12/21/24
July 28, 2004
Big Unit in Pinstripes, perhaps Starting by Friday?: With El Duque joining the ever-growing list of Yanks either injured, on the DL, or about to go on the DL, a move for a bona fide starter is more urgent than ever. According to this article, it will be a 3-way deal involing the Padres along with the yanks and the Diamondbacks.
Hmmm...didn't I recently suggest hereabouts that it would take the special Brian Cashman touch to make a deal come to fruition?
The 31st is right around the bend. Watch for a flurry o flast-minute deals!!
That link is BS... it was a wednesday deadline to prepare for the start, and they're saying Az will just keep him. Besides, it's been clear for some time that they don't want to send Finley to the Padres because they want him back next year, and they're the one team that could probably sign him away from the snakes. I'd be curious to see who else would change hands... they say it's a 3 way deal but really it's the DBacks trading their two best to two teams... so does SD give up all the prospects for both people and NY sends someone to SD? I'm not sure how that would work.
posted by Bernreuther at 05:22 PM on July 28, 2004
Yeah, looking most probably like Johnson is going nowhere. Joe G. Jr. is still taking crap down here about getting bent over in the Schilling and Sexson trades, and is extremely gunshy about even a perception of doing another bad deal. Yankees have nothing to give and who is really gonna be the broker for them? Why would they? Anyhow, it's kinda satisfying seeing something the money can't fix for the Yankees. (OT: it is looking like many of the teams in the playoffs this year will have suspect rotations, Yankees, Rangers, and Cardinals pop to mind. Could it be another year for the underdog team with the hot staff winning it all?)
posted by pivo at 06:59 PM on July 28, 2004
NY Times tonight says no deal. (sportsfilter/spofi)
posted by jerseygirl at 09:46 PM on July 28, 2004
As much as I hate the Yankees (and its a lot, i really despise them) it would be nice to see the big unit back in the playoffs, possibly finishing his career with a long run into the post season.
posted by DonovanMD at 01:08 AM on July 29, 2004
it would be nice to see the big unit back in the playoffs I would agree with that except, as jerseygirl mentioned above, he seems to be acting the ass over this.
posted by yerfatma at 06:37 AM on July 29, 2004
I am not sure if the Dodgers will take Finley because he wants to play center, where Milton Bradley is playing, and seems to be quite firm on that. I'd rather have them find a few more Jayson Werths.
posted by jasonspaceman at 10:31 AM on July 29, 2004
I can understand why Johnson is frustrated. He should have more wins. When you pitch an 8 inning shutout you should expect to pick up a W. Anyway, what about the Angels? Maybe Arizona would take Chone Figgins and one of the Molina brothers?
posted by crank at 10:54 AM on July 29, 2004
He'll veto the Angels. He doesn't want to get a whiff of their Colon I guess. So if he gets stuck in Arizona and pouts I won't be too upset. He's not up at Pedro level of hate but I have never really been much of a fan of the guy, so I'm not gung ho about getting him on the Yankees.
posted by Bernreuther at 11:06 AM on July 29, 2004
Maybe Arizona would take Chone Figgins and one of the Molina brothers? Sure, except Anaheim would have to put a gun to Arizona's head before they'd even consider that offer...
posted by dusted at 11:12 AM on July 29, 2004
Sure, except Anaheim would have to put a gun to Arizona's head before they'd even consider that offer... Then why is Arizona asking for prospects if they wouldn't consider either of those young players as part of a deal? They didn't really want Posada. They don't want a 34 year-old catcher who makes $9 million a year...
posted by crank at 11:18 AM on July 29, 2004
crank, I don't know if Arizona would consider them, it's just my opinion that the talent gap is so wide that they couldn't consider it.
posted by dusted at 11:36 AM on July 29, 2004
This is so odd - every Yankee fan I know talks like Bernreuther, they just don't seem to want Johnson. Are you nuts!?! Your starting rotation seems to change weekly and you turn down the most dominating pitcher in league?!? Of course you want him! He's one of the top 10 starting pictchers of all friggin' time! The reality is, there's no way of getting him unless Arizona gives up and just gift wraps him for you. Randy stays!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:56 PM on July 29, 2004
Was thinking the same thing Weedy, some severe sour grapes going on there, methinks. On top of the fact that Johnson is probably currently the top pitcher in baseball, the Yanks have no lefty starters and one in the pen. They will need a lefty for the playoffs.
posted by pivo at 02:55 PM on July 29, 2004
i, for one, would welcome the big unit to the bronx. while you wait for a yay or nay on a johnson deal, here's a somewhat lengthy analysis (by Jay Jaffe) of the prospects that the yankees have traded away over the past 10 years.
posted by goddam at 03:20 PM on July 29, 2004
I didn't say I didn't want him. I just don't think it's the end of the world if they don't get him, and I believe they won't. A lot of things will have to align perfectly though if they want to win the series this year, and it all boils down to pitching. I guess I'm just not vocal in my support of getting him. I certainly hope they do... I just don't think they will.
posted by Bernreuther at 03:40 PM on July 29, 2004
if they don't get him i hope they will at least bolster the bullpen and get rid of felix "the run fairy" heredia.
posted by goddam at 03:50 PM on July 29, 2004
It's a timely topic no doubt, but your link leaves something to be desired. How does this benefit the Diamondbacks, and what happened to Randy Johnson's ASG interviewing where he said he'd "only do it if it helped the Diamondbacks"? Gammons has reported that RJ rejected a trade to the Dodgers last night, and said "it's the Yankees or nothing." He is starting to sound like a beligerant child. This is why no-trade clauses suck in baseball and this is why I am glad no one on the Red Sox have them. Garagiola, when asked about having an unhappy player on his hands (if he's not traded), has reportedly said something along the lines of "So what else is new?" The Yankees have nothing in prospects, and it's made some news reports that AZ has said they are not interested in what the Yankees have for prospects at all, so what are they giving up in exchange? Does Selig let a cash only transaction go though?