The Randy Johnson sweepstakes are heating up, with the Arizona Diamondbacks calling teams to see who -- besides the New York Yankees -- is ready to trade for the star pitcher.
The Yankees officially told Arizona general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. on Wednesday that they'd like to have him.
Boston, Anaheim and the Chicago White Sox are among the other clubs expected to make a pitch for the five-time Cy Young winner.
PHOTO: AP
After Garagiola gauges interest around the majors, he'll call back those GMs and make trade proposals, a source familiar with the process said Thursday on the condition of anonymity.
Yankees manager Joe Torre said he held a team meeting before Thursday night's game at Detroit, discussing the second half but avoiding trade talk.
"I don't really want to plant that seed," he said. "If I sense that there's a lot of smoke and steam and I sense somebody is distracted, then we'll address it."
PHOTO: AP
The Yankees have the best record in the major leagues. But with pitchers Kevin Brown, Mike Mussina and Jon Lieber all hurt at some point this season and starter Jose Contreras still inconsistent, the rotation is the team's biggest question mark.
The deadline to make trades without waivers is July 31. After that, given the competition between the Yankees and Red Sox, it would be hard to imagine Johnson slipping through waivers without being claimed.
Johnson is making US$16 million this season and has a US$16 million contract for 2005, the last year of his deal.
Johnson was 10-7 with a 2.99 ERA and leading the majors with 145 strikeouts going into Thursday night's start against Los Angeles. He pitched a perfect game at Atlanta on May 18.
Earlier this week, the 40-year-old lefty said he would consider waiving his no-trade clause if Arizona wants to send him to a contender.
At 31-58, the Diamondbacks had the worst record in the majors at the All-Star break.
"Obviously, it would have to be a situation as such that it's going to work for me. That's the only way," Johnson said Monday.
"I'm not going to leave to go somewhere else to theoretically have a chance to win. It's going to have to be somewhere that ... teams that have a chance to win, that's the only way," he said.
Chances are, the Diamondbacks would want young, promising players -- guys who do not cost too much -- for Johnson.
The Angels might have the most to offer, though owner Arte Moreno does not sound eager to trade his future for Johnson.
Johnson and Curt Schilling were co-MVPs of Arizona's win over the Yankees in the 2001 World Series.
Getting Johnson would push the Yankees' payroll to around US$200 million. The Yankees are never shy about spending money, though their minor league system is not stocked with top talent.
National League
Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen hit two-run homers to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Thursday.
Matt Morris (10-6) allowed eight hits in six innings to beat Jesus Sanchez (0-2). He allowed just two base runners until the Cardinals scored four runs in the fourth, when Edgar Renteria led off with a single and Pujols followed with his 23rd homer.
"It's a big tribute to the way the guys play behind me," Morris said. "They see me scuffling. They show me each time I'm out there that they're willing to do the little things necessary to win the ballgame."
Morris singled in a run in the sixth to make it 5-1, and Rolen homered off John Riedling in the seventh, his 19th of the year.
"Sanchez got into some problems in the fourth. He got behind some hitters and they made him pay for it," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "We had multiple opportunities, but we couldn't capitalize."
Cubs 4, Brewers 1
In Chicago, Mark Prior overcame some discomfort in his right elbow in the second inning as Chicago rallied to beat Milwaukee.
Derrek Lee homered in the second and had an RBI double in a three-run sixth. Prior missed the first two months with right Achilles' tendinitis and a tender elbow.
Chicago, swept in three-games last week in Milwaukee, tied it against Doug Davis (9-7) on Lee's 13th homer. Glendon Rusch (5-1) won by allowing three hits in 5 1-3 scoreless innings, and LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth for his 12th save.
Mets 3, Phillies 2, 11 innings
In New York, pitcher Roberto Hernandez couldn't handle Ty Wigginton's decisive bases-loaded clutch hit as New York edged Philadelphia.
Wigginton hit back to Hernandez (1-3), who knocked it down with his bare hand. But he bounced his throw home as pinch-runner Vance Wilson slid across the plate.
Wigginton was given a hit on the play. Starting pitcher Steve Trachsel and Kaz Matsui also had RBI hits for the Mets.
Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 3
In Phoenix, Shawn Green hit a grand slam in the eighth inning off Randy Choate, who took over after Randy Johnson struck out nine in seven scoreless innings, as Los Angeles beat Arizona.
Johnson, who also had an RBI single, was pulled after 108 pitches. Brian Bruney got two outs while allowing hits to Cesar Izturis and Paul Lo Duca. Then Choate (0-1) walked pinch-hitter Milton Bradley before Green's seventh career grand slam.
American League
Jose Contreras pitched into the ninth inning and Alex Rodriguez hit two of the New York Yankees' five home runs in a 5-1 victory Thursday over the Detroit Tigers.
Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui and Kenny Lofton also connected against Jeremy Bonderman (6-7) -- who gave up just four hits in seven innings. Rodriguez also homered off Wilfredo Ledezma.
``I like to watch body language, and he walked to the mound with a good strut,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
Contreras (7-3) gave up just four hits in his longest major league outing. He struck out seven and walked one.
"Against the White Sox, I pitched a pretty good game, but it wasn't as good as this one," Contreras said through an interpreter. ``As far as the major leagues go, those are the two best games I can think of.
Orioles 5, Devil Rays 4
In St. Petersburg, Florida, David Newhan hit a tiebreaking, two-run triple in the seventh inning as Baltimore edged Tampa Bay.
Newhan finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Larry Bigbie homered for the Orioles. Daniel Cabrera (7-3) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings and beat Travis Harper (2-1).
The Devil Rays had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth, but Jorge Julio got Julio Lugo to fly out to right for his 13th save. That handed Tampa Bay its fifth straight loss.
Mariners 2, Indians 1
In Seattle, Justin Leone hit his first major league homer -- a two-run shot -- to back Joel Pineiro and help Seattle beat Cleveland and end a nine-game losing.
Pineiro (5-10) allowed one run and four hits in eight innings for the Mariners, who had not won since July 1. Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 21 opportunities.
Leone, who hit 21 homers in 68 games at Triple-A Tacoma before being called up by the Mariners on July 1, connected off All-Star Jake Westbrook (6-5) in the seventh.
Athletics 4, White Sox 2
In Oakland, California, Rich Harden pitched eight innings, Eric Chavez had a home run and Bobby Crosby an RBI double to lead Oakland past Chicago.
Harden (4-5) allowed four hits and beat Jon Garland (7-6) as Oakland ended Chicago's four-game winning streak. Octavio Dotel pitched the ninth for his third save.
Angels 8, Red Sox 1
In Anaheim, California, Darin Erstad homered and drove in three runs, and Chone Figgins also had three RBIs as Anaheim trounced Boston.
Jarrod Washburn (10-4) allowed three hits in seven innings, leading the Angels to their fourth straight win. The left-hander struck out three and walked two while beating Derek Lowe (7-9).
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