Trade would send Big Unit to Arizona for four players

	Randy Johnson went 17-11 but had a career-worst 5.00 ERA last season. Al Tielemans/SI
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By Jon Heyman, SI.com

The Yankees and Diamondbacks have reached an agreement on a trade that would send Randy Johnson to Arizona. All that remains is for the 43-year-old pitcher to finalize a one-year extension with Arizona, SI.com has confirmed.

The Diamondbacks were granted a 72-hour window in which to negotiate a contract extension with Johnson. Arizona would like to agree on an extension for 2008 with Johnson before any deal is final, and that shouldn't be a problem. Newsday reported in Thursday's editions that a one-year, $10 million extension for Johnson already has been agreed to through "back-channel conversations."

The Yankees will receive four players from Arizona -- including major league reliever Luis Vizcaino, pitching prospect Ross Ohlendorf and minor league shortstop Alberto Gonzalez -- and will send $2 million to the D'backs to offset Johnson's $16 million salary in 2007. WFAN reported Thursday the deal also would include Class AA pitcher Steven Jackson.

The Padres offered a package to the Yankees that included reliever Scott Linebrink, but Johnson preferred to go home to Arizona and has a no-trade clause.

Johnson was 17-11 with a 5.00 ERA last season, and the 43-year-old left-hander is coming off back surgery on Oct. 26. Although he has gone 34-19 during the regular season in two years with the Yankees, he is 0-1 with a 6.92 ERA in three postseason appearances.

New York's projected rotation includes Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Kei Igawa. The Yankees also have oft-injured right-hander Carl Pavano and hope Roger Clemens can be persuaded to follow Pettitte back to New York. Clemens hasn't decided whether to pitch this year. If he does, the 44-year-old right-hander might follow his 2006 schedule and not start his major league season until mid-June.

Arizona has had an otherwise quiet offseason. The only major move was to acquire left-hander Doug Davis from Milwaukee in a six-player deal that sent catcher Johnny Estrada to the Brewers. Right-handers Greg Aquino and Claudio Vargas also went to the Brewers, while the Diamaondbacks obtained a pair of youngsters, left-hander Dana Eveland and outfielder Dave