DJ, I read today that the Yanks could use some of these young arms to perhaps sway Minnesota to trade Johan Santana (I believe he's going to be a free agent at the end of the 2008 season and will command a BIG contract that Minnesota won't be able to give him). At least this way they can get some young talent and the Yanks can get an AL Cy Young winner. Think that would be a smart move?

Anywho... we just signed 1B Mientkiewicz for a year to allow Giambi to DH fulltime.

I read this morning that this trade leaves no room for Bernie.

The Yankees
| Jan 06 2007 06:33 AM PST By wrightright
Topics: Johnson Clemens Mulder Wells Estes Trashsel Weaver Park Armas Davis Gonzalez Webb
In baseball, the big spender is the Yankees. Everyone knows that. They could afford any one in baseball. They name the price and it's done, but the Yankees are doing something different this year. Instead of going after veteran pitchers like Barry Zito, Jeff Suppan, Mark Mulder, and even former Yank David Wells, they are going after the young, inexperienced pitchers like Chien-Ming Wang and Kei Igawa. They also hope to bring Clemens back into the rotation, which I think would be a dumb move. Though Roger Clemens has proved he can still pitch, he's 44. A year older than the rocket. How much longer can he go? He's no Julio Franco. Why waste valueable money and space on your roster for Clemens? You can spend money on getting young players who have a future in baseball and will be around for more than a couple of years.

Getting rid of Randy Johnson will be a good move for the Yankees, opening up money and a spot on the rotation, but both a Stupid move and a Smart move for the D-Backs. Let's look at the good from getting Randy. You got a young pitching staff that consists of Brandon Webb (4 years experience), Livian Hernandez (10 years experience), Douglas Davis (7 years experience), and Edgar Gonzalez (4 years experience). You aquire Randy Johnson (Who will be going on 20 years in the MLB) you add another man to the rotation as well as an experienced pitcher who could help improve the game of the other pitchers. He could still give you over ten wins, and probably much more. Thing is, he's only got 3 years max left in the Majors. He's 43 and aging fast. If you want an experienced pitcher, you have David Wells, Steve Trashsel, Jeff Weaver, Mark Mulder, Chan Ho Park, TOny Armas, Shawn Estes, and many more pitchers who have experience and can get you over ten wins. Plus, they will be much cheaper than the Big Unit. Livian Hernandez has experience, but I think the D-Backs need to add one more experienced pitcher to be able to put them in contention for the playoffs.

by Matt Tempesta
Sunday, 07 January 2007

After two years of postseason disappointments and regular-season letdowns, Randy Johnson is heading back to Arizona.



Let me be the first to say: Thank God.

In exchange for a slick-fielding shortstop and a pair of young pitchers, the Diamondbacks are getting a 6’10” sideshow attraction—a means of boosting attendance and a source of false hope. What more can anyone expect from a 43-year-old pitcher coming off of back surgery?

I can’t say that I’ll miss Randy the Country Mouse and his ugly scowl. To me, the Unit was like the G.I. Joe Rolling Thunder that I wanted for Christmas when I was seven. The Rolling Thunder, for those of you who don’t remember, was this huge ten-wheeled tank that could destroy anything the Cobra Commander threw at it...and oh man I wanted it so bad. But I didn’t get the Rolling Thunder when I was seven; I got it the next Christmas, when I was eight, and by that time all my friends had one—and most of them were already broken.

The moral of the story: I got the Rolling Thunder a year too late.

Just like the Yankees did with Johnson.

To be fair, Randy did win 17 games in each of his two seasons in New York. But it was the Yankees lineup won those games for him—not his 90-MPH fastball or his flat slider.

Put it this way: If he’d been playing for, say, Tampa Bay, I don’t think Johnson’s 5.02 ERA would have been good for seventeen wins.

This trade is great for New York on two levels. First, obviously, the Yankees are acquiring two young arms. Second—and no less importantly—the Bombers are unloading most of the $17 million they owe to Randy this year. At 6’10”, that works out to about $3 million per foot—money that could be much spent on younger and shorter players.

This move is part of what has been a welcome change of pace for the Yankees this offseason: No more overspending on old players. I expressed hope in a previous article that the times they were are a changin’ in New York...and it looks like my prediction is coming true. If nothing else, it’s safe say that Brian Cashman finally has the Yankees sailing in the right direction.

Gary “Me Me Me” Sheffield?

Gone.

Jaret “It’s the fourth inning who’s warming up?” Wright?

Ditto.

Randy “Get out of my face” Johnson?

Back to the desert, with the rest of America’s retirement-age population.

Instead, Cashman is focused on pitching and defense—the two things that win championships. To wit:

He’s stocking the Yankee farm system with young pitchers, none of whom are slated for back surgery anytime in the near future.

He’s solidified the Yankee infield with the signing of Doug Mientkiewicz, who can’t hit a lick but should finally fill the Bombers’ defensive void at first base. (And who needs more offense when your number-eight hitter hit .342 last year?)

He’s even brought back Andy Petitte, who was a core player on the Yankees championship teams—and who oh by the way is a dependable lefty with a knack for winning big games.

My final analysis: I love it.

With players like Barry Zito and Carlos Lee going for more than $100 million, it’s nice to see the Yankees take a step back while other teams waste their money this offseason. It’s almost like watching that fat guy who’s finally gone on a diet: Normally he’d eat that entire pizza pie, but this time he's opting for a nice side salad.

And everyone’s thankful for it.

So Yankee fans, wave goodbye to crusty old Randy Johnson—and say hello to a leaner, meaner, and much less ugly world order in the Bronx.

It’s about time.

Source: ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- Bobby Murcer is back home in Oklahoma and doing well after surgery last week to remove a brain tumor.

The former New York Yankees star was released from a Houston hospital Sunday night and spent New Year's Eve in the city with his family, the team said Friday in a statement. Doctors cleared him to return to Oklahoma, which he did Tuesday.

Murcer, 60, has been relaxing and enjoying everyday activities, and hasn't had any setbacks since the surgery, the Yankees said. He is scheduled to return to Houston next week to consult with doctors at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, one of the top cancer facilities in the nation.

Murcer, now a Yankees broadcaster, had brain surgery at the hospital last Thursday. The tumor was discovered following an MRI on Christmas Eve after he had been having headaches and feeling a loss of energy.

