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The New York Yankees pulled out of trade talks for Randy Johnson on Wednesday, telling the Diamondbacks that their proposals for deals involving the five-time Cy Young Award winner were unreasonable, The Associated Press learned.
The Yankees informed Arizona of their decision Wednesday afternoon, ending weeks of discussions, a high-ranking baseball official told the AP on condition of anonymity. While talks appear dead, they might not be over for good. But for now, the Yankees find Arizona's current asking price too high.
Earlier this week, according to the official, New York proposed a deal that would send the Diamondbacks right-hander Javier Vazquez, pitching prospect Brad Halsey and a significant amount of money, believed to be $12 million to $13 million.
Arizona responded, the official said, by asking the Yankees for Vazquez, Halsey, setup man Tom Gordon and $18.5 million - the difference between the $17 million Johnson is due for the remaining year in his contract and the $35.5 million Vazquez is owed in his deal, which has three seasons left.
Alternatively, the official said, the Diamondbacks told the Yankees they could remove Gordon from the deal and replace him with a top pitcher the Yankees would have to acquire from another team.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
"Anything on that would have to come from Ken Kendrick," Arizona GM Joe Garagiola Jr. said, referring to the Diamondbacks managing partner, who could not be reached.
Incoming Diamondbacks CEO Jeff Moorad declined comment and Johnson, who was at the Phoenix Suns' game, said only: "How about this game?"
New York may now turn its attention to Pedro Martinez. Boston repeated Wednesday that it wants to re-sign the three-time Cy Young Award winner, who also has received an offer from the New York Mets. While Yankees owner George Steinbrenner met with Martinez last month, New York has not yet made an offer, the official said.
Johnson has a no-trade clause, and it's not clear whether the Yankees are the only team he would accept a deal to. The preference of the 41-year-old left-hander appears to be to leave the rebuilding Diamondbacks to pitch for a contender.
In the weeks leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, Arizona and New York also talked about a deal involving Johnson. Discussions resumed several weeks ago with the Diamondbacks proposing the Yankees first acquire a pitcher they could then send to Arizona, the official said.
Arizona asked for Vazquez, $18.5 million, four or five prospects, and a pitcher from a list of 10: Oakland's Tim Hudson and Barry Zito, Florida's A.J. Burnett, Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman, Toronto's Ted Lilly, Los Angeles' Edwin Jackson, Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, Colorado's Shawn Chacon and Jason Jennings, and Texas' Kenny Rogers.
Last week, the official said, Arizona changed its request to Vazquez, Gordon, $18.5 million and three to four prospects.
Yankees captain Derek Jeter said Wednesday he would like the team to keep the 28-year-old Vazquez, who went 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA. Vazquez was an All-Star but slumped badly after the break, winning just once in his last nine regular-season starts.
"It just seemed like he got into a little rut he couldn't get out of," Jeter said. "I'm sure he's going to bounce back and pitch extremely well."
Johnson is owed $16 million next season, and his contract contains a $1 million personal services contract payable in the first season of his retirement. Vazquez is due the remaining $1 million of his signing bonus on Dec. 31 and is due salaries of $10.5 million, $11.5 million and $12.5 million in each of the next three seasons.
Source: AP
The Yankees informed Arizona of their decision Wednesday afternoon, ending weeks of discussions, a high-ranking baseball official told the AP on condition of anonymity. While talks appear dead, they might not be over for good. But for now, the Yankees find Arizona's current asking price too high.
Earlier this week, according to the official, New York proposed a deal that would send the Diamondbacks right-hander Javier Vazquez, pitching prospect Brad Halsey and a significant amount of money, believed to be $12 million to $13 million.
Arizona responded, the official said, by asking the Yankees for Vazquez, Halsey, setup man Tom Gordon and $18.5 million - the difference between the $17 million Johnson is due for the remaining year in his contract and the $35.5 million Vazquez is owed in his deal, which has three seasons left.
Alternatively, the official said, the Diamondbacks told the Yankees they could remove Gordon from the deal and replace him with a top pitcher the Yankees would have to acquire from another team.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
"Anything on that would have to come from Ken Kendrick," Arizona GM Joe Garagiola Jr. said, referring to the Diamondbacks managing partner, who could not be reached.
Incoming Diamondbacks CEO Jeff Moorad declined comment and Johnson, who was at the Phoenix Suns' game, said only: "How about this game?"
New York may now turn its attention to Pedro Martinez. Boston repeated Wednesday that it wants to re-sign the three-time Cy Young Award winner, who also has received an offer from the New York Mets. While Yankees owner George Steinbrenner met with Martinez last month, New York has not yet made an offer, the official said.
Johnson has a no-trade clause, and it's not clear whether the Yankees are the only team he would accept a deal to. The preference of the 41-year-old left-hander appears to be to leave the rebuilding Diamondbacks to pitch for a contender.
In the weeks leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, Arizona and New York also talked about a deal involving Johnson. Discussions resumed several weeks ago with the Diamondbacks proposing the Yankees first acquire a pitcher they could then send to Arizona, the official said.
Arizona asked for Vazquez, $18.5 million, four or five prospects, and a pitcher from a list of 10: Oakland's Tim Hudson and Barry Zito, Florida's A.J. Burnett, Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman, Toronto's Ted Lilly, Los Angeles' Edwin Jackson, Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, Colorado's Shawn Chacon and Jason Jennings, and Texas' Kenny Rogers.
Last week, the official said, Arizona changed its request to Vazquez, Gordon, $18.5 million and three to four prospects.
Yankees captain Derek Jeter said Wednesday he would like the team to keep the 28-year-old Vazquez, who went 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA. Vazquez was an All-Star but slumped badly after the break, winning just once in his last nine regular-season starts.
"It just seemed like he got into a little rut he couldn't get out of," Jeter said. "I'm sure he's going to bounce back and pitch extremely well."
Johnson is owed $16 million next season, and his contract contains a $1 million personal services contract payable in the first season of his retirement. Vazquez is due the remaining $1 million of his signing bonus on Dec. 31 and is due salaries of $10.5 million, $11.5 million and $12.5 million in each of the next three seasons.
Source: AP