Yanks Still Working On Deal for Johnson

A deal that would send Randy Johnson to the Yankees is still being worked out. (Tom Hood - Reuters)

The New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers spent yesterday trying to put the finishing touches on the mega-deal that would move all-stars Randy Johnson, Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez.

A day after the three teams quickly put the major players in place, the clubs worked to resolve the issues still holding up the trade -- money, mostly.

Even if there is an agreement to put Johnson in Yankees pinstripes, New York plans to ask for a 72-hour window to negotiate a contract extension with the Big Unit before completing the swap, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The Yankees were willing to send Vazquez and top prospects Dioner Navarro and Eric Duncan to Los Angeles as a way to get Johnson. Los Angeles would deal Green and pitchers Brad Penny and Yhency Brazoban to the Diamondbacks.

"We're at the point where we've decided the best thing we can do is have no comment," Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick said.

Johnson and Green both have no-trade clauses. While Johnson wants to play for the Yankees, Green may want to stay close to home in Southern California.

"I think Shawn always envisioned finishing his career with the Dodgers," agent Greg Genske said. "But if a trade is put in place, he's going to consider all of his options."

• METS: Pedro Martinez bashed the team he led to a World Series title. He knocked the Boston Red Sox for their front-office moves and negotiating tactics, and predicted a rough season ahead.

"They will field the best bad team in baseball history," Martinez said.

One day after he was introduced by the Mets -- who signed him to a four-year, $53 million contract -- Martinez criticized the Red Sox for firing key employees, including team doctor Bill Morgan. Martinez said he was "dumbfounded" to hear that fellow Dominican Manny Ramirez could be mentioned as possible trade bait after winning the World Series MVP.

"After giving seven great years, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and I were not signed," Martinez said.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner said the Mets "have shown more respect in days than Boston did in seven years."

• BRAVES: Tim Hudson was introduced as the newest member of Atlanta's starting rotation. Hudson was a high school junior in 1991 when John Smoltz pitched the Braves to their first division title in nine years.

Now that he will join Smoltz in the Atlanta rotation, Hudson hopes to help the Braves finish atop the division for an unprecedented 14th straight season.

• RED SOX: Edgar Renteria passed a physical and signed a four-year contract with Boston, bringing the all-star shortstop to the World Series champions.

The Red Sox announced Renteria's reported $40 million deal at a news conference at Fenway Park.

• MARINERS: Adrian Beltre signed a five-year, $64 million contract with Seattle, boosting the lineup for one of the weakest teams in baseball last season. Beltre passed a physical, the team's final step before securing the slugging third baseman.

• MARLINS: Free agent reliever Antonio Alfonseca signed a one-year contract to rejoin his former team, which revised its offer when a routine physical disclosed a herniated disk in the right-hander's back.

Alfonseca will receive the league minimum $300,000 and can earn an additional $1.7 million in incentives.

• CARDINALS: St. Louis agreed to terms on a two-year contract with left-handed reliever Ray King. The deal also has a club option in 2007, but no financial terms were disclosed.

• OBITUARY: Bobby Mattick, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980 and '81, died on Thursday after a stroke at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home.