azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Jim Gintonio
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 23, 2004 12:00 AM
As the three-team deal involving Randy Johnson crumbled Tuesday, frustration and surprise were widespread.
But those emotions hardly fazed Diamondbacks General Partner Ken Kendrick.
"I've been in business 40 years, and almost nothing surprises me," he said. "I'm not a guy who's easily frustrated. I'm just very focused on not what is happening to me, but on what is going to happen."
Kendrick can't say what that may be, but he does expect it to happen after Christmas.
He said the collapse of the deal, which would have brought outfielder Shawn Green, pitcher Brad Penny and two others to Arizona, didn't signal the end of efforts to trade Johnson, but the team can't remain in a holding pattern indefinitely, particularly with holes to address in the outfield and starting rotation.
"I think in terms of putting a team together, there's a time you really need to focus on . . . and have the pieces in place," he said.
"There are always some smaller pieces that come together a little later, but the baseline team, the pitching, position players, we really want to have that done by year end or not long thereafter. We're still trying."
Johnson, who has left no doubt that he wants to leave Arizona and pitch for a World Series-contending team, was the centerpiece of the three-team proposal that would have sent him to the Yankees. But the Dodgers, stung by negative public reaction, scuttled the deal at the last minute.
Johnson's agent, Alan Nero, wouldn't comment on the situation, but the Yankees continue to have interest in acquiring the five-time Cy Young Award winner. With the Dodgers out of the equation, the two teams likely will have to find a different trade partner to make a deal happen. The Diamondbacks have insisted on compensation that includes both prospects and players who can contribute immediately, including a starting pitcher - and the Yankees have been unable to satisfy those demands.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters Wednesday that a trade for Johnson could still be worked out but that talks had not reopened.
Kendrick said he is willing to listen.
"People come to us with ideas," he said. "We listen because we owe it to the franchise."
Given that the Yankees also made a major push for Johnson at July's trading deadline and their virtually unlimited resources, no one expects that their pursuit is at an end.
"When the Yankees want something to happen, it usually happens," ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian said.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1223dbacks1223.html
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 23, 2004 12:00 AM
As the three-team deal involving Randy Johnson crumbled Tuesday, frustration and surprise were widespread.
But those emotions hardly fazed Diamondbacks General Partner Ken Kendrick.
"I've been in business 40 years, and almost nothing surprises me," he said. "I'm not a guy who's easily frustrated. I'm just very focused on not what is happening to me, but on what is going to happen."
Kendrick can't say what that may be, but he does expect it to happen after Christmas.
He said the collapse of the deal, which would have brought outfielder Shawn Green, pitcher Brad Penny and two others to Arizona, didn't signal the end of efforts to trade Johnson, but the team can't remain in a holding pattern indefinitely, particularly with holes to address in the outfield and starting rotation.
"I think in terms of putting a team together, there's a time you really need to focus on . . . and have the pieces in place," he said.
"There are always some smaller pieces that come together a little later, but the baseline team, the pitching, position players, we really want to have that done by year end or not long thereafter. We're still trying."
Johnson, who has left no doubt that he wants to leave Arizona and pitch for a World Series-contending team, was the centerpiece of the three-team proposal that would have sent him to the Yankees. But the Dodgers, stung by negative public reaction, scuttled the deal at the last minute.
Johnson's agent, Alan Nero, wouldn't comment on the situation, but the Yankees continue to have interest in acquiring the five-time Cy Young Award winner. With the Dodgers out of the equation, the two teams likely will have to find a different trade partner to make a deal happen. The Diamondbacks have insisted on compensation that includes both prospects and players who can contribute immediately, including a starting pitcher - and the Yankees have been unable to satisfy those demands.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters Wednesday that a trade for Johnson could still be worked out but that talks had not reopened.
Kendrick said he is willing to listen.
"People come to us with ideas," he said. "We listen because we owe it to the franchise."
Given that the Yankees also made a major push for Johnson at July's trading deadline and their virtually unlimited resources, no one expects that their pursuit is at an end.
"When the Yankees want something to happen, it usually happens," ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian said.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1223dbacks1223.html
