No deal

[Cland]

I kind of liked the deal. Not surprised LA backed out considering they were basically getting fleeced, unless they were just looking to dump payroll. I don't understand why Kendrick came out and said he wanted to move Randy by the end of the month? That can only weaken our position even more than it already is. I think we will be lucky to get the same talent as we would have gotten if this deal went through.

 

[boondockdrunk]

I highly doubt that there is any team that is going to give us what we want by means of talent. So I think it is more likely that we keep RJ and if we are out of it by the trade deadline, that we would trade him then. Just my opinion though.

 

[AZZenny]

Reportedly that was RJ's request - one way or another, get it over with by New Year's. Perhaps he (and Kendricks, and everyone BUT George) is as tired of this melodrama as we are.

 

[AZCB34]

I guess the 3 potential teams that can get involved are the Marlins, Angels, or Cubs....

Could either of those teams offer anything comparable to what was proposed by the Dodgers? Not necessarily.....Well...none at least who can make an immediate impact....but would better serve the Dbacks on a long-term basis...

I still think the biggest blunder the Dbacks committed throughout all this was to cancel their meeting with Burnitz...They should have had him as a contigency plan to fall back on since they need a power hitting OF to stabilize their order....Burnitz is the only sensible on on the FA market w/in their price-range....

I don't follow minor leagues too closely but as I understand it, the Cubs farm system is pretty stocked, especially with arms. I think they could do a deal but I am not sure it would be heavy with major league ready players like the Dbacks were getting from LA. Alot more prospects from the Cubs who would be a year or two away.

No way the Cubs go after Johnson but if there is even slight interest, they will want to unload Sammy's contract before setting anything up and it sounds like RJ would reject anything non-Yankee.

One thing I think RJ misses in the idea of going to the Cubs is, if he would lead then to a World Series title (no guarantees he can in NY), he would reach iconic status...along with every other Cubs player on that roster...in Chicago. Schilling is an icon in Boston now and will forever be on that group that beat "The Curse".

 

[minercon]

Maybe this was the plan all along.....have the plan fall through....just a little underhandedness just before Christmas. You know ....hand the Yanks a good big piece of coal for the nice little set-up of the David Wells scenario we went through a few years ago.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I doubt Randy would go to the Cubs. Their bullpen is full of headcases that would blow saves and damage his attempt to win 300 games, their manager is another headcase who would blow out his arm halfway through the season, and their defense is going to be nothing short of awful.

 

[NickelBack]

LA blueballs the MFY's.

I wouldn't have made the deal either if the guy refused the physical.

Look at his last half of 2004.

 

[AZCB34]

The Cubs could include Derrek Lee, which wouldnt be all too bad.....I would love Carlos Zambrano, but no way the Cubs would give him up....

Cubs fans seem pretty unaninmous in not wanting Johnson. Most figure the least concern the Cubs face is starting pitching...Wood, Maddux, Prior, Zambrano and Mitre making up the rotation probably. Bullpen, specifically closer is an achilles heel right now.

 

[AZCB34]

I doubt Randy would go to the Cubs. Their bullpen is full of headcases that would blow saves and damage his attempt to win 300 games, their manager is another headcase who would blow out his arm halfway through the season, and their defense is going to be nothing short of awful.

Bullpen headcases = yes
Manager headcase = probably
Awful defense = waaaay off

Cubs committed the 3rd fewest errors in the MLB last year and the same basic defense is returning. Unless there is a collective brain cramp in fielding ability, the Cubs D should no be bad. Alou committed the 2nd most errors on the team last year and he is gone. Any competence out there this year can cut that number down by a few I would think.

The bullpen would actually be the biggest hindrance to Johnson.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Todd Walker and a constantly injured Nomar (*cough*steroids*cough*) are a disaster up the middle although having Derrek Lee at first helps them a lot.

 

[AZCB34]

Todd Walker and a constantly injured Nomar (*cough*steroids*cough*) are a disaster up the middle although having Derrek Lee at first helps them a lot.

Problem is Walker played alot of last year anyways so his numbers won't go way up. Nomar (you think that scrawny little dude is roiding??) did make a few errors in something like 40 games but even if he triples his number of games played and triples his errors, he wouldn't even be in the top 15 for shortstop errors based on 04. I am not saying these guys are no miss Gold Glove guys but the Cubs D isn't nearly ass much a problem as their gasoline on fire bullpen. That was, and unless it is addressed this offseason will continue to be the biggest problem for the Cubs...followed in a close second by the feast or famine offense that relies waaaaaaaaaaaay too much on the long ball.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Cubs fans seem pretty unaninmous in not wanting Johnson. Most figure the least concern the Cubs face is starting pitching...Wood, Maddux, Prior, Zambrano and Mitre making up the rotation probably. Bullpen, specifically closer is an achilles heel right now.

