Like A Mofo Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Randy to the Yankees 12/1/2004 ESPN reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks are ready to finally trade veteran pitcher Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees. A team source tells ESPN's Peter Gammons that a deal could happen sometime next week and that the Yankees are set to offer starter Javier Vazquez, reliever Tom Gordon, third base prospect Eric Duncan and about $4 million of Vazquez's contract. The Diamondbacks also reportedly want the Yankees to acquire a starting pitcher outside of the organization to include in a deal. The news comes on the same day that reports emerged out of Boston that the Red Sox were discussing a trade sending pitcher Bronson Arroyo and two prospects to Arizona for Johnson. Vazquez, 28, has three years and $34.5 million left on his contract, while Johnson, 41, will make $16 million this coming season. The Diamondbacks have been listening to offers for the Big Unit since the middle of the 2004 season. The Yankees head the list of teams with interest, but the Red Sox, Anaheim Angels and Chicago White Sox have also been touted as possibilities. Johnson has the right to veto any trade. Coming off knee surgery, Johnson was 16-14, but the team scored three or fewer runs for him in all but one of those losses. He was 13-2 when the Diamondbacks scored more than two runs. Johnson was second in the majors with a 2.60 ERA and led the majors in strikeouts at 290. Along the way, he pitched a perfect game, passed 4,000 strikeouts and passed Steve Carlton to become the most prolific left-handed strikeout pitcher in baseball history. He ranks No. 3 on the strikeout list behind Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. Johnson won Cy Young Awards in his first four seasons with Arizona and was second to Clemens in Cy Young voting this year, even though Johnson was on a club that lost 111 games, tied for 10th-most in baseball history.
Alaska Darin Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 I heard the Red Sox rumor last night. The hot stove league is off and running, with the rich obviously getting richer. The As got Jason Kendall, who's really going to help them.
DC Tom Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Randy to the Yankees Coming off knee surgery, Johnson was 16-14, but the team scored three or fewer runs for him in all but one of those losses. He was 13-2 when the Diamondbacks scored more than two runs. Johnson was second in the majors with a 2.60 ERA and led the majors in strikeouts at 290. Along the way, he pitched a perfect game, passed 4,000 strikeouts and passed Steve Carlton to become the most prolific left-handed strikeout pitcher in baseball history. He ranks No. 3 on the strikeout list behind Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. 141644[/snapback] Those are pretty good numers. Aren't they, VABills?
erynthered Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 I'd rather have Randy over Pedro, pitching for the Yank's next year
Alaska Darin Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 I'd rather have Randy over Pedro, pitching for the Yank's next year 141662[/snapback] Yeah. RJ can actually throw over 100 pitches in a given start and still win regularly. Though I wouldn't put it past big Stein to sign both of them. Because he can.
Thailog80 Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Yeah. RJ can actually throw over 100 pitches in a given start and still win regularly. Though I wouldn't put it past big Stein to sign both of them. Because he can. 141678[/snapback] We need to get younger not older on the hill.
Like A Mofo Posted December 1, 2004 Author Posted December 1, 2004 We need to get younger not older on the hill. 141682[/snapback] Couldnt agree more T....can George get suspended again!?!?!
Alaska Darin Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 We need to get younger not older on the hill. 141682[/snapback] Yep.
Guest Guest_eyedog_* Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 We need to get younger not older on the hill. 141682[/snapback] True. Except the Yankees are different than most teams. They play to win the World Series now. They don't care about 3 yrs down the road because when that time comes they have the money to go get what they need. If they can get 1 or 2 more dominant years out of RJ they would be happy.
gantrules Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 You guys may be getting the most dominate left hand pitcher ever....yes you need youth but for what you are giving up it's worth it.