Murcer played 17 seasons in the major leagues from 1965-83 and was a five-time All-Star and a Gold Glove-winning outfielder. He batted .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBI with the Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.

After his retirement, Murcer won three Emmy Awards for live sports coverage as the voice of the Yankees.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

By PETE CALDERA
STAFF WRITER



While the Mets have expressed some interest in signing Ron Villone, the lefty reliever still hasn't heard a word from the Yankees.

"Several other teams are more than interested," Villone said Friday from his Englewood home. "I'd like for the Yankees to be [interested], but if they've got other plans ..."

The Yankees' immediate attention remains elsewhere.

Friday, the club announced the one-year ($1.5 million) signing of Doug Mientkiewicz, who arrives with a 2001 Gold Glove award at first base and a shoulder for Alex Rodriguez to lean on.

During their high school days in Miami, Mientkiewicz played tight end as A-Rod quarterbacked Westminster Christian to a 1992 championship.

Now, part of Mientkiewicz's job is to save some of A-Rod's errant throws after his 24 errors last season -- twice his 2005 total.

"Trust me, no one's harder on themselves than Alex himself," Mientkiewicz said. "He's always been that way, since the day I met him. It's almost been a detriment [that] he doesn't allow his natural ability to take over."

A career .270 left-handed hitter, Mientkiewicz, 32, batted .283 in 314 at-bats, with four homers and 43 RBI, for Kansas City last year. His season ended on July 25, with surgery required for a herniated disk.

Mientkiewicz is fully healed, and some unspecified family-related "distractions" from 2005 (when he batted .240 with the Mets) have been resolved.

"My biggest regret is that I didn't show [New York] the player I could be and I am," said Mientkiewicz, adding that it "took a long time" to get over being traded from the celebrated 2004 Red Sox.

The controversial baseball that Mientkiewicz caught (and then kept) to record Boston's first world championship since 1918 now resides at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

In Tampa next month, Josh Phelps and Andy Phillips will compete to be Mientkiewicz's right-handed platoon. But the only lefty reliever could be Mike Myers. Rookie left-hander Sean Henn also is in the mix, according to general manager Brian Cashman.

Villone, who turns 37 next week, learned of the Mets' interest Thursday during a conversation with agent Scott Boras, who also represents lefty reliever Scott Schoeneweis -- whose contract demands have dimmed the Yanks' interest.

Though he admits to having tired over the final six weeks of the season, Villone was still throwing above 90 mph.

BRIEFS: Cashman's focus is "more outside the organization" for a backup infielder, though Miguel Cairo could return. David Bell and Bronx-born Ronnie Belliard are available free agents.

Scott Proctor most likely will train as a starting pitcher in spring training.

Cashman has maintained "an open and honest dialogue" with Bernie Williams, though there's currently no room for him. ... Bobby Murcer is doing "extremely well" following surgery to remove a brain tumor, and was home for New Year's. He'll return to a Houston cancer hospital for additional tests next week.

Source: NJ Herald

Source: NJ Star Ledger
Sunday, January 07, 2007
BY DAN GRAZIANO
Star-Ledger Staff

A person with knowledge of the negotiations, who asked not to be identified because the Yankees haven't announced the deal yet, confirmed reports that the Yankees have re-signed utility infielder Miguel Cairo to a one-year contract worth $750,000.

The Yankees had been looking for a utility infielder, and Cairo is one they know well. He played for them in 2004 and 2006.

There's a possibility, if Cairo shows he can handle the position, that the Yankees would use him as the right-handed-hitting half of their first-base platoon with lefty- swinging Doug Mientkiewicz. If they did that, they could bring back Bernie Williams as a fifth outfielder.

However, it seems more likely right now that the right-handed first baseman will be either Andy Phillips or Josh Phelps, which would leave no room for a Williams return unless the Yankees traded fourth outfielder Melky Cabrera.

Source: NY Daily News

by Bill Madden

"Thrifty business: Mets, Yankees wise to save their money"

In contrast to the mind-boggling signings by so many other teams, one would have to admit it's been a rather frugal and prudent winter for our local nines.

While Omar Minaya has seen to it that the Mets will be AARP's team of the year with the signings of 40-year-old Moises Alou to play left field and 37-year-old Damion Easley to serve as a utility infielder, with 37-year-old Jose Valentin at second base, fortysomething El Duque and 40-year-old Tom Glavine in the rotation and 33-year-old Guillermo Mota in the bullpen (upon the conclusion of his 50-game steroids suspension), the ever-active GM wisely took a pass on Barry Zito once that sweepstakes started to get insane.

Because of his inability to acquire a top-of-the-rotation starter or upgrade substantially at second base, it might be concluded that Minaya has had a bad winter. But at the same time, would throwing crazy money at Zito or - even worse - at mediocrity such as Vicente Padilla, Gil Meche, Miguel Batista or Adam Eaton be considered as a good winter? To that we would say only, "Come see us in September."

If Minaya was applauded his first two winters for his aggressiveness in pursuing Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran as cornerstones for his Met renaissance, this offseason he deserves plaudits for his restraint in not following the desperate measures of so many of his GM compatriots. The fact is, there were no bona fide top-of-the-rotation starters available this winter, unless you want to put Colorado's Jason Jennings in that category, and he was only going to be traded to Houston, where he lives.

While a prospective Mets rotation of Glavine, El Duque, John Maine, Oliver Perez and either lefty Dave Williams or rookie Philip Humber might seem a tad underwhelming, at least until Pedro Martinez hopefully rejoins it in June, look around the rest of the NL East and you'll find only the Florida Marlins can claim a rotation five-deep in quality. And other than Dontrelle Willis, their arms are still too inexperienced to be considered real deals.

With the dearth of quality starting pitching, many teams have shifted the emphasis to the bullpen, which is why 12-man staffs are now the norm. It was the bullpen as much as anything that won for the Mets last year and Minaya, who added another power arm in Ambiorix Burgos as a hedge if Duaner Sanchez is not fully recovered from shoulder surgery, is clearly counting on that to be the case again.

