azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Jose E. Garcia and Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 30, 2004 12:00 AM
The Big Apple may celebrate the New Year without the Big Unit, but New York Yankees fans may not have to wait much longer.
The Yankees and Diamondbacks are still working on a trade that may not be completed until next week.
Earlier this month, the Diamondbacks and Randy Johnson talked about finalizing a trade by the end of December. With two days left in 2004, Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick said Wednesday that the organization is still working with that general timetable. Kendrick said the time frame remained the same, but it wasn't firm.
"Other than to tell you we are talking again with the Yankees, I can't go anywhere beyond that," Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said.
The key player that the Diamondbacks would receive in return for Johnson is pitcher Javier Vazquez, who presents a different set of problems.
Vazquez had put together a standout career with Montreal, joined the Yankees before last season and appeared in the All-Star Game. A substandard second half, though, didn't sit well with the Yankees.
Recent trade rumors led to Vazquez's comments in a Puerto Rican newspaper.
"I still trust in my abilities and if the Yankees trade me, they'll regret it," Vazquez said in Friday's edition of La Perla del Sur. "After all (these) rumors, one feels not wanted."
Arizona wants Vazquez, but it's not known whether it's for a spot in the rotation or to get other players in return.
Vazquez prefers to stay on the East Coast with his family, and if that hurdle proves too great, the Diamondbacks may try to bring in another team. But recently, Garagiola indicated the Diamondbacks could convince Vazquez to stay with the team beyond 2005, should he get acclimated to the Valley and experience success.
If it didn't work, Vazquez still could request a trade after the 2005 season. Vazquez signed a $45 million, four-year contract with the Yankees.
New York media have raised other possibilities on which the Diamondbacks brass declined to comment. Newsday is reporting that the Yankees would send about $8 million, highly regarded catching prospect Dioner Navarro and pitching prospect Brad Halsey to the Diamondbacks for Johnson.
Halsey, a lefty who limited left-handed hitters to a .143 batting average last season, could occupy a middle reliever role with the Diamondbacks. According to the New York Daily News, the Yankees offered to sweeten the package of prospects to accompany Vazquez, including third baseman Eric Duncan, their No. 1 draft pick in 2002, and Navarro.
If the Diamondbacks take Vazquez, Duncan and Navarro, the Yankees would add $5 million to cover some of the money owed Vazquez, the report said.
In another reported scenario, the Diamondbacks would get Vazquez, Halsey, outfielder Melky Cabrera and/or pitcher Abel Gomez. With this group, the Yankees reportedly would send $12 million.
If the Diamondbacks acquire Navarro, whom the Dodgers coveted before backing out of the trade, they may be able to entice the Dodgers to part with Shawn Green, whom the Diamondbacks wanted.
Green, a former client of Diamondbacks CEO-elect Jeff Moorad, became more expendable with the recent signing of J.D. Drew.
Navarro and Vazquez may wind up in Los Angeles, and Green and Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny may come to Arizona.
Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Gonzalez won't speculate on the outcome.
"I'm just waiting to see what happens," he said.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1230dbacks1230.html
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 30, 2004 12:00 AM
The Big Apple may celebrate the New Year without the Big Unit, but New York Yankees fans may not have to wait much longer.
The Yankees and Diamondbacks are still working on a trade that may not be completed until next week.
Earlier this month, the Diamondbacks and Randy Johnson talked about finalizing a trade by the end of December. With two days left in 2004, Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick said Wednesday that the organization is still working with that general timetable. Kendrick said the time frame remained the same, but it wasn't firm.
"Other than to tell you we are talking again with the Yankees, I can't go anywhere beyond that," Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said.
The key player that the Diamondbacks would receive in return for Johnson is pitcher Javier Vazquez, who presents a different set of problems.
Vazquez had put together a standout career with Montreal, joined the Yankees before last season and appeared in the All-Star Game. A substandard second half, though, didn't sit well with the Yankees.
Recent trade rumors led to Vazquez's comments in a Puerto Rican newspaper.
"I still trust in my abilities and if the Yankees trade me, they'll regret it," Vazquez said in Friday's edition of La Perla del Sur. "After all (these) rumors, one feels not wanted."
Arizona wants Vazquez, but it's not known whether it's for a spot in the rotation or to get other players in return.
Vazquez prefers to stay on the East Coast with his family, and if that hurdle proves too great, the Diamondbacks may try to bring in another team. But recently, Garagiola indicated the Diamondbacks could convince Vazquez to stay with the team beyond 2005, should he get acclimated to the Valley and experience success.
If it didn't work, Vazquez still could request a trade after the 2005 season. Vazquez signed a $45 million, four-year contract with the Yankees.
New York media have raised other possibilities on which the Diamondbacks brass declined to comment. Newsday is reporting that the Yankees would send about $8 million, highly regarded catching prospect Dioner Navarro and pitching prospect Brad Halsey to the Diamondbacks for Johnson.
Halsey, a lefty who limited left-handed hitters to a .143 batting average last season, could occupy a middle reliever role with the Diamondbacks. According to the New York Daily News, the Yankees offered to sweeten the package of prospects to accompany Vazquez, including third baseman Eric Duncan, their No. 1 draft pick in 2002, and Navarro.
If the Diamondbacks take Vazquez, Duncan and Navarro, the Yankees would add $5 million to cover some of the money owed Vazquez, the report said.
In another reported scenario, the Diamondbacks would get Vazquez, Halsey, outfielder Melky Cabrera and/or pitcher Abel Gomez. With this group, the Yankees reportedly would send $12 million.
If the Diamondbacks acquire Navarro, whom the Dodgers coveted before backing out of the trade, they may be able to entice the Dodgers to part with Shawn Green, whom the Diamondbacks wanted.
Green, a former client of Diamondbacks CEO-elect Jeff Moorad, became more expendable with the recent signing of J.D. Drew.
Navarro and Vazquez may wind up in Los Angeles, and Green and Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny may come to Arizona.
Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Gonzalez won't speculate on the outcome.
"I'm just waiting to see what happens," he said.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1230dbacks1230.html
