Yanks, D-Backs reach tentative agreement on Johnson deal

NEW YORK -- One week later, Randy Johnson again appears headed to New York.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Yankees reached a tentative agreement Thursday on a deal to send the Big Unit to the Bronx for pitchers Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, young catcher Dioner Navarro and $9 million, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity.

The teams finished putting the deal in writing Friday but do not intend to submit it to the commissioner's office until Monday, the official said.

While not confirming the substance of the report, Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick said the teams "are in serious discussions."

Kendrick also indicated Arizona was working on another deal involving Vazquez. One possible suitor was the Los Angeles Dodgers, who could send outfielder Shawn Green and pitcher Brad Penny to Arizona.

Ace Randy Johnson is closer to bringing his heater to the Bronx. (Getty Images)

Separate trades, if they include Los Angeles, would in essence reach the same conclusion as the three-team effort that fell apart Dec. 21 when the Dodgers backed out. Arizona also could deal Vazquez to another team.

"We would not agree to a final deal or a trade of Randy Johnson unless we believed it would benefit our team," Kendrick said. "That would require in return at least two significant major league ballplayers."

Kendrick said, however, that no deal could be completed, or the paperwork even submitted to the commissioner's office, until early next week.

In addition, the Yankees finalized a $3 million, one-year contract with Tino Martinez, a deal that includes a club option for 2006.

Even after the Yankees and Diamondbacks finalize their deal, several things must happen before the trade could become complete.

• Because the money was greater than $1 million, commissioner Bud Selig must give his approval, which probably won't happen until next week.
• All players must pass physicals.
• Johnson has to formally give approval because he has a no-trade clause.
• The Yankees want a 72-hour window to negotiate an extension with Johnson, 41, whose current contract expires after the 2005 season.

Johnson, a 10-time All-Star, would join a reshaped rotation that now includes Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. The Yankees already had Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown, but blew a 3-0 lead in the AL championship series and lost to Boston.

The money New York is sending Arizona, which will be paid over several seasons, would offset some of the $34.5 million Vazquez is owed: $10.5 million in 2005, $11.5 million in 2006 and $12.5 million in 2007. New York is making the final $1 million payment of his signing bonus, which is due Friday.

Johnson was 16-14, a record skewed by playing for a team that went 51-111, tied for the 10th-most losses in major league history. The Diamondbacks scored two runs or fewer in 17 of his 35 starts. He led the majors with 290 strikeouts, was second with a 2.60 ERA and pitched a perfect game against Atlanta.