"I know we may not have a lot of sexy names in our rotation," said Minaya, "but in reality there were only two guys we really focused on getting - (Daisuke) Matsuzaka and Zito, and while it turned out we finished second by a long shot for Matsuzaka, we made a very aggressive offer. With Zito, we told them up front it couldn't get into (6-7) years for us. Still, I feel we are an improved team from last year because in Alou we got the offensive guy we wanted and Burgos will improve our bullpen."

Like Minaya, Yankee GM Brian Cashman is looking to his bullpen as a strength, while he continues to stockpile young power arms for mid-season or '08 delivery, the latest being 24-year-old Princeton product Ross Ohlendorf, the "goods" prospect coming in the Randy Johnson deal.

If anything, Cashman has done more substantial subtraction than addition for the near term. Having traded Johnson and the equally disgruntled Gary Sheffield, he has nonetheless resisted making a clubhouse-cleansing trifecta by dealing Alex Rodriguez. Unlike Sheffield and Johnson, A-Rod, for all his foibles last year, still yearns to make a go of it in New York, although he has to know the onus for another failure to reach the World Series will be on him as much as it will be on Joe Torre and Cashman.

As for Cashman, it's now clear why he spent so much time at the Winter Meetings with White Sox GM Kenny Williams. They both seem to be following the same philosophy this winter of trading established players for young starting pitching. Williams traded starter Freddy Garcia for two Phillie pitching prospects, lefties Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez, and would-be '07 starter Brandon McCarthy for Texas' top prospect, another lefty, John Danks.

Williams nearly traded another established starter, Jon Garland, to Houston for two other younger (and inexpensive) pitchers. Williams' deals were given their impetus by White Sox board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who has become both outraged and exasperated at how his fellow owners have pushed the starting pitching market to insane heights.

Cashman, who picked up three pitchers, including top starting prospect Humberto Sanchez from the Tigers for Sheffield, agrees with Reinsdorf's assessment.

"Our thought process for the past two years has been to stockpile as many young pitchers as we can, so you don't have to go into the free agent market and do desperate things," Cashman said. "It's been proven again and again you can be slaughtered there, where all the pitchers are over-priced. Plus, our payroll simply couldn't go any higher than it was."

So now, with Ohlendorf, Sanchez, top prospect Philip Hughes, No. 2 prospect Tyler Clippard and last year's highly regarded draftees Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Dellin Betances, the Yankee farm system is arguably the deepest in baseball in terms of quality arms - a dramatic two-year turnaround since Cashman was put in charge of the entire baseball operation, including the draft, which still has not produced a single starting pitcher of any consequence since Andy Pettitte was taken in the 22nd round in 1990. From 1991, when they took ill-fated Brien Taylor No. 1, to 2004 when they made Hughes their No. 1 pick, the Yankees drafted a total of 405 pitchers. Of the more than half they signed, other than '96 No. 1 Eric Milton, who was traded to the Twins for Chuck Knoblauch, not one had any impact on their staff. You can't even try to scout that badly.

It's a Madd, Madd World...

• We can only imagine what '50s and '60s pitchers such as Whitey Ford, Bob Gibson or Robin Roberts must think of this: Cubs reliever Neal Cotts, who was 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA and 12 homers allowed for the White Sox in '06 after going 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA and just one homer allowed in 2005, was given more than a 100% RAISE from $400,000 to $825,000 last week.
• For all their major off-season maneuverings, the Red Sox neglected to fill their most important need - closer - and there was likely considerable angst in the Nation last week when the Sox announced plans to try newly signed Joel Pineiro in that role. Pineiro was 13-22 with an ERA well over 5.00 as a starter for Seattle the past two seasons, but Sox chief scout Allard Baird was impressed with his stuff as well as his composure after being demoted to the bullpen last year.
• For those wondering why Arizona would give up four players, including durable reliever Luis Vizcaino and blue-chip starting prospect Ross Ohlendorf for 43-year-old Randy Johnson with his creaky back and $17 million salary, one baseball executive offered this interesting theory. "The Diamondbacks owe him $44 million in deferred money and they're still heavily in debt from the Jerry Colangelo era. They need to re-structure that debt and Randy is their biggest creditor.”

Source: Hartford Courant

January 6, 2007
Staff And Wire Reports

Doug Mientkiewicz watched the Yankees' playoff meltdown in October and envisioned himself as the stopper.

"I remember just watching them in the playoffs and thinking, `That's a perfect fit for me,'" said Mientkiewicz, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Yankees on Friday. "What I do best can really help these guys."

What Mientkiewicz does best is play first base, and the Yankees, setting aside their desire for a right-handed hitter, went for the glove man instead.

"That's what made him really attractive to us," general manager Brian Cashman said. "There are only so many ways to improve your pitching. If you can't get your hands on one of the best arms in the game, you look to support the defensive side. I don't know if there is anyone better defensively than he is."

Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield struggled at first in the Division Series loss to the Tigers. Next season, Giambi will DH most of the time. Mientkiewicz, a Gold Glove winner in 2001 who bats left, will play against right-handed pitchers. Andy Phillips or Josh Phelps, both right-handed batters, could start against lefties.

"I can do the dirty work," Mientkiewicz said, "the stuff that goes unnoticed. ... I know it helps to have infielders know they don't have to be perfect on every throw."

Source: South Florida Herald

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- It appears that the New York Yankees might not have room for Bernie Williams anymore.

The Yankees finalized their $1.5 million, one-year contract with Doug Mientkiewicz on Friday, and general manager Brian Cashman said he will be part of a platoon at first base with Andy Phillips or Josh Phelps. With Jason Giambi shifting to designated hitter and the Yankees planning to keep 12 pitchers, that leaves them with no spots open for Williams -- unless they trade Melky Cabrera.

"I've had conversations with Bernie directly as well as Scott Boras throughout the winter about what opportunity may or may not be here in '07," Cashman said, referring to Williams' agent. "We're still filling our club out and I'd rather not really say more than that, but we've had an open and honest dialogue with Bernie and Scott Boras throughout the process, and that will continue. I really can't say much more than that right now. But clearly the plan is to have a right-handed and left-handed bat at first base and Giambi at DH."

Williams signed with the Yankees in 1985 and joined the major-league team six years later. He helped New York win six AL pennants and four World Series titles, becoming a five-time All-Star and the 1998 AL batting champion.