Like A Mofo Posted December 1, 2004 Author Posted December 1, 2004 True. Except the Yankees are different than most teams. They play to win the World Series now. They don't care about 3 yrs down the road because when that time comes they have the money to go get what they need.If they can get 1 or 2 more dominant years out of RJ they would be happy. 141760[/snapback] If George continues this path he is on, it will catch up to the Yankees and Ill have visions of Ed Whitson dacing through my head
Guest Guest_eyedog_* Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 And how exactly will it catch up to the Yankees ? They already have another Whitson in Vasquez. They obviously don't think he can handle NY or they wouldn't be trying to unload him. Do you think George or the Yanks are losing money with their huge payroll ? HAHAHAHA. They bring in twice their payroll and that doesn't even take into account Georges' other businesses. I wouldn't worry about the path uncle George is taking.
MattyT Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Even as a Yankee fan I'm tired of this sh--. I'm just glad that a good guy like Posada isn't involved with the trade (as earlier rumors suggested).
Mike32282 Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 And the other good read is that a deal with Al Leiter is in the works too. They are just waiting for him to walk away from the bargaining table with the Mets and then they'll sign him. Leiter and Johnson. Not bad.
CosmicBills Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 I had high hopes for Javy. I still think he will be a good one. I will be sad to see him go. To get Randy would be a nice parting gift however.
GG Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 I also read that Kevin Brown was offered in a trade for a roll of toilet paper.
Like A Mofo Posted December 1, 2004 Author Posted December 1, 2004 I also read that Kevin Brown was offered in a trade for a roll of toilet paper. 141819[/snapback] If its for a roll of 2-Ply Toilet Paper, get it done!!!
Thurman's Helmet Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Al Leiter and Randy Johnson to become Yanks? The Avg age of the starting rotation will be 37-38. And who will set up for Rivera if Gordon goes?
Like A Mofo Posted December 1, 2004 Author Posted December 1, 2004 And who will set up for Rivera if Gordon goes? 141825[/snapback] Good question. But Im sure the anti-Yankee whiners will line up and complain how Ill never watch baseball again, but if you look at this trade as a whole, it may not make them any better.
JimBob2232 Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 This is getting ridiculous. I am a die-hard yankees fan, and have been my entire life, yes i was a fan even during the jesse barfield/danny tartabull era. This is the problem. The yankees are not a team anymore. They are a bunch of superstars who try to buy into the new york system (no pun intended). In the end, the majority of these guys do not know what it means to be a yankee. Derek Jeter knows. Bernie Williams Knows. Mariano Rivera and Orlando Hernandez know. Perhaps Posada and Matsui know, but thats about it. Sheffield doesnt get it, nor does A-Rod or Giambi. though in fairness, A-Rod is coming around. The old yankees teams (and by old i mean ~ 5 years ago), were comprised of a bunch of guys who knew what it meant to put on the pinstripes. Paul O'Neil, Andy Pettite, Roger Clemens were character guys, and although some may have come in as free agents, they knew the name on the front of the jersey meant a whole lot more than the name on the back. In the old days the yankees developed talent. At one point they had the best minor league system in baseball. I know because I watched them daily at their AA facility in Albany. These players dreamed of being yankees. And when they finally made the show, they played with pride and determination and accomplished great things. A few pieces were plugged in here and there and the puzzle was competed. Contrast todays team. This current group collects big paychecks, but they dont get what they are fighting for. They come to new york as free agents for the big cash. The team trades away prospect after prospect for old washed up veterans, leaving them a depleated minor league system, one of the worst in baseball. Then they go out and spend big bucks on players like Giambi and Sheffield, who If i had my way would not even be on the roster. I would still rather have soriano than a-rod, and I dont want to see posada or, although I dont like him either, Vazquez, traded for Randy Johnson, and certainally dont give up.eric duncan to do it. Its time to start over mr. steinbrenner. Its time to reclaim your dominace at the minor league levels and develop your own stars again. Teach them what being a true yankee is about. Let Don Mattingly coach AAA or AA ball. Dont toss true yankees aside like yesterdays trash. Players like Pettite and Soriano, though now wearing differnet uniforms ARE yankees, and will forever be yankees (unless they defect someday to the enemy, but I dont see them doing it unless to spite george). I speak only for myself, but I am sure many other yankees fans feel the same way. This current squad is missing the "IT factor", and that is because they do not realize what it means to wear pinstripes.
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