Unit headed back to Arizona

by Scott Christ on Jan 5, 2007 3:20 PM EST in News & Rumors

Randy Johnson just never quite fit with the Yankees, I suppose. Now he's headed back to Arizona in exchange for reliever Luis Vizcaino, RHP Ross Ohlendorf and SS Alberto Gonzalez. Apparently the Padres were also in discussions for Johnson, but the Diamondbacks are going to get him back, and he'll probably win his 300th game there.

That means the Yankee rotation for 2007 should be Mussina, Wang, Pettitte, Igawa and one of Phil Hughes, Carl Pavano and Humberto Sanchez, or maybe someone else. The Yankees should be fine without Johnson and all in all are probably better off. They're finally making strides to build for the future while working in the present, which sucks because that was supposed to catch up to them eventually.

Other moves: Mark Loretta is an Astro for one year, Joel Pineiro is headed to Boston (possibly to close for the Red Sox now that Papelbon is moving to a starting role), Keith Foulke to Cleveland (Foulke may also be closing), Chris Reitsma to Seattle, Doug Mientkiewicz to the Yankees as a glove man probably.

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Re Yankees' rotation

But didn't El Sid just re-up with them, proving once again that George "Poop for Brains" St*nbr*nn*r is one terrific judge of overweight felons on the hoof? What's Sid's (alleged) role up there: "7th starter"? "Innings eater" (maybe they figured Hey, he eats everything else...).

Seriously, would anyone else pay the not-left-handed Sid the ML minimum to suit up at this point? Javylicious could prolly outpitch Sid, even if both were under the influence. OK, I take that back, Sid's had a lot more practice under those conditions. Anyway, why is Sid still around...anywhere?

by Titov on Jan 5, 2007 3:55 PM EST reply actions

Hey!

Sidney actually signed with the Twins...does this mean I have a shot with them too? I am left handed...

by Stacey on Jan 5, 2007 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

That's good

I can stop hating Randy Johnson now.

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys...

by spike2131 on Jan 5, 2007 4:45 PM EST reply actions

I'm kinda happy...

...kinda sad. I'm happy because I won't see Randy Johnson and that stupid ass nickname all over the tabloids when I go into the NYC Subway anymore. I'm also happy because I always feared that the old, dominant Randy Johnson was right around the corner waiting to kick some Oriole ass and now that won't be a concern. But in reality he was the Big Eunuch, not the Big Unit. So I'm actually kinda sad that he won't be around anymore for the Yankees to waste money on and that they're going to be getting something in return for him to help build for the future. But I'm not too worried. If the Yankees had any brains in their heads they would have traded one of their Big Bats for a younger Ace pitcher...like say Oswalt...and win the World Series every year. But Steinbrenner's too obsessed with an offense that hasn't been able to win it for them.

by Jonnypops on Jan 6, 2007 9:27 AM EST reply actions

Your right,

maybe George should follow the model of the FO for the O's

by ReLaunch on Jan 7, 2007 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

Apples & Oranges

As you're well aware. The Orioles FO has been even more incompetent than the Yanks over the past god knows how many years now, although the recent moves this offseason, particularly the bullpen and House/Knott are more encouraging than they've been lately. But this is not to excuse the Yankees incompetence at failing to be able to capture the prize. I mean we're fast approaching the point where the Bombers will have spent $1 Billion with no World Series rings to show for it...and it's readily apparent to anyone who knows the first thing about the game that their big weakness is on the mound, and it doesn't need to be that way for that kinda coin.

by Jonnypops on Jan 7, 2007 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

I agree,

I am happy now though it seems that Cashman has full control of the team. I do believe though that all that money basically prints your playoff tickets. But from the start of the Division Series, there is a lot of luck involved. Ex: Cardinals, Tigers, Marlins, Angels. Were they the best teams those years? No. Were they hot at the right time? Of course.

by ReLaunch on Jan 8, 2007 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

Am I missing something here???

Arizona gave Johnson a 2 year extension for $26M!!! Am I the only one who thinks its somewhat insane to pay a guy who is going to be 45 in the last year of the deal, $13M/year??? Especially a pitcher with rapidly declining numbers.

momma take a look now at what your boy has done; he's walking around like he's number one; he went downtown and bought him a gun.

by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 8, 2007 10:42 AM EST reply actions

RJ

"Arizona gave Johnson a 2 year extension for $26M!!! "

It's really not an extension. The D-Backs gave him a two year contract that reworks his pay in 2007 and then give him something like 10 mill in 2008 at which point his contract technically ends although not really since he has tons of deferments for the next million years.

Big Bird says, "Get Pat the Bat!"