Randy Johnson to be traded for...

by sabernar on Dec 26, 2006 2:46 PM EST Comment 22 comments

...well, we don't know. What seems like a certainty at this point is that he will be traded. What does everything think is fair market value for him? The teams that seem interested are the Diamondbacks, the Angels and the Padres (at least). I've heard that a deal centering on Linebrink or one centering on Byrnes is a possibility. If it's Byrnes, then Melky will be traded to the Pirates for Gonzo.

What do you guys think is fair trade for Randy, assuming that there is at least a small bidding war for him?

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I can't imagine

why the Yankees would be interested in a deal centering on Byrnes. Melky is already preferable to him in a number of ways.

I can see them having interest in Conor Jackson, though.

by samjjones on Dec 26, 2006 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

no way

There's no way they'd be able to get Conor. It would have to be someone like Owings along with a couple other guys.

I don't see Byrnes, either, though he's a servicable 4th OF. He can field all 3 positions and he's fast with some pop (though his OBP isn't that great). And if the Yanks get him, they can deal Melky for Gonzo, who has great numbers (assuming he's healthy).

by sabernar on Dec 26, 2006 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

Connor Jackson is young and going to be very good. Johnson is old off a back injury. No way they deal Jackson for Johnson, even with NY paying most of Johnson contract. Byrnes could be gone. Carlos Gonzalez, C. Young and C. Quintenin would be a great OF very soon.

by ChrisRef19 on Dec 26, 2006 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

zona

Chad Tracy would be the major leaguer included (in the process filling the Yankees' need for a first baseman).
Then another couple of prospects.

But it seems that the Yanks don't want to eat any of RJ's salary and if that is the case then I don't think the minor leaguers will be anywhere near blue chippers.

by kolbotn on Dec 26, 2006 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tracy trade

Trading Tracy away would be very bad for the D-backs, IMO. He may not be a superstar, but that team's offensive core is very right-handed now, and he gives them a second viable lefty bat, with Montero and Hudson being 3 and 4.

by BobbyMac on Dec 26, 2006 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Any chance Yankees move on Zito?

Teams biggest weakness is still starting pitching and as suspect as the unit is he is still better than nothing.

by novaoakland on Dec 26, 2006 2:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

zito

That's the rumor. Not sure if it's feasible, since the Yank pay $1.40 for every $1.00 they spend on a contract. Instead of Zito, they might be setting themselves up for signing Clemens later in the year.

by sabernar on Dec 26, 2006 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No change is Salary this year

as sure they could pay zito 16 million in 2006 same as johnson.

by novaoakland on Dec 26, 2006 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

other teams in the mix

Dodgers and Giants according to mlbtraderumors.com

im not really sure what RJ's value is at this point, logically the more the yanks pay of the 16 mill, the more value they get in return

i heard a deal centered around chad tracy from the dbacks as well, the good thing from the yankees perspective is that now, unofficially, with 5 teams interested, it of course means the yanks will get more value

i feel like trading for a guy like owings wouldnt be the smartest move considering the system is already loaded with arms that could/should be ready within the next two years and the marginal benefit of adding another young arm of owings' level would be less than adding a different type of player

i think everyone was a little shocked to see cashman get sanchez, whelan and claggett for sheff, so it;ll definitely be interesting to see what he can spin for RJ

by nyybaseball99 on Dec 26, 2006 3:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

loaded with arms?

Not only can I not see the Yanks asking for Owings since they do finally have some decent young pitchers already, but the D-Backs really don't have many good pitching prospects in their Minor league system

If anything, I'd think the Yankees are looking for an outfielder Melky is pretty good, but will never be great, and Tabata is about 5 years away. They lost Sheffield, they may lose Abreu after next year, Damon is in his mid 30s

by Galt on Dec 26, 2006 4:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i meant

the yankees are loaded with young arms...hughes, clippard, sanchez, cox and whelan could all be ready this upcoming year...chamberlain, kennedy and melancon within two years...and betances and garcia down the road

by nyybaseball99 on Dec 26, 2006 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I know

I had originally misread your post (though you were perfectly clear) and then when I realized what you wrote, I re-wrote my post, but forgot to re-write my subject line.

by Galt on Dec 26, 2006 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re

Tabata, 5 years away? Wow, really? If they don't pick up Bobby's option then they'll just sign an outfielder. Also, Damon will be 33 for all of the 07 season.

by albo4lyfe on Dec 26, 2006 6:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

RJ done?

There seem to be two streams of thought on Johnson. One is that he was unlucky last year and he still has it and can be an above average pitcher. The other is that he is basically done like toast.

At $16 million a year, the Yankees have to pick up a lot of that salary to be able to move him just to get anything back. It's an awful lot of risk to bear for the team picking him up.

I'm sure the Yankees just wish he was gone and that they would be off of the hook for his salary.

I'd be surprised if he was useful this year.

by ehteam on Dec 26, 2006 4:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

couldn't disagree more

$16 million for one year is nothing in today's market.

Randy's upside is huge even with the back surgery and his advanced age for two reasons: a) he would most likely be going back to the National League which is the inferior league and b) according to Nate Silver at BP, Randy's peripherals last year indicated an era much closer to 4 than the actual 5. His PECOTA for 2007 is 3.52, which happens to be tops among Yankee starters.

I'd love for my team to take a chance on Randy even if it means a one-year extension in the $10-15 million region.

by kolbotn on Dec 26, 2006 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No way

Padres were smart enough to not to send Linebrink for Giles as Atlanta wanted, and they ended up with Marcus anyway. RJ comming off of back surgery at 43 is not worth Linebrink plus prospects. SD bullpen took a hint with the loss of Otsuka, losing your 8th inning guy and likely heir to Hoffman here would not be a solid move for Towers. I think he should focus on FA's Wells or Mulder. Hell, I think I'd rather trade for Lieber from the Phils as the asking price would be less.

by ByANose on Dec 26, 2006 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

dont kill the messanger on this one

"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/baseball/story/483266p-406772c.html

by nyybaseball99 on Dec 26, 2006 4:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

OT: other yankee trades

it just crossed my mind that the yankees traded Hideki Irabu to the Expos for Ted Lilly, Jake Westbrook, and Christian Parker back in '99

thats a helluva deal haha

by nyybaseball99 on Dec 26, 2006 6:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Why would any one want Randy Johnson, considering (a) he'll be 43 next year (b) he's had back trouble, needs back surgury and might miss opening day, and (c) the Yankee's are trying to get rid of him?

It seems like if Randy Johnson was worth the trouble, the Yankees would just keep him. Its not like they need the money, or that they couldn't use the pitching help. I know fans in NY haven't been too impressed by him, but the fact that the FO is willing to trade him would scare me.

by sanchez101 on Dec 26, 2006 7:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I don't see RJ going anywhere unless NYY picks up a big chunk of the $16M for 2007, since whoever gets him probably will have to extend him for 2008 at close to $16M to get RJ to waive his no-trade.

by Yakker on Dec 27, 2006 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

great!

Is this indicative of what Brian Cashman can do? I mean, I love the way the Yanks have gone about this off-season. Randy Johnson is dead weight. If Cash can spin him for bona-fides and not take on salary I will be ecstatic.

Cash will jump a few notches in my top gm rankings if he pulls this off. I pray this happens.

Dutin Pedroia .... a poor man's Ronny Cedeno - Theo Epstein

by the pinstripes on Dec 26, 2006 7:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs