While I think this is a bad deal if the Diamondbacks have to pay the whole $16 million owed to the Big Unit next season, it might be tempting for the franchise to get Johnson back so that he can reach 300 wins and end his career at home, ensuring that he becomes the first Diamondback enshrined in the Hall of Fame. He might need several years to get the 20 wins but it will dampen the publicity hit taken when the team released Luis Gonzalez.

Does Brian Cashman have compromising photos of every other GM? First, he gets Abreu for one B level prospect and a couple of names; then, he turns Sheffield, who he desperately had to get rid of and who was making $13 million coming off of surgery and who still had the balls to demand a new contract, into a solid pitching prospect, then he turns (reportedly) a corner outfielder with mediocre power or speed into a strong, young, lefty reliever; now, he's going to get Chad Tracy and two prospects for a 43 year old pitcher recovering from surgery who may not be ready Opening Day and who had a 5 ERA last year- and, oh yeah, who makes $16 million dollars, and the Yankees don't have to pay a cent of that? The other teams can complain about an unfair playing field when competing with the Yanks, but if they want to be stupid in making trades, is Cashman supposed to stop them?

originally posted by Jake C. on mlbtraderumors. I give this statement my endorsement.

"It's the kind of trade you make if you think you're ready to win"
Really? Randy looks like a broken down clown. Adjusting for the prick factor I'm not sure why he helps anyone. He is in the Kevin Brown phase of his career. Given a choice any GM dealing with Yank garbage should take Pavano over the Johnson.

Agree with Dave. If Cashman gets a couple propsects for RJ, he will have successfully rebuilt their minor league system into one of the elite ones in the game.

I concur entirely with Dave, Tony, Jake C., etc. The Diamondbacks don't really know what they have yet with their younger players--Carlos Quentin, Chris Young, Miguel Montero, Conor Jackson didn't set the field on fire--and Chad Tracy took a big step back. They don't have any guaranteed middle of the order bat. So they're not really close to competing especially in a hitter's park. When I first heard about the rumor, I thought it would be a castoff deal like Jaret Wright and the Yankees would have to absorb part of his salary. There's no way any real prospects should be moved.

I guess when the last World Series champion backs in to the playoffs every team thinks it might be capable of stumbling into a championship.