He lost his starting job in center field when the Yankees signed Johnny Damon before last season. Kept as a backup, Williams wound up getting 420 at-bats because Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui got hurt. Williams hit .281 with 12 homers and 61 RBI.

Williams, who is 38, hasn't decided whether he will retire if the Yankees don't offer a contract.

In 2004, Mientkiewicz helped Boston win its first World Series title since 1918, catching the throw for the final out and keeping the ball. That sparked a furor that didn't end until he donated the ball to the Hall of Fame.

Source: Chicago Tribune
by Phil Rogers
Sunday, January 07, 2007

"At least team got a mulligan on Big Unit, though."

Imagine how fortunate Brian Cashman must feel this weekend. If Randy Johnson can pass a physical Monday, the New York Yankees' general manager will be getting a rare thing — a Big Unit mulligan.

It was 1989 when a team last won in a trade that brought it Johnson. That was the one that sent him to Seattle from Montreal. The two since then have been stinkers, especially the one in 1998 that cost the Houston Astros two front-line prospects, Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen, on the cusp of their big-league careers.

2001 ASSOCIATED PRESS
(enlarge photo)

Randy Johnson is one of several high-dollar starting pitchers that ultimately disappointed the Yankees.

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The Yankees sent catcher Dioner Navarro and lefty Brad Halsey, a former Texas Longhorn, to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2005 deal that brought them Johnson. Now it appears they could get at least a decent return in sending him back to the Diamondbacks — 24-year-old pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson, minor-league shortstop Alberto Gonzalez and reliever Luis Vizcaino.

This trade seemingly clears the way for the Yankees to re-sign Roger Clemens. It's another domino in the chain of expensive mistakes that have kept the Pinstripes chasing their tail in October.

Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News wrote that the Yankees will wind up having paid Johnson $43 million to win 34 games, none in the postseason. But that's only the tip of the iceberg.

During the last four years, Cashman has signed off on deals that cost the Yankees $146.4 million for Jose Contreras, Esteban Loaiza, Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright and Johnson. Those guys have given the Yankees 96 victories, 224 starts and a combined 4.94 earned-run average.

George Steinbrenner had to pay a part of departing players' future salaries to send Contreras to the White Sox in 2004, Vazquez to the Diamondbacks in '05 and Wright to the Orioles earlier this winter. The Yankees will be on the hook for $9 million in deferred payments and $2 million in salary when the pending Johnson deal is finalized. And none of this factors in luxury taxes.

You want to know why the Yankees haven't won the World Series since 2001?

It's not Alex Rodriguez. It's the woeful performance of the starting pitchers to whom Cashman turned after allowing Orlando Hernandez, Andy Pettitte and Clemens to get away.

The common thread to the stories of these pitchers is that no one ever overcomes failure with the Yankees.

Contreras blossomed after being traded to the White Sox. Vazquez has been almost as good for the Diamondbacks and the White Sox as Johnson was for the Yankees. The difference was supposed to be Johnson's toughness in the playoffs — and he got pounded in both of his October starts for the Yankees, allowing 10 runs in 8 2/3 innings in series-changing losses to the Angels and Tigers.

Source: ESPN.com

By Bob Klapisch

NEW YORK -- So what's in store for the Yankees in the post-Randy Johnson era? The uncharacteristic stockpiling of prospects continues, but the starting rotation is nevertheless being held together by a series of hopeful assumptions -- which is another way of saying the Bombers are saying their prayers.

"There are question marks, and they're real," is what GM Brian Cashman was conceding shortly before a tentative agreement was reached to send Johnson back to the Diamondbacks. While the Yankees look like they will make out reasonably well -- shedding a 43-year-old pitcher in decline, coming off back surgery and otherwise uncomfortable in New York, all for a reported surcharge of only $2 million -- there's still the matter of filling in the Unit's 205 innings in 2007.

The Yankees are reasonably sure Andy Pettitte's cut fastball will be still effective in the American League, even if he's beyond his prime. And Chien-Ming Wang's sinker will continue to be poison to right-handed hitters for another season, even if he doesn't strike anyone out with it. Beyond that, however, the Yankees need at least two of the next three tipping-point issues to go their way to hold off the Red Sox.

Can Mike Mussina continue to be a 15-game winner at age 38? Can Kei Igawa cope with AL sluggers? And most important, can Carl Pavano stay off the disabled list after recent physical therapy corrected a misalignment in his hip that made one leg a half-inch shorter than the other?

Cashman isn't naive enough to believe all these outcomes will be favorable, which is why the backup plans include Scott Proctor, who could evolve into a starter; Triple-A prospect Philip Hughes, who's almost certain to be promoted to the major league roster by midsummer; and Roger Clemens, whom the Yankees were lusting after even before Johnson started looking for the door.

One person familiar with the Yankees' courtship of the Rocket admits they have no inside track on the bidding. "All he has to do is say yes" and the Bombers would practically hand Clemens a blank check, said the source. But club officials are nevertheless in the dark about his plans. Not even Pettitte seems to know where his buddy is headed, which is potentially good news for the Red Sox. If Pettitte's return to pinstripes couldn't immediately sway Clemens, it means he could be destined to finish his career at Fenway.

Of course, it's possible the Yankees' sudden accumulation of young, cheap talent that would be acquired in both the Johnson and Gary Sheffield deals is leading to a mega-swap with the Twins, who've undoubtedly calculated (and fainted at) the cost of keeping Johan Santana after he becomes a free agent in two years. Cashman's army of youngsters might be the escape the Twins would need, given that Barry Zito is now earning $18 million per year.

Short of a deal of that proportion, however, the Yankees will keep their fingers crossed and stick to Cashman's business plan. So far, the GM has resisted the urge to empty the Yankees' coffers, safely underbidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka and refusing to go anywhere near Zito's free agency. Little by little, Cashman has restored a sense of order to the Bombers' operation, as the Yankees have gotten younger and cheaper. But when it comes to Pavano, Cashman admits he's abandoning logic in place of blind faith.

The GM insists the troubled right-hander is "100 percent healthy" after four-hour-a-day workouts in Arizona. Pavano's hip problems may or may not hold the key to making him a successful (or at least active) pitcher again, but Cashman is apparently serious about getting a return on the Yankees' four-year, $40 million investment.

