Unit news from the republic....

Djaughe

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Garagiola still wouldn't confirm or deny whether the club exposed Randy Johnson to revocable waivers, and although it is being widely reported that it happened and a number of teams are said to have filed a claim on the future Hall of Fame pitcher, Garagiola is fed up with such routine news leaks throughout the industry.

"There's a reason these things should be kept confidential," Garagiola said, "but if people aren't going to stick to the rules, then maybe we ought to just run this stuff in the USA Today in the transactions list every morning."


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The Diamondbacks reportedly pulled Johnson back off the waiver list, and if they still have any thoughts about trading the five-time Cy Young Award winner now, they can only make a deal with the team with the worst record among those who filed claims.

Garagiola wouldn't comment specifically on Johnson, but when asked about the waiver process in general, he said, "It's a technical matter and there still may be things we could do."

As for reports mentioning Johnson on the waiver wire, Garagiola said front-office personnel are routinely reminded to keep all names strictly confidential and he questioned the motives of those who would leak information to members of the news media.

"There are apparently those with access to this information who choose not to treat it as confidential and I think that's a disservice to everybody, certainly the player, and to the people who work in this business," Garagiola said. "People, I guess, have their reasons, but no one who discloses this information can pretend they don't know they're supposed to keep it confidential."

Teams had until July 31 to make non-waiver trades, and the Diamondbacks were thought to be close to a deal that would have sent Johnson to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona didn't get the return package of players it deemed worthy of Johnson, so no deal was made. If the club wants to deal for Johnson this time, by using the waiver procedure, it has until Tuesday to complete a transaction.


What is it in Joe G's head that thinks putting R.J. on waivers would remain confidenntial? :doi: Theres a big difference between the big unit and say someone like matt kata!
 

Bob Chebat

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Further proof that Jr is a moron and needs to go. You don't put a guy like the Big Unit on waivers and expect it to keep quiet. What a *******.
 
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Djaughe

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Bob Chebat said:
Further proof that Jr is a moron and needs to go. You don't put a guy like the Big Unit on waivers and expect it to keep quiet. What a *******.
imo: I just don't agree with this effort to get rid of the big unit for prospects. I'm sure sexson is watching this and realizes that if we get rid of RJ - that we'll have the next 2-3 years of AAA ball at the BOB....
 

KingLouieLouie

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Djaughe said:
imo: I just don't agree with this effort to get rid of the big unit for prospects. I'm sure sexson is watching this and realizes that if we get rid of RJ - that we'll have the next 2-3 years of AAA ball at the BOB....
They would still have a "AAA ball team at the BOB" even if they did keep Randy and brought Sexson back next year....

It's been reported how the managing group wants to cap next year's payroll at $65 mil, and Randy is earmarked $16 mil...and I'm certain Sexson would demand a contract around $8 mil per season....Just not worthwhile.....Best to invest that money for 2 upper-tier FA starters and a veteran reliever who has consistently pitched 100 innings per season without any history of injury....
 

AZZenny

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Best to invest that money for 2 upper-tier FA starters and a veteran reliever who has consistently pitched 100 innings per season without any history of injury....


And as long as Nincompoop is GM, just exactly who are we going to trust to select those FA and 'veteran' pitchers? Albie Lopez Rick Helling Elmer Dessens Mike Fetters Shane Reynolds Randy Choate Mike Myers Mike Fetters...
 

KingLouieLouie

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AZZenny said:
And as long as Nincompoop is GM, just exactly who are we going to trust to select those FA and 'veteran' pitchers? Albie Lopez Rick Helling Elmer Dessens Mike Fetters Shane Reynolds Randy Choate Mike Myers Mike Fetters...
I honestly believe that Joe Jr. either will be asked to take a lesser role once Moorad assumes his position (Moorad will be dealing more with the player personnel decisions), or Joe Jr. will just agree mutually to resign or will just be terminated.....

I'll refer back to something I posted on here a week or 2 ago.... Dave Dombrowski was appointed the Tigers president just before the end of the '01 season, but allowed GM Randy Smith (despite of his horrid track record) to remain as the GM....to pretty much help Dombrowski ease into making the transition from a NL to an AL team.... He did allow Smith the power to negotiate contract extensions, pull off some trades, sign some FAs, but w/in a few months Smith (along with manager Phil Garner) both "received the axe" w/in I believe 6 games into the season....

I just dont see Joe Jr. remaining in any capacity since an immense power struggle would ensue...also he would constantly bring up Colangelo every 5-mins in saying how he would have approached certain matters and I envision that Moraad wouldnt want any part of that whatsoever....
 
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Djaughe

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KLL said:
They would still have a "AAA ball team at the BOB" even if they did keep Randy and brought Sexson back next year....
IMO: If they trade away R.J. then they are giving up contending for next year. If thats the plan then they might as well hang a "for sale" sign (which they probably have done by waiving the big unit.) instead of having the fans drink kool-aid for next year.