I must clarify..... I didnt mean for Johnson to be traded directly to the Cubs, however, for them to part of a 3-way deal involving the Yankees.....

 

[AZCB34]

I must clarify..... I didnt mean for Johnson to be traded directly to the Cubs, however, for them to part of a 3-way deal involving the Yankees.....

I don't think the Yankees have very much to interest the Cubs. I mean, the Yankees are making probably their best offer with LA?? I don't know anything about NYY's minor league system short of what I read in the paper about the huge void that in NYY Minor League baseball. Not much in the cupboard it sounds like.

Anyone else get the feeling RJ will end up leaving the Dbacks and we will get nothing in return for him?

 

[schillingfan]

I wouldn't have made the deal either if the guy refused the physical.

Look at his last half of 2004.

Not sure what to make of Javy Vazquez. He had a lot of use in Montreal. I've watched him for several years with the expos and had him on my fantasy team. I love the guy. There sure are some warning signs about being hurt.

But anyway, Gammons said that Vazquez didn't refuse the physical, he just didn't want to do it right before Christmas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1952688

 

[devilalum]

Not sure what to make of Javy Vazquez. He had a lot of use in Montreal. I've watched him for several years with the expos and had him on my fantasy team. I love the guy. There sure are some warning signs about being hurt.

But anyway, Gammons said that Vazquez didn't refuse the physical, he just didn't want to do it right before Christmas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1952688

It's sounding more and more like that little weasel Dodger GM made the deal and when everybody started criticizing it he lost his confidence and made up a really weany reason to back out.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I don't think the Yankees have very much to interest the Cubs. I mean, the Yankees are making probably their best offer with LA?? I don't know anything about NYY's minor league system short of what I read in the paper about the huge void that in NYY Minor League baseball. Not much in the cupboard it sounds like.

Anyone else get the feeling RJ will end up leaving the Dbacks and we will get nothing in return for him?

I believe the Yankees would have at least a slight interest in the Cubs because they're so desperate to acquire Johnson without a team in the AL East benefiting from the trade......

One possible scenario would have the Dbacks trade Johnson to the Cubs for Derrek Lee (they would return David Kelton back to a 1B or try to reacquire Hee-Seop Choi since he's now the reserve 1B in LA), Felix Pie (Corey Patterson will be entrenched as the Cubs CF for many more years to come), then either Sergio Mitre, Angel Guzman, or Renyal Pinto... The Cubs would then deal Johnson to the Yankees for Vasquez and Tom Gordon (who returns back to Chicago to be their full-time closer), and some of the Yankee prospects that were involved in the now aborted trade package w/the Dodgers.....

Speaking of those prospects...it was mentioned how the Dbacks-Yankees had agreed on a trade, however, the Dodgers intervened.....

Here's some brief stats on those prospects:

Brad Halsey LH Pitcher:
http://www.sports-wired.com/profiles/HA/tbc21770.asp

Melky Cabrera SH OF:
http://www.sports-wired.com/profiles/CA/tbc45226.asp


Abel Gomez LH Pitcher:
http://www.sports-wired.com/profiles/GO/tbc45374.asp

Vasquez would more than likely refuse going to the Dbacks, and Baltimore and White Sox have been rumored to be interested in him, however, both organizations don't have deep farm systems (and the White Sox wont trade Konerko).....

I guess the best case scenario would have been if that Dodger trade had completely gone through, however, getting someone of the calibre of Derrek Lee would help "soften the blow" to a certain degree.....

If the Angels are willing to trade Washburn along w/Kotchman, Santana or Bootcheck..then that is something the Dbacks must consider (that would be only if the Dbacks cant work something out w/the Yankees and Randy is willing to go there).....

Or the Marlins could offer A.J. Burnett, Jason Stokes (1B prospect), and either Scott Olsen or Yorman Bazardo (both highly touted pitching prospects) for Johnson, then the Yankees would send Vasquez, Gordon (Marlins might consider him because of the health concerns regarding the recently signed closerAlfonseca), and Vasquez wouldnt mind going to FL because he would be near his family that lives in Puerto Rico (especially if that was the genuine reason why the Dodgers nixed the trade).....

When the Cardinals traded Danny Haren to the A's, that effectively eliminated them out of the bidding.....

I just hope this all gets resolved soon or else......