Several teams, including the Cardinals, have called inquiring about Pavano's availability this winter, hoping to pry him loose without having to pick up much salary. To each of them, Cashman has said, no chance.

"GMs have asked me, 'Would you consider moving [Pavano]? If so, you'd have to pick up X number of dollars,'" Cashman said. "I've told them, 'Uh-uh.' I happen to believe Carl is going to be an effective and contributing member of this club."

Pavano might just pitch well enough to get himself traded in spring training. And Igawa might hold on to his No. 5 spot in the rotation just long enough for Hughes to claim it after the All-Star break. Any number of other prospects, including Jeff Karstens, will be rushed to the Bronx in the likely event that Mussina goes on the disabled list or is injured for the third year in a row. Amid all the uncertainty, the Yankees will be happy with the official departure of Johnson, whose 5.00 ERA, declining strikeout ratio and poor performance in back-to-back postseasons were enough to soil his legacy, at least in New York.

The Unit, cold and aloof from the first day, never fit in with the Yankees, spending most of his time at his locker with his back to his teammates. There was no emotional investment on either side; even the fans sensed Johnson was just passing through on his way to Cooperstown. Maybe it was Johnson's way of acting tough in a big market, or maybe it was his frustration at the stunning number of fastballs he threw over the middle of the plate, and the sliders that were usually flat.

Whatever the reason, Johnson was unhappy enough to look daggers at Johnny Damon last August when the outfielder tried to rally the slumping Yankees. In the middle of the clubhouse, Damon shouted to the whole team, "Come on, you [expletive]. Wake up!" From across the room, Johnson stared coldly, so unnerving Damon that he later asked a club official, "Did I do something wrong?"

The Yankees obviously haven't publicly indicted Johnson in their efforts to trade him, but it's clear no one will miss him. One employee said, "Randy was the kind of guy who, if you asked him, 'How's it going?' he'd stare you down and say, 'What do you mean by that?' He was the most socially awkward person I ever met around here."

Of course, Johnson's eventual departure will create a set of short-term problems, but for now, the Yankees are happily looking forward to a change in climate.

The clubhouse is about to get a whole lot warmer.

Come on guys! Don't leave your most reliable left-handed reliever out there to be snatched up! This guy deserves a roster spot. Get on it, Cashman! Without Villone, we have 1 lefty reliever, and he's a specialist, not an everyday MR. Don't play hard-ball with Villone - he's said he'd love to come back to the Yankees, and would be the only team he'd accept a short-term deal from, but he is one of the better lefty relievers available, and you know he'll get the job done.

I agree and I hate to say this, but knowing the Yankees as of late, they'll probably let him walk. Anyone heard what happened to Dotel? I haven't heard squat about him since the season ended. Did he sign someone else or are the Yankees going to give him another go?

I agree and I hate to say this, but knowing the Yankees as of late, they'll probably let him walk. Anyone heard what happened to Dotel? I haven't heard squat about him since the season ended. Did he sign someone else or are the Yankees going to give him another go?

Source: Baltimore Sun

Randy Johnson passed his physical yesterday, and the Arizona Diamondbacks scheduled a news conference today to introduce him, ESPN.com reported.

Advertisement
The physical completes the trade that sends Johnson from the New York Yankees to the Diamondbacks.

Johnson's best years were in Arizona, where he was 103-49 in six seasons and won four Cy Young Awards before going to the Yankees in a trade he sought in 2005.

Source: AP

NEW YORK -- Kei Igawa pulled on his new pinstripes, stepped to the podium and threw his first changeup in the United States.

His long hair freshly trimmed in accordance with team rules, the Japanese pitcher stood before a packed room at Yankee Stadium on Monday and explained -- in English -- how thrilled he was to reach the big leagues.

"Today, my lifelong dream became a reality: to be a major league baseball player," Igawa said, reading carefully from a prepared statement. "I will give you my best as a Yankee. I will do my best to win the championship for this great city, New York."

All set to trade Randy Johnson to Arizona, the Yankees introduced one of his potential replacements during a formal news conference attended by about 75 Japanese reporters.

Igawa, 27, agreed to a $20 million, five-year contract with New York last month after the club bid $26,000,194 for his negotiating rights. The left-hander spent eight strong seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, going 14-9 with a 2.97 ERA and 194 strikeouts last year.

"We look for him to come in and solidify the back of the rotation," General Manager Brian Cashman said. "I think the fact that he took the time today to learn a bit of English -- I think that was just a small indicator of the work ethic that he possesses as he tries to transition over here."

Igawa, who will wear No. 29, practiced his speech for two days. But he said he was comfortable trimming his trademark long locks to comply with Yankees rules, just as center fielder Johnny Damon did last offseason after leaving the rival Red Sox.

Source: NJ Star Ledger
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
BY DAN GRAZIANO
Star-Ledger Staff

NEW YORK -- This was 3 p.m. at Yankee Stadium -- one hour after Kei Igawa had smiled into a galaxy of popping flashbulbs and read an introductory statement in English, a language he doesn't speak. This was after they'd put away the sushi and the carving boards, after the TV cameras had been folded up and packed back into the vans.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman came into a small room in the Stadium basement, took off his suit jacket, sat in a folding chair and started talking about his new Japanese pitcher with a couple dozen reporters.

His basic message: Don't get too excited.

"He's not Matsuzaka," was the first thing Cashman said about Kei Igawa. "(Daisuke) Matsuzaka is a front-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, and we don't want to confuse our fan base. We're looking for (Igawa) to stabilize the back end of our rotation."

It was a startling statement, invoking the name of the Japanese ace the rival Boston Red Sox spent $103 million to acquire this winter. The Yankees' $46 million investment in Igawa is puny by comparison, but Cashman wants to make sure everybody understands what that means. The Sox think Matsuzaka is a No. 1 starter. The Yankees don't think that about Igawa. Never did.

And that's why the big story out of Yankee Stadium yesterday wasn't that Igawa was there. (Heck, they signed the guy weeks ago. This wasn't exactly news.)

The big story about Igawa is that he's starting to move up a little too high in that Yankee starting rotation.

"What I have to do at this point," Igawa said through an interpreter, "is to win a job as a starter."

But that's not really true. For Igawa not to win a job as a starter, he'd have to be a total disaster in spring training and the Yankees would have to find at least two starting pitchers better than he is to push him out of the rotation. The trade of Randy Johnson, which should become official today, leaves their rotation more than a little thin. And if you think that's not a concern of Cashman's, think again.

