azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Jack Magruder, Tribune
TUCSON - Randy Johnson spoke for the first time Wednesday about his final contract talks with the Diamondbacks, and it appears the sides were so far apart that a break was inevitable.
"The (extension) proposal they offered me was to give back half my salary,’’ Johnson said in his first press conference with the New York media at the Yankees’ spring training camp in Tampa, Fla.
Johnson was to make $16 million in the final year of his contract this season, a contract that was extended after he was traded to the Yankees for right-hander Javier Vazquez and catcher Dioner Navarro.
The D-Backs’ proposal, made before many of their offseason free agent moves, was believed to be a two-year extension that would pay Johnson $24 million over three years.
"I was hoping to sit down with the new ownership there when the season was over,’’ Johnson said.
"They’ve gone out and done some things there I couldn’t even imagine they would have done. I wasn’t informed of all that.’’
Johnson had a no-trade clause and could have voided any deal the D-Backs put together.
"If Randy didn’t want to be in New York, he wouldn’t be in New York today,’’ DBacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "It’s that simple."
NO ‘ROID RAGE
Manager Bob Melvin and D-Backs players said they were pleased about Major League Baseball’s new steroid testing policy, agreed upon by the Players Association in the offseason.
"I’m glad that the policy is in place, because it is something you would have to evaluate before. Who’s doing it? Who do you think is not?’’ Melvin said.
Violators are to be identified after a positive test, and Melvin said he believes the transparency is a major deterrent.
"Guys don’t want to be embarrassed. If you get caught, people are going to know. Once you get caught doing something like that, it never goes away, even if you are clean afterward,’’ Melvin said.
"I think this policy is going to take care of that situation. Obviously not a moment too soon, with everything that is coming out right now.’’
New D-Backs first baseman Tony Clark is one of the two highest-ranking members of the players’ association, an association representative.
"As a group, everyone felt there was a need to make it more stringent,’’ Clark said.
ON THE MEND
Left-hander Shawn Estes and rookie right-hander Dustin Nippert are the only pitchers expected to be less than full-go at this morning’s first spring workout.
Nippert had arm surgery and Estes suffered a slight ankle sprain. He turned his ankle a little bit playing with one of his dogs.
Estes is expected to throw off flat ground instead of a mound today.
UNDER ADVISEMENT
Melvin invited former DBacks Matt Williams, Gregg Olson and Mark Grace and former San Francisco teammate Will Clark to camp to act as "advisors’’ to the players.
Olson will work with relief pitchers while Clark is expected to join hitting coach Mike Aldrete in working with the hitters, Melvin said. Former Gold Glover Grace, a D-Backs announcer, will get with new first baseman Chad Tracy.
"We want to recreate the swagger and some of the things that our organization has been very good about,’’ Melvin said. "We have some guys who were very successful for a long time doing what they did, and we feel like they are going to rub off on some of these guys.’’
SHORT HOP
Not only will Scott Hairston play a lot of outfield this spring, the D-Backs plan to look at top prospect Conor Jackson at first base. Jackson was a third baseman in college but has played outfield in his two minor league seasons after being a first-round pick in the 2003 draft. The thought is to increase his versatility with a possible logjam developing in the corner outfield spots. Luis Gonzalez has two years left on his contract and Shawn Green three, and top prospect Carlos Quentin also is a corner outfielder.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=36542
TUCSON - Randy Johnson spoke for the first time Wednesday about his final contract talks with the Diamondbacks, and it appears the sides were so far apart that a break was inevitable.
"The (extension) proposal they offered me was to give back half my salary,’’ Johnson said in his first press conference with the New York media at the Yankees’ spring training camp in Tampa, Fla.
Johnson was to make $16 million in the final year of his contract this season, a contract that was extended after he was traded to the Yankees for right-hander Javier Vazquez and catcher Dioner Navarro.
The D-Backs’ proposal, made before many of their offseason free agent moves, was believed to be a two-year extension that would pay Johnson $24 million over three years.
"I was hoping to sit down with the new ownership there when the season was over,’’ Johnson said.
"They’ve gone out and done some things there I couldn’t even imagine they would have done. I wasn’t informed of all that.’’
Johnson had a no-trade clause and could have voided any deal the D-Backs put together.
"If Randy didn’t want to be in New York, he wouldn’t be in New York today,’’ DBacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "It’s that simple."
NO ‘ROID RAGE
Manager Bob Melvin and D-Backs players said they were pleased about Major League Baseball’s new steroid testing policy, agreed upon by the Players Association in the offseason.
"I’m glad that the policy is in place, because it is something you would have to evaluate before. Who’s doing it? Who do you think is not?’’ Melvin said.
Violators are to be identified after a positive test, and Melvin said he believes the transparency is a major deterrent.
"Guys don’t want to be embarrassed. If you get caught, people are going to know. Once you get caught doing something like that, it never goes away, even if you are clean afterward,’’ Melvin said.
"I think this policy is going to take care of that situation. Obviously not a moment too soon, with everything that is coming out right now.’’
New D-Backs first baseman Tony Clark is one of the two highest-ranking members of the players’ association, an association representative.
"As a group, everyone felt there was a need to make it more stringent,’’ Clark said.
ON THE MEND
Left-hander Shawn Estes and rookie right-hander Dustin Nippert are the only pitchers expected to be less than full-go at this morning’s first spring workout.
Nippert had arm surgery and Estes suffered a slight ankle sprain. He turned his ankle a little bit playing with one of his dogs.
Estes is expected to throw off flat ground instead of a mound today.
UNDER ADVISEMENT
Melvin invited former DBacks Matt Williams, Gregg Olson and Mark Grace and former San Francisco teammate Will Clark to camp to act as "advisors’’ to the players.
Olson will work with relief pitchers while Clark is expected to join hitting coach Mike Aldrete in working with the hitters, Melvin said. Former Gold Glover Grace, a D-Backs announcer, will get with new first baseman Chad Tracy.
"We want to recreate the swagger and some of the things that our organization has been very good about,’’ Melvin said. "We have some guys who were very successful for a long time doing what they did, and we feel like they are going to rub off on some of these guys.’’
SHORT HOP
Not only will Scott Hairston play a lot of outfield this spring, the D-Backs plan to look at top prospect Conor Jackson at first base. Jackson was a third baseman in college but has played outfield in his two minor league seasons after being a first-round pick in the 2003 draft. The thought is to increase his versatility with a possible logjam developing in the corner outfield spots. Luis Gonzalez has two years left on his contract and Shawn Green three, and top prospect Carlos Quentin also is a corner outfielder.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=36542