Johnson has not nixed Hub: Anti-Sox rumor is premature

[Bigben 0548]

Johnson has not nixed Hub: Anti-Sox rumor is premature
By Jeff Horrigan
Saturday, July 10, 2004

The Arizona Diamondbacks apparently have decided to take offers for Randy Johnson, but talks have not proceeded to the point of asking the left-hander to waive his no-trade rights.

Johnson is about to be ``shopped aggressively,'' according to an industry source, but reports that the Big Unit has refused to waive the no-trade provision in his contract to oblige a trade to the Red Sox [stats, schedule] are extremely premature.

ESPN baseball commentator Peter Gammons offered his on-air opinion yesterday morning that Johnson only would agree to be traded to the New York Yankees [stats, schedule] or Anaheim Angels, but Gammons thought he made it clear that no deals had been discussed. His opinion, however, somehow was misinterpreted by at least one major radio station, as well as a popular New England Web site, which both declared Johnson had rejected a possible trade to the Red Sox.

As of last night, Johnson had not been approached by the Diamondbacks regarding any potential trade, but some close to him believe he only would leave the Phoenix area, where he has his primary residence, for either New York or Anaheim. Johnson also has a home in Newport Beach, Calif., only a 20-minute drive from Anaheim.

Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo originally was extremely reluctant to deal Johnson because he didn't want to give the all-hope-is-lost sign to Arizona fans. With the team now hopelessly out of the National League West race, however, dealing the 40-year-old lefty before the July 31 non-waivers trading deadline could hasten the team's rebuilding process and ultimate return to respectability.

Sox pitcher Curt Schilling [stats, news], who was Johnson's teammate in Arizona for 3 seasons, indicated he plans to speak with Johnson next week during the All-Star Game festivities in Houston. Schilling, however, doesn't expect to lobby Johnson about the merits of playing in Boston.

``He's pitched in this environment, so I'm not going to sell him on it,'' he said. ``It's something he's going to sell himself on if he leaves Arizona. He's a grown man with a family and he's certainly capable of making the right decision.''

Schilling said he won't be going to Houston with the primary intention of selling Boston to Johnson.

``I'm sure I'll see him,'' he said. ``Our families are very close. Our wives are very close and our kids are all the same age. We had a very, very good relationship in Arizona . . . and I'm sure we'll chat.''

It won't be the first time that they've chatted this season.

``I've talked to him 15-20 times this year,'' Schilling said. ``We talk after we pitch or we leave each other nasty voice mails and those kind of things.''

Schilling made it clear, however, that being reunited with him in Boston won't be the motive that sways Johnson's thinking.

``(Johnson) is not going to go somewhere to be locker buddies with somebody,'' Schilling said. ``If he does leave (the Diamondbacks) at all, he's going to go where he feels is best for his career and his family.''

Even if the Sox don't land Johnson, Schilling said that Sox fans shouldn't fret.

``I feel we have a world championship-caliber club here,'' he said. ``I don't believe one player is going to win a World Series. It's going to be a collective effort, but obviously adding a Hall of Fame-caliber pitcher doesn't hurt your chances.''

[Bigben 0548]

Cmon Curt Whisper in the Units Ear [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[nostaw1952]

From another site, makes sense to me:

The stars just seem to align real straight for a Johnson-to-Anaheim deal. The Angels are (as of now) a playoff contender with obvious pitching issues, have a farm system relatively deep in both pitching and positional prospects to trade and are run by an owner who has already come in with the we're-a-major-market-team, let's-act-like-it philosophy. The Angels also should appeal to Johnson because they're a West Coast team that trains in Arizona, which gives him the ties to his home that he most likely would be in favor of. Johnson, remember, went to USC and also reportedly has a home and/or extended family in Southern California. Most importantly, Moreno has ties to the Diamondbacks, having once owned a minority stake in the team and being a Phoenix native. It's also safe to assume he has some sort of business relationship with Colangelo, and has a good rapport with him.

While Colangelo has financial issues to tend to, Moreno has deep pockets and has made no bones about spending the money needed to draw fans and build a championship product on the field. The Angels have really packed in the seats this year, having sold out nearly two-thirds of their games, with solid crowds in the other third. Moreno has been very popular down in Orange County with the fans, and hopes to expand the team's fan base into the greater Los Angeles area. With this Angel team struggling in recent weeks, as well as the team up Interstate 5 perhaps picking things up a bit, now's a good of a time as ever to make another splash and steal some of that "Blue" thunder. Whereas Dodger owner Frank McCourt has monetary issues that may force him to dump free agents (Adrian Beltre, Odalis Perez) and implement those aforementioned "MoneyBall" tactics under Paul "Laptop" DePodesta, Moreno is willing to open the checkbook and make waves down in Amaheim. The Angels already have reaped the benefits from the Dodgers botching an agreement to sign Vladimir Guerrero, which stemmed from McCourt's inability to finance the purchase of the team, and here's their chance to make another move in the competitive Southern California baseball market. Johnson's arrival may also wake up Bartolo Colon, who is on a rather short leash at this point.

If I'm an oddsmaker, which I'm not, I'd favor Anaheim in this deal. It just makes too much sense. The Angels have more to offer in terms of Major League-ready talent (and may not even have to part with Casey Kotchman) than the Yankees, Red Sox or any other team. I seriously doubt the Dodgers are a player because A) McCourt may not be able to afford more payroll and B) it's conceivable to think the Diamondbacks don't want to see Johnson in the NL West, nor do the Dodgers want their prospects blossoming for a division rival. Peter Gammons, who usually delivers from a Red Sox slant, did make a great point in saying that the New York media tends to hype these deals because everyone just assumes it's the Yankees' Divine Right to acquire any supsertar at the deadline. Brad Halsey, whom the Yankees have been trying to Trump, looks more like Shawn Estes than he does Ron Guidry, and the other propects the Pinstripers want to deal are just reaching Double- and Triple-A. Halsey was probably sent down so that he wasn't exposed any further, while Brian Cashman and the Yankee brass attempt to figure out who to hype next. I'm not buying any of it.