitz, or they could move Chad Tracy to right field and play Shea Hillenbrand at first.
That is why, if Arizona cannot acquire Green, it would not go through with a trade that sends Hillenbrand to Toronto for minor league reliever Adam Peterson.
Johnson is expected to get a two-year extension, for 2006 and 2007, at $16 million per season. He is likely to take a physical next week.
Agent Barry Meister said talks with the Yankees are "very forthcoming" and "very honest and open."
Said Meister, "Both Alan (Nero, Johnson’s other agent) and I had multiple conversations with the Yankees and have made progress. Things are ongoing; they’re very encouraging to date. Talks will continue (later Wednesday night) and into (today)."
The Yankees have until 1 p.m. Friday to negotiate with Johnson.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=34289