"There are going to be questions in our rotation," Cashman said. "What's Carl Pavano going to do for us? How's Andy Pettitte going to transition back to the American League? Mike Mussina is a year older. How is Kei Igawa going to handle his transition to a new league and a new country? They're fair questions, and there's an unknown, and that's why we're trying to cultivate as much as we can on the farm."

There is something to Cashman's message these days that we're not used to hearing from the Yankees. Behind what he's saying lurks the real possibility that the Yankee team that goes to spring training next month in Tampa ... brace yourself ... might not be good enough to win the AL East for the 10th year in a row.

"We've got a plan here that we're trying to execute and hope that it works for our short and long term," Cashman said. "But it's a balancing act."

See, the trade of Johnson back to the Diamondbacks for reliever Luis Vizcaino and three prospects makes the Yankees' starting rotation weaker for 2007. Right now it's Chien-Ming Wang, Mussina, Pettitte, Igawa and Pavano. Could that turn out to be good enough? Sure. But does it inspire that much confidence when you match it up against Boston's rotation of Matsuzaka, Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Jonathan Papelbon?

No. It really doesn't.

There is, however, good news: The Triple-A and Double-A teams are looking pretty good.

The prospects the Yankees are getting for Johnson, plus the prospects they got for Gary Sheffield, plus promising farm system holdovers like Phil Hughes, Tyler Clippard and others have the Yankees' minor-league system looking a lot more loaded than it ever has in recent years. Which means, if the rotation falters, they'll have a better chance to make the proper midseason adjustments. They'll have talented arms in the minors that can help them either on the big-league mound or in the trade market, where the new influx of talent makes them better equipped to make baseball deals instead of just salary-dump deals.

"Aug. 31," Cashman said. "I have until Aug. 31 to play with the roster. And I have interest in improving the roster at all times. So time will tell. We're going to have to play it out."

It's gutsy of Cashman to take this chance -- to build the farm system at the risk of a down year with the major-league team. He's right that time will tell what kind of strategy it turns out to be. In the meantime, Yankee fans will have to have faith. And they may also have to have something they're not used to having.

They may have to have patience.

Source: Rotoworld.com

Shortstop Alberto Gonzalez was one of four players acquired by the Yankees in the Randy Johnson deal. Gonzalez, a slick-fielding 23-year-old, hit .290/.356/.392 in 434 at-bats in Double-A last season. He's unlikely to hit enough to be a regular on a team like the Yanks, but he could be enticing to a weaker team in need of a shortstop. If the Yankees keep him, he'll be groomed as a utilityman.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

by Charlie Walters

Much has been made of the Twins' seemingly bleak chances, for financial reasons, of retaining Johan Santana when he becomes eligible for free agency following the 2008 season. By winning his second Cy Young Award last season, it turns out the left-hander's market value may have increased even more than initially anticipated.

Santana's contract, it has been learned, includes a clause that could hinder the Twins from trading him this year if the club believes it won't be able to re-sign him for 2009.

Being among the top three vote getters for the 2006 Cy Young Award triggered a no-trade provision for Santana for 2007. Had he not been among the top three, Santana had the right, by contract, to choose 12 teams to which he could be traded.

Now, Santana cannot be traded to any team in 2007 without his approval. His price tag could reach $20 million a year on the open market after the 2008 season.

The Twins probably wouldn't want to wait until 2008 to trade him, though, if they determined they wouldn't be able to afford him after that season. By waiting, Santana's trade value could diminish.

With the no-trade clause this year, Santana has leverage to reject any deal unless a team is willing to provide him with a huge contract extension. That could limit the Twins' ability to get market value for him in a trade.

If Santana, a unanimous Cy Young Award choice last season, isn't among the top three Cy Young vote getters after the coming season, his contract reverts to a 12-team limited trade clause for 2008.

Santana, 27, is signed for $12 million this year and $13.25 in 2008. That's considerably below market value considering Barry Zito's recent $18 million per season free-agent contract with San Francisco.

The Yankees' expected trade of five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson, 43, and his $16 million contract for this year could be connected to an effort to sign Santana for 2009, when they will move into a new stadium.

Source: Arlington Star-Telegram
by Jennifer Floyd Engel

ARLINGTON -- Mark Teixeira is exactly the type of player good franchises build around, which is why it should surprise nobody the Rangers are frittering him away.

Not at this very moment. Not exactly.

Tex has another two years as a Ranger before he becomes a free agent and, most noteworthy, a Scott Boras free agent. Mr. Greedy Gut's presence in this equation is why everybody anticipates Tex to sign elsewhere, most likely New York, when given a choice.

We'll all cry, "Damn free-spending Yankees!" and we'll only be half right.

Because the Rangers will have had a chance, in winter 2006, to give themselves a chance at Tex. Re-signing him has to begin now, or else it will become about simply throwing A-Fraud money at him in hopes he values cash ahead of winning. Don't bank on that, not with Tex.

Oh, silly money is going to be needed to sign him. Talent like Teixeira's does not come cheap. Neither will Michael Young, if we're being honest.

Crazy money is rarely enough, though, in Texas.

Look at Barry Zito. He is the most eligible bachelor in free agency and, to his credit, Owner Hicks cleared Jon Daniels to slap down a realistic bid in hopes of enticing him to marry them. So why does just about every baseball expert say, "No way?" Why does everybody think he signs with the NY Mets -- even if it means a little less money?

Now, I do not know Zito, but "why" seems pretty simple to me. Nobody thinks anybody can win in Texas.

And if that is what people who have never lived through a disappointing Rangers season believe, what must be going through Teixeira's and Young's brains? What do you think he will be thinking after another couple of mediocre years?

Here's a guess: Get me the hell out of here.

This is why keeping Tex (and Young) has to begin right now, with signing Zito and possibly Mark Mulder, with adding another bat to this lineup to hit behind Teixeira, with spending -- not dumping -- cash.

Hicks took a big and necessary step in that direction this off-season when he dumped Buck Showalter. My guess is his absence gave JD a fighting chance of re-signing Tex and adding a Zito-like pitcher.

Winning is how teams like Texas have a fighting chance to keep guys like Tex, and he is worth keeping.