With a "healthy" luis gonzales and this group of players (hopefully fundamentally) better next year (Getting a decent relief pitcher & signing sexson) - I like our chances of playing 0.500 ball versus watching another year of prospects or 2nd tier players jell into a team.
 

KingLouieLouie

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Djaughe said:
IMO: If they trade away R.J. then they are giving up contending for next year. If thats the plan then they might as well hang a "for sale" sign (which they probably have done by waiving the big unit.) instead of having the fans drink kool-aid for next year.

With a "healthy" luis gonzales and this group of players (hopefully fundamentally) better next year (Getting a decent relief pitcher & signing sexson) - I like our chances of playing 0.500 ball versus watching another year of prospects or 2nd tier players jell into a team.
I guess my main concern is that the Dbacks can ill-afford to depend on 2 players again to determine their fate.....

I personally believe that the Dbacks wont be a contending team next year even with Johnson since they still wont have anyone else in the rotation who can pitch quality starts on a consistent basis (other than Webb, who should be a #3 starter at this time)...

My logic is to trade Johnson's $16 mil contract for a ML ready 1B and perhaps 2 elite pitching prospects that are on the verge of the ML level as well.... Then use the money currently earmarked on Johnson for 2 of the top FA pitchers that are in the deepest FA crop in recent years...That would solidify the pitching staff for this year and beyond....when keeping Randy would only benefit (albeit not that much) for just the '05 season... He has some redeemable value left and they absolutely shouldnt allow him to walk.....And if he injures himself before they have an opportunity to trade them, that would obviously diminish his value tremendously....

If the Dbacks keep Johnson/Webb with a bunch of erratic, unproven, or over-the-hill starters, then the inevitable will happen...You'll yet again have a BP that has been decimated due to being excessively used day in and day out....

Also...it's sad to say...but it appears (regardless of his ailment or not) that Gonzo's getting beyond his prime.... It seemed even since last season that his over-all stats have dropped off considerably and he still struggles with runners on base w/less than 2-outs.....

I just dont have much faith in Sexson either since he's too streaky of a hitter and the Dbacks still dont have anyone of merit that would hit well behind him.... I know there might be pressure to retain him since then that would compound the uproar of the trade even further, however, if the Dbacks manage to get a younger/cheaper 1B with better/equal talent, then that would ease everyone's mind....
 

SweetD

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ok guys Barry Bonds, ARod and every other high profile player has been on waivers. This is nothing new. It the stupid media publishing crap and making a big deal out of nothing. Don't nock Joe Jr it is true the media should not publish this crap.
 

KingLouieLouie

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I've heard another reason why a team puts a player on waivers at this stage of the season is to see which teams that may generate a response from for future reference....

If the Dbacks do in fact decide to trade Johnson...I really hope it's during the Winter Meetings when every top executive representing each of the respective teams are present, so trades would be easier to "pull off".....

That's when the 3-way day involving the Yankees as one of the principals would more than likely take place......
 

NJYAJ09

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Randy Johnson, Shea Hillenbrand, Edgar Gonzalez for Todd Helton, Jason Jennings, and Jeff Francis.I WISHHHH!
 
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Djaughe

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KLL said:
I've heard another reason why a team puts a player on waivers at this stage of the season is to see which teams that may generate a response from for future reference.........
lol...I think J.G.'s notebook got filled up with responses - practically every contending team put a claim on johnson. From what I heared he never made it past the giants, padres, dodgers......etc.
 

KingLouieLouie

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Djaughe said:
lol...I think J.G.'s notebook got filled up with responses - practically every contending team put a claim on johnson. From what I heared he never made it past the giants, padres, dodgers......etc.
Yeah, I'm very well aware of that, so I suppose that Joe Jr. (or whoever will be handling player personnel decisions) will be able to sort through those teams who claimed Johnson with the intent of actually consummating a deal from those who merely just wanted to block a trade...

All those past discussions will be revisited during the Winter Meetings and would give a better opportunity not to either force a trade for the sake of just trading Johnson or also to carefully architect a 3-team trade...

Johnson might be willing to expand the list of teams he's willing to waive his no-trade clause because there doesnt seem to be any immediate relief in sight for the Dbacks, and his frustrations will begin to boil more out of control...Especially if Schilling leads the Red Sox into the World Series, that would spur Johnson even more.....
 

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AZZenny said:
Albie Lopez Rick Helling Elmer Dessens Mike Fetters Shane Reynolds Randy Choate Mike Myers Mike Fetters...

Hey, AZZ - I think you missed Mike Fetters! :D

Whoever signed off on bringing him back should be shot!

Seriously, this kind of thing does happen all the time. It is a game of politics to see who is willing to cough up what.

Its almost like getting your house appraised - how much is it worth? Well, if they did do this with RJ, and I believe they did, they were seeing just exactly they could get for him.

Its not like you have a 41 year old pitcher, in top flight condition, being traded all the time. Just how much would another team be willing to fork over for someone who could very well be one injury away from hanging up his hat?
 
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