RJ back to the Diamondbacks?? - Talksox

Beckett95 · 12-25-2006, 12:37 PM

mlbtraderumors

Quote:

While it was denied a few weeks ago, it sounds like discussions are indeed taking place that would bring Randy Johnson back to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Johnson's agent and D'Backs general partner Ken Kendrick are mum on the subject.

Ed Price reports that the Yankees don't want to pay any of the $16MM owed to the Big Unit in 2007. Arizona's rotation currently consists of Brandon Webb, Livan Hernandez, Doug Davis, and a competition between Juan Cruz, Dana Eveland, Edgar Gonzalez, and Enrique Gonzalez. The Diamondbacks are packed with promising youngsters like Conor Jackson and Dustin Nippert.

Johnson had back surgery after the season ended; he turned 43 this year. ZiPS, which projected pitchers better than anyone last year, predicts a 3.71 ERA for Johnson in 34 starts in 2007 - even as a Yankee.

not really a great source, but still interesting to read

Beckett95 · 12-25-2006, 01:06 PM

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/inde...190.xml&coll=1

little bit more reliable source

a700hitter · 12-25-2006, 02:07 PM

If the Big Unit goes back to AZ, the Yanks will start the season with Wang, Moose, Pettitte...and Pavano and Karstens? Yikes!

riverside sluggers · 12-25-2006, 02:07 PM

Yankees not wanting to pay any bit of the $16 million owed to the 43 year old "Ah my back" Randy Johnson... how could the D-Backs not want to assume all of his salary?

CrespoBlows · 12-25-2006, 02:22 PM

I'd take a chance on him for about $6-8 million.

a700hitter · 12-25-2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

Yankees not wanting to pay any bit of the $16 million owed to the 43 year old "Ah my back" Randy Johnson... how could the D-Backs not want to assume all of his salary?

If they pick up his full salary, the Yankees will get little or nothing in return.

riverside sluggers · 12-25-2006, 05:22 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2708203

Ludicrous!! Can Theo get the mental powers that Cashman has??

Ahem... the Diamondbacks are about to give the Yankees an offer of 3 players (including 1 major leaguer), and will actually ask for a 72 hour negotiating window with 43 year old RJ about a fucking contract extension??!!

elsrbueno · 12-25-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2708203

Ludicrous!! Can Theo get the mental powers that Cashman has??

Ahem... the Diamondbacks are about to give the Yankees an offer of 3 players (including 1 major leaguer), and will actually ask for a 72 hour negotiating window with 43 year old RJ about a fucking contract extension??!!

Randy Johnson has very little value right now if you ask me. Granted, he was in the AL East last year (the hardest division to pitch in IMO) but this guy's 43, has a $16 million price tag, and had a 5.00 ERA last season. Not to mention his strikeout rate is dropping, his walk rate is rising, and he just didn't intimidate last year like he used to.

Not to mention he just had surgery so he's a big health question mark. There's a chance the back was a big factor in him sucking last year but there's a bigger chance it's the fact that he's 43. He'd be a better pitcher in Arizona or San Diego but he isn't worth all that much, especially if the Yankees don't want to pay any part of his salary.

a700hitter · 12-25-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2708203

Ludicrous!! Can Theo get the mental powers that Cashman has??

Ahem... the Diamondbacks are about to give the Yankees an offer of 3 players (including 1 major leaguer), and will actually ask for a 72 hour negotiating window with 43 year old RJ about a fucking contract extension??!!

Who are the three players... Larry, Mo and Curly or maybe Shemp?

CrespoBlows · 12-25-2006, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elsrbueno

Randy Johnson has very little value right now if you ask me. Granted, he was in the AL East last year (the hardest division to pitch in IMO) but this guy's 43, has a $16 million price tag, and had a 5.00 ERA last season. Not to mention his strikeout rate is dropping, his walk rate is rising, and he just didn't intimidate last year like he used to.

His WHIP was a 1.26, which in the AL is very respectable. That might dip to a 1.15 - 1.20 margin in the NL. He still averages 7.55 strikeouts per nine innings, that could rise to eight in the NL, throwing to the pitchers.

Factor in the fact, that Johnson was pretty unlucky last year. His BABIP with RISP was over .360. With a little luck, Johnson's ERA last year could have been a half of a run lower.

He's certainly not a $16 million dollar pitcher, but $7 to $9, in this market? No question.

Gom · 12-26-2006, 02:14 AM

Randy Johnson will finish with an ERA in the mid 3's next year in the national league. He will be a servicable pitcher for Arizona/San Diego.

That does not change the fact that he is literally useless to the Yankees. If the Yankees can give away RJ without paying a penny, it's a good deal for the Yanks. Couple that with signing Zito, and the Yankees would have had a FANTASTIC offseason.

elsrbueno · 12-26-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrespoBlows

His WHIP was a 1.26, which in the AL is very respectable. That might dip to a 1.15 - 1.20 margin in the NL. He still averages 7.55 strikeouts per nine innings, that could rise to eight in the NL, throwing to the pitchers.

Factor in the fact, that Johnson was pretty unlucky last year. His BABIP with RISP was over .360. With a little luck, Johnson's ERA last year could have been a half of a run lower.

He's certainly not a $16 million dollar pitcher, but $7 to $9, in this market? No question.

he's worth $7 million in this market. But if the Yankees expect talent back they need to cover that extra $9 million, because he's a huge risk at $16 million IMO.

26 Reasons to Hate Us · 12-26-2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elsrbueno

he's worth $7 million in this market. But if the Yankees expect talent back they need to cover that extra $9 million, because he's a huge risk at $16 million IMO.

Looks like the Yanks might get away without paying anything:

Quote:

San Diego right now appears to be the most likely destination for the five-time Cy Young Award winner, but the Dodgers, Angels and Diamondbacks are all said to be in the mix. One of the officials, familiar with the ongoing discussions, used the phrase "several bona fide offers" to describe what the Yankees are mulling and said the Yankees probably would not have to include any money.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...p-406772c.html

Mr Crunchy · 12-26-2006, 10:18 AM

i would think if the yanks are sincere about winning this season they would keep rj in stripes at least thru the break in july to see if he can help
hes still a better option than zito i feel and despite his obvious decline since he came to the a.l he still finds a way to stick it up the sox ass be it a 5-4 or 8-6 game

his problems have been in the post season where he hasnt pitched well
and the lingering questions about his back will be investigated before he gets dealt back to the low pressure malaise of west coast baseball

i for 1 hope hes gone from ny and i suspect there are men like david ortiz who would help fund rj's salary if he was moved out west

26 Reasons to Hate Us · 12-26-2006, 10:53 AM

I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. I guess it depends on what they get back. I sure wouldn't miss seeing RJ get lit up every other outing, but like Crunchy says he finds a way to beat the Sox, and he does still eat up innings..