Yanks reach a deal for Randy

Newsday ^ | 12/16 | JON HEYMAN

[alydar]

The Yankees have reached agreement on the principal players in a three-team blockbuster trade that would land them coveted lefthander Randy Johnson, Newsday has learned. A few details have yet to be worked out, but indications are they are not big enough obstacles to kill the deal. The Yankees would receive the 41-year-old Johnson in the deal while sending pitcher Javier Vazquez and two minor-league prospects, catcher Dioner Navarro and third baseman Eric Duncan, to the Dodgers, according to an Arizona source. The Dodgers would send pitchers Brad Penny and Yhency Brazoban and outfielder/first baseman Shawn Green to Arizona to complete the deal. Johnson and Green both have no-trade clauses. Johnson has been requesting a trade to the Yankees for quite a while, so he will surely give his OK. Green's former agent is Jeff Moorad, who currently runs the Diamondbacks, so there's a great likelihood he would also approve the deal. The other issues involve perks in Johnson's contract and how he would be reimbursed for the loss of them with a trade to the Yankees, such as his tickets to Phoenix Suns games, and physicals for the players involved.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Who is the pitcher your guys sent the Yanks for Lofton -- Rodriguez? Anything there? And didn't the Phils take Heredia off the Yanks hands?

It was Felix Rodriguez. He came to the Phils late last year in a trade. I didn't get to see him too much, but I'm sure they got rid of him because he makes 3.3 mil/year. Lofton makes about the same, but they got the Yanks to give them 1.5 mil in cash as part of the trade. I don't recall Heredia being involved, but it is possible.

The Phils are blowing a lot of smoke about their off season moves, but every one of them has resulted in a reduced payroll, so it is obvious that's the goal of the moves, not to better the team.

[speedy]

I grew up outside of Philly and still yearn for the days of Richie Ashburn doing the games. It looked like the Phils were going to play with the Big Boys when they moved into the new stadium last year and picked up guys like Thome and Millwood and Wagner, but they seem to be reverting to seeing themselves as a small to mid market team. That should not be the case. The Phils are still my team in the NL, and I wish them well. Getting rid of Bowa was a step in the right direction. Of course, I said that about Francona too.

[NYCVirago]

I agree with you. The Mets were down right stupid for not only signing him, but for apparently waiving a serious physical. Pedro will be a huge bust in Queens.

That sounds like Red Sox spin/sour grapes. Pedro had the extensive physical, including an MRI, before he was signed. Besides, if Pedro were in such bad physical shape as the Sox are insinuating now, why did they offer him $40 million?

[NYCVirago]

True, I do respect Steinbrenner for his willingness to do whatever it takes, I just wish there was some way to stop him from making salaries to high for other teams to keep their quality players.

Actually, Steinbrenner had nothing to do with most of the biggest contracts in baseball. Manny Ramirez and A-Rod, to name the two biggest contracts, got those deals from other teams.

[weshess]

True, but Steinbrenner started it off with Reggie, and with a $200 million plus payroll you can't tell me that he didn't overpay some on the team.