Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 06, 2005
Unit Extended

It looks like Randy Johnson and the NY Yankees have reached an agreement on a contract extension that will run through 2007. Johnson gets the same $16 million a year he was earning with the Diamondbacks. That's a lot of money for a pitch who will be 43 at the end of the contract.

I guess the Yankees are thinking they have another Nolan Ryan on their hands. At age 40, Ryan went 8-16, but with a 2.76 ERA to lead the NL. At age 43 he went 13-9 while striking out 232 in 204 innings. If he's anything like Nolan was in his 40's, it will be worth the money. That's a big if, however. I'd still rather spend the money on Beltran.


Posted by David Pinto at 04:03 PM | Trades | TrackBack (0)
Comments

It is a minor point but unless the 2007 season ends early Johnson will be 44 at the end of that season.

Posted by: LargeBill at January 6, 2005 06:39 PM

I agree that signing Beltran would have been a smarter move than signing Johnson. Beltran is not only a home run and RBI man he is one of the premier base stealers in baseball who is caught stealing very few times in a season. Beltran would have been an offensive force for the Yankees for several years. Johnson is at an age when he could lose it suddenly and the Yankees could get burned by paying Johnson for less than stellar performances on the mound. Still don't understand why Johnson would request perks in additon like two free season tickets to Phoenix Suns games. Guess he didn't want to spend any of his $16 million on the tickets.

Posted by: Andrew Godfrey at January 7, 2005 09:09 AM

Unit Extended

Dude, that's so wrong.

Posted by: Average Dave at January 7, 2005 12:33 PM

I know that the Yankees NEED a lefty starter and RJ is one of the best in the history of the game. But: he is becoming ancient, if not a Mariner. As a Red Sox fan, I was happy to see the trade happen. I thought Vasquez was their future, with the potential to be one of the top two or three arms in either league. This trade seems high risk for the Yankees.

Posted by: Peter Koonz at January 7, 2005 12:38 PM
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