For baseball reasons. For a lot of reasons. For Friday.

Tex hosted his first Holiday Hold 'Em poker tournament benefiting a charitable fund that bears his name. And unlike Greedy Gut client A-Fraud, Tex's charity actually benefits Texans.

He sponsored six scholarships in the DFW area this year. He plans to double that in 2007. He has a deal with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a local family.

He plays here. He lives here. He gives back here.

He is exactly the kind of athlete we always say we want, talented and dedicated and charitable and personable. He is exactly the kind of player good franchises use as building blocks for long-term winning. And frittering him away is not the only option.

Start by signing Zito, and then see how good franchises are made.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Agent for Clemens, Pettitte, etc., discusses baseball, his players, and the outlook for 2007

Q&A: Agent Hendricks discusses Clemens, Pettitte

Randy Hendricks, whose star clients include Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Jason Schmidt, has been one of the most prominent baseball agents in America since the early 1970s, when he and his brother, Alan, started Hendricks Sports Management in the 1970s.

One of the trailblazers in fighting salary arbitration and the owners' collusion, he has often been rated among the most powerful folks in baseball. And as his bio states at http://www.hendricks-sports.com reminds us, "He has been named to the Sporting News list of 100 Most Powerful People in Sports, including most recently 2003."

An honors graduate of the University of Houston Law School, Hendricks took some time from his schedule to answer some questions regarding Clemens, Pettitte and the state of baseball in Houston.

QUESTION No. 1: This has been a pretty busy winter for you. You have landed some great deals for Russ Springer, Jason Schmidt and a guy named Andy Pettitte. What are your thoughts about the recent spending spree in baseball?

ANSWER: One can always find a correlation between player salaries and revenues in the game. As revenues go up, so do salaries. This has been true for 30 years, so the recent increase in salary levels comes as no surprise. Revenues of $5.2 billion were reported by the 30 clubs in 2006. This is an average of $173 million per club.

• • •

QUESTION No. 2: What is up with Roger Clemens?

ANSWER: Nothing is really new with Roger. Fans need to keep in mind that he intended to retire after the 2003 season. Then, for a lot of reasons, he decided to play for the Astros in 2004. After evaluating the variables, Roger decided in early December 2004 to play again for the Astros in 2005. Roger was pretty beat up after the 2005 season (and really in late August, September and the playoffs in 2005). So he wasn't sure he could or should play another year.

I suggested shortening the season for 2006 so he would not put so much wear and tear on his body. He probably would have retired, except he wanted to play for the USA in the World Baseball Classic. He felt good after that. Koby hurt his hand and needed rehab, so Roger and Koby worked out together in early May of 2006. Roger felt good, he enjoyed his time with Koby, so he decided to take me up on the shortened season recommendation. As everyone knows, he pitched one game at class A (with Koby), one at AA and one at AAA before starting on June 22 in Houston. Roger had several choices, as everyone knows. The Rangers, Yankees, Red Sox and Astros all made known their desire to sign Roger. So did other teams. Ultimately, Roger chose to sign with the Astros.

Roger has very much enjoyed his time with the Astros. He has no complaints with the management or the way in which he has been treated. He is most appreciative of the relationship.


Hendricks and Roger Clemens go way back. This was taken while Clemens was with the Blue Jays in 1998.

He has to decide what he wants to do for 2007. He hasn't decided. If he does play, it will only be for the Astros, Red Sox or Yankees. He needs to sort through all of the variables, again. One positive is that he came out of 2006 season feeling really good physically.

From my standpoint, and keep in mind that I am an Astros season ticket holder, the most discouraging part with the Astros has been the very poor run support in 2005 and 2006. That puts an incredible amount of pressure on a pitcher to never give up a run, which means a pitcher cannot give himself the luxury of making more than one mistake. I am sure many Astros fans, like me, would expect that the team would think "hey, Roger is pitching, so we'll win; all we have to do is score a few runs."

Instead, the team plays uptight offensively behind him and just seems to have settled into this bad pattern. Hopefully, if Roger plays for the Astros in 2007, that will change.

• • •

QUESTION No. 3: If you had to guess, will Roger pitch again? Where?

ANSWER: I think it is more than 50/50 that Roger will play in 2007, but for a shortened season. As I said, it will be for the Astros, Red Sox or Yankees. I don't think any team is really ahead. Obviously, Houston has the home field advantage. One of the nice things during Roger's time playing for Houston has been how outstanding the fans have been. One of the reasons he decided to play for the Astros was the large number of Houston fans who asked him to do so

QUESTION No. 4. I'm pretty sure I'm right, but some fans want to clarify the status of Roger Clemens' personal services contract. Because the deal only kicks in after he retires, it is correct that Roger can play elsewhere without breaking that contract, correct?

ANSWER: Roger's personal services contract with the Astros starts the year after he retires. He can play elsewhere in 2007 (the same was true last year) and it won't affect his personal services contract. The Astros understand Roger's history with the Red Sox and Yankees. He thinks highly of all three teams, and there is nothing wrong with that. And it is fair to say that all three teams think highly of him.

After all, I have made the case, as have others, that he is the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball. He should be considered a local treasure by Houstonians, not someone to boo if he were to play elsewhere for a year.

After all, Nolan Ryan left the Astros to play for the Rangers and everyone loves Nolan.

• • •

QUESTION No. 5: What do you think of the state of baseball in Houston? By that, I mean the Astros, UH, Rice, Texas A&M baseball and the high schools? Do you anticipate another year of top draft picks coming out of this area?

ANSWER: The quality of baseball played in Houston is as good as anywhere in the world. I am continually impressed with how good our local players are, both in college and high school. There are a lot of good coaches and instructors in our area, who only help make these gifted players better. Many players play on all star teams, and they seem to push themselves to play even better. I will always take my chances with the players we have in Texas. California and Florida rank highly as well on talent.

Given the abundant talent pool in our state, it is no wonder that we have so many good high school and college teams. Every year, we have several local high school teams that are good enough to be state champion, only they can't get out of the Houston area in the playoffs.

