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January 04, 2007

Agreement On Unit Deal?

From mlb.com -

The D-backs and Yankees have agreed on the structure of a deal that would send Randy Johnson back to Arizona, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.

The D-backs are likely to be granted a 72-hour window at some point Thursday to begin negotiations with Johnson on an extension that would keep the 43-year-old in Arizona through the 2008 season.

The D-backs will send veteran reliever Luis Vizcaino and a pitching prospect in exchange for Johnson. It's believed that the Yankees will include some money in the deal to help Arizona defray the cost of Johnson's $16 million salary for 2007.

The pitching prospect will likely come from a group of Ross Ohlendorf, Micah Owings or Dustin Nippert. It's unknown whether the D-backs will include another lower-level Minor Leaguer in the deal.

So, it will be Unit & money for Vizcaino and a prospect. Once we know for sure on the actual names, I will have more opinion to share on this trade.

Vizcaino has been a good RP the last three seasons. Would the Yankees keep him?

Rivera, Farnsworth, Proctor, Myers, Bruney, Britton and Vizcaino in the pen for 2007? I would have liked to have seen two lefties out there this year, but, that group (here) is not so bad - assuming the Yankees want to go with 12 pitchers.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at January 4, 2007 04:01 PM

Comments

Steve
Sweeney Murti on WFAN in NY is reporting a done deal:

Ohlendorf, Vizcaino, Stephen Jackson, and Alberto Gonzales for Randy.

FWIW

Posted by: bfriley76 [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 04:39 PM

and no money included in the deal

Posted by: bfriley76 [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 04:46 PM

Man, tough to get excited about this deal, unless, or course, you're a big fan of NBA gunners or irrelevent Secretaries of State.

Posted by: brockdc [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 05:14 PM

Oops. Attorney General. I'm dumb.

Posted by: brockdc [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 05:16 PM

MLB's site reports only Vizcaino and a prospect but WFAN is reporting Vizcaino and three prospects. I'm certainly hoping WFAN is right because Vizcaino and a prospect seems like too little to get in return for RJ. I mean, really, Vizcaino isn't very good at all - his stats on the White Sox in 2005 are more like what he'll put up now that he'll be in the AL.

All in all, I'll be disappointed in this deal if that's all it amounts to.

Posted by: MJ [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 05:20 PM

Addendum - the deal is now reportedly RJ and $2M cash for Ohlendorf, Gonzalez and a possibly player to be named later.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6308886

Posted by: MJ [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 05:22 PM

In my experience, MLB.com is almost always slow on these deals. ESPN TV now is reporting the 4 for 1 swap, with no money changing hands.

Posted by: bfriley76 [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 05:22 PM

Hell, if that's true and the Yanks got four players for RJ and didn't have to send cash...that's a pretty big feather in Cashman's hat.

I will say this - it took me a while to warm up to him but I think Cashman's finally growing into the job. Starting with the Damon signing last Christmas, it's really been one long string of solid moves by the Cash-man.

Posted by: MJ [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 05:31 PM

Part of the reason the Yankees are getting Vizcaino and not Medders is that Vizcaino makes more money. Considering that, the fact that they're getting a relative bargain on Johnson's 2008 salary, and the particular prospects involved, the Yankees shouldn't have to kick in any money.

Posted by: Mr. Furious [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 06:32 PM

Viscaino, Ohlendorf, Steven Jackson (rhp) and ss Alberto Gonzalez (did someone say Attorney General?) for Johnson plus 1.5 - $2 million - reported by the AP. Wasn't Owings the best prospect and Ohlendorf their #2?

Posted by: Exit9 [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 06:59 PM

Another thing to note is that while Medders got hit hard by lefties, Vizcaino held lefties to a .500 OPS last season in a non meaningless 130 plate appearances. So if you cant get a leftie getting a righty who dominates lefties is the next best thing.

Posted by: Kyle [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2007 07:13 PM