Yankees pull out of discussions for Big Unit
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Ken Rosenthal /
Posted: 46 minutes ago
The Yankees, unwilling to meet Arizona's current trade demands for left-hander Randy Johnson, have broken off talks with Arizona, The Sporting News has learned.
The abrupt shift by the Yankees might only be a ploy to create leverage in future discussions. But for now, the Yankees will shift their focus to free-agent pitchers — including, perhaps, right-hander Pedro Martinez.
The Diamondbacks, in turn, could play their own form of hardball with Johnson, threatening to keep him unless he waives his no-trade clause for another team.
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The Yankees are believed to be Johnson's first choice. However, the Red Sox, Angels, Cardinals, White Sox also are interested in Johnson. The Diamondbacks, still reeling from their ill-fated trade of right-hander Curt Schilling and acquisition of first baseman Richie Sexson last off-season, are trying to exact a high price from the Yankees. Yankees right-hander Javier Vazquez is at the center of the package that Arizona would receive.
If the Yankees are indeed serious abandoning their quest for Johnson, their free-agent pursuits could include not just Martinez, but also left-handers Eric Milton and Al Leiter and right-handers Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright and Jon Lieber. They likely would add one of those pitchers even if they acquired Johnson.
Johnson, 41, is owed $16 million next season in the final year of his contract and likely would require a contract extension to waive his no-trade clause. The Yankees are willing to meet that condition, but their talks with the Diamondbacks broke down when the teams could not reach agreement on either an exchange of money or players.
Vazquez, 28, is owed $35.5 million over the next three seasons, or $19.5 million more than the Diamondbacks owe Johnson. That difference is one sticking point. The Diamondbacks want the Yankees to cover all of it, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The Yankees are willing to pay about two-thirds.
The bigger dispute is over players.
In addition to Vazquez, the source says, the Diamondbacks initially asked the Yankees to acquire one of 10 pitchers from another club for inclusion in the deal. The 10 pitchers on the D-Backs' wish list were the A's Tim Hudson and Barry Zito, Marlins' A.J. Burnett, Dodgers' Edwin Jackson, Devil Rays' Scott Kazmir, Rangers' Kenny Rogers, Blue Jays' Ted Lilly, Tigers' Jeremy Bonderman, Marlins' A.J. Burnett and Rockies' Jason Jennings and Shawn Chacon.
The Diamondbacks told the Yankees that they would not participate in three-way discussions, forcing the Yankees to obtain one of those pitchers — Chacon being by far the most available — without additional help. They also asked the Yankees for several prospects in addition to Vazquez, the second pitcher and the $19.5 million.
When those talks went nowhere, the Diamondbacks amended their request to Vazquez, reliever Tom Gordon and left-hander Brad Halsey, plus the $19.5 million and prospects. The Yankees said they wound not trade Gordon, and countered with a proposal of Vazquez, Halsey, lefthander Alex Graman and a prospect that the Diamondbacks had wanted, along with a significant cash payment, believed to be between $10 million and $15 million.
The Diamondbacks made two last bids on Tuesday, asking for Vazquez, Gordon and Halsey plus the $19.5 million or Vazquez, the Rockies' Chacon, Halsey, prospects and $19.5 million. The Yankees called the Rockies about Chacon, and the Rockies provided a list of names they would consider in trade discussions, according to a major-league source.
Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected].
Story Tools: Print Email
Ken Rosenthal /
Posted: 46 minutes ago
The Yankees, unwilling to meet Arizona's current trade demands for left-hander Randy Johnson, have broken off talks with Arizona, The Sporting News has learned.
The abrupt shift by the Yankees might only be a ploy to create leverage in future discussions. But for now, the Yankees will shift their focus to free-agent pitchers — including, perhaps, right-hander Pedro Martinez.
The Diamondbacks, in turn, could play their own form of hardball with Johnson, threatening to keep him unless he waives his no-trade clause for another team.
Photo gallery ...
Top free agents
Also ...
Top free-agent sleepers
The Yankees are believed to be Johnson's first choice. However, the Red Sox, Angels, Cardinals, White Sox also are interested in Johnson. The Diamondbacks, still reeling from their ill-fated trade of right-hander Curt Schilling and acquisition of first baseman Richie Sexson last off-season, are trying to exact a high price from the Yankees. Yankees right-hander Javier Vazquez is at the center of the package that Arizona would receive.
If the Yankees are indeed serious abandoning their quest for Johnson, their free-agent pursuits could include not just Martinez, but also left-handers Eric Milton and Al Leiter and right-handers Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright and Jon Lieber. They likely would add one of those pitchers even if they acquired Johnson.
Johnson, 41, is owed $16 million next season in the final year of his contract and likely would require a contract extension to waive his no-trade clause. The Yankees are willing to meet that condition, but their talks with the Diamondbacks broke down when the teams could not reach agreement on either an exchange of money or players.
Vazquez, 28, is owed $35.5 million over the next three seasons, or $19.5 million more than the Diamondbacks owe Johnson. That difference is one sticking point. The Diamondbacks want the Yankees to cover all of it, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The Yankees are willing to pay about two-thirds.
The bigger dispute is over players.
In addition to Vazquez, the source says, the Diamondbacks initially asked the Yankees to acquire one of 10 pitchers from another club for inclusion in the deal. The 10 pitchers on the D-Backs' wish list were the A's Tim Hudson and Barry Zito, Marlins' A.J. Burnett, Dodgers' Edwin Jackson, Devil Rays' Scott Kazmir, Rangers' Kenny Rogers, Blue Jays' Ted Lilly, Tigers' Jeremy Bonderman, Marlins' A.J. Burnett and Rockies' Jason Jennings and Shawn Chacon.
The Diamondbacks told the Yankees that they would not participate in three-way discussions, forcing the Yankees to obtain one of those pitchers — Chacon being by far the most available — without additional help. They also asked the Yankees for several prospects in addition to Vazquez, the second pitcher and the $19.5 million.
When those talks went nowhere, the Diamondbacks amended their request to Vazquez, reliever Tom Gordon and left-hander Brad Halsey, plus the $19.5 million and prospects. The Yankees said they wound not trade Gordon, and countered with a proposal of Vazquez, Halsey, lefthander Alex Graman and a prospect that the Diamondbacks had wanted, along with a significant cash payment, believed to be between $10 million and $15 million.
The Diamondbacks made two last bids on Tuesday, asking for Vazquez, Gordon and Halsey plus the $19.5 million or Vazquez, the Rockies' Chacon, Halsey, prospects and $19.5 million. The Yankees called the Rockies about Chacon, and the Rockies provided a list of names they would consider in trade discussions, according to a major-league source.
Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected].