• • •

QUESTION No. 6: You and I both share a healthy respect for Andy Pettitte. Moreover, I've told you that I thought Andy received a bad rap from some fans who don't realize that Pettitte's decision would have actually been made for him if he the Jon Garland trade had not been canceled after the Astros and White Sox had agreed to the players that would be exchanged. (The White Sox pulled out after reviewing the medical reports about Taylor Buchholz?)

ANSWER: The reaction by many people is disappointing to me and Andy. It is like they forgot the last three years. Both Boston and Anaheim offered him $52 million three years ago. He signed with Houston for $31.5 million. How many fans would have turned down over $20 million guaranteed just to play at home? Andy did. He is glad he did. It was good for everyone. Why some people cannot be grateful for the past three years is difficult to accept.

More to the point, the Astros were more worried about Andy's elbow than were the Yankees. The opposite was true three years ago. That irony is not lost on me. The Astros initially offered Andy a substantial pay cut, for the record. Then, their best offer was the lowest one we had. So it was clear as could be to me that the Astros had a lot of reluctance on Andy, and I attribute that mostly to medical concerns.

Andy is so sensitive that being a free agent has not been easy for him. He hates to disappoint people or to hurt their feelings. So he was torn three years ago, and he was torn, again, this year. First, he wasn't sure he would be healthy enough to play. Second, he wasn't sure his family would want him to play. Third, he wasn't sure he should play due to his father's heart condition. So he needed a lot of time to decide. Meanwhile, the Astros and I had an understanding that the Astros should go ahead and do what they needed to do while Andy decided.

They could have signed Woody Williams, which they did, and traded for Jon Garland, which they almost did, and they then would have told Andy there was no room for him. That would have been acceptable to us because of the circumstances of his indecision.

Andy decided to play in early December, but he wanted a player option for 2008 so he wouldn't have to go through being a free agent again at the end of next year. He said he wouldn't exercise the option if he were hurt and unable to play. The Yankees accepted this and the Astros did not. The Yankees said they would accept Andy's word and the Astros said, in essence, they wouldn't or couldn't. The Astros' reaction was to try to trade for Garland; the Yankees' was to say "when do you want to sign?" Now you tell me, what would you have done in the same situation?


Hendricks joined Andy Pettitte in Deer Park for the announcement of the pitcher's return to New York.

The Astros were as hesitant this year as the Yankees were three years ago. The Yankees were as aggressive this year as the Astros were three years ago. It shows that we are all people, and respond well to people or companies that say they want and need us.

• • •

QUESTION No. 7: How is Pettitte doing?

ANSWER: Andy feels really good. Fans need to remember how unnatural it is to pitch, meaning it is not the right thing to do, medically speaking. So pitchers break down and wear out. A lot of times veteran pitchers need several months off just to start feeling all right and to recharge their batteries. Fans may think it is a game, but they don't understand there is no reason to play such a game. A player is better off saying he is ready, willing and able to play, in order to maximize his market value, than saying he is not sure if he will play or where he will play. It is not us asking for press attention. It is the press or fans who are reacting to the uncertainty. But that uncertainty is a product of what I described, not some contrived game.

• • •

QUESTION NO. 8: What does it say about the Yankees' decision to sign Andy Pettitte and trusting his elbow one month and then trading Randy Johnson the next month?

ANSWER: It says in bright lights on Broadway that they would rather have Andy Pettitte, and his elbow, than Randy Johnson and his back. Keep in mind, though, that Randy Johnson expressed to the Yankees an interest in going to Arizona, just as he did after he played for the Astros for two months in 1998. Andy is a proven post season winner under the glare and pressure of New York. The Yankees have been missing that attribute since Andy left.

• • •

QUESTION No. 9: You've had quite a successful career. How much longer do you want to do this? What do you view as the highlight of your career?

ANSWER: I love my profession and intend to continue it indefinitely. As for highlights, fighting for free agency for players, when none existed, fighting against collusion by the owners, setting arbitration and contract records, and the relationships I have enjoyed with people, including clients, non player clients, people in management, people in the media and fans, have been notable. I love baseball and enjoy the people connected with it. Some times the competition brings out a lot of emotion, and that goes with the landscape. I don't hold grudges and move on down the road to the next situation.

Source: NJ Record

By PETE CALDERA
STAFF WRITER

Since watching the Yankees get abruptly bounced from October, general manager Brian Cashman has added six new pitching prospects via trade.

More than once Tuesday, Cashman referred to the improved "inventory" in his minor league system -- young arms who could help the Yankees sooner or later, or as trade bait for a more experienced pitcher.

Right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson officially joined the Yankees' deepening talent pool Tuesday, as the Randy Johnson trade was completed with Arizona.

"I think our position players are the best in the game, and we're trying to find a mix of quality arms," Cashman said. "I'm happy about the inventory [that] we're collecting."

Cashman also received reliever Luis Vizcaino and minor league shortstop Alberto Gonzalez for Johnson, 43.

In dealing Johnson, Jaret Wright and Gary Sheffield mostly for prospects, the Yankees have at least increased their chances of trading for an impact big league pitcher before the July 31 deadline.

By then, a list of starters who might become available could include Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Bartolo Colon, Kris Benson, Freddy Garcia, John Smoltz, Jake Westbrook, Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez.

Of course, free agent Roger Clemens could decide to pitch for the Yankees at any time, and all it would cost is money.

Both innings-eaters with signature sinkers, Ohlendorf and Jackson could start the season at either Class AA or AAA. Cashman described Gonzalez as a "special defender" with a "contact bat."

Vizcaino 32, earned the nickname "Daily," based on his penchant for frequent use. Among the 2006 Yankees, only Scott Proctor (83) and Kyle Farnsworth (72) appeared in more games than Vizcaino (70).

Minus Johnson's 200 innings per season, Cashman acknowledged that he had "put the rotation at risk," but had accelerated making the Yankees younger, more athletic and less expensive.

Trading Johnson wasn't on Cashman's agenda until a lengthy phone conversation following the death last month of Johnson's older brother.

Johnson suggested that he'd waive his no-trade clause to get closer to his Phoenix-area home, but only if the deal made sense for the Yankees. "He didn't ask to be traded," said Cashman, who thanked Johnson for his two seasons and 34 combined wins.

Despite a herniated disk diagnosed late last season, "I don't think we'd have gotten as far as we did without him," Cashman said. "We didn't achieve our ultimate goal, but ultimately that's a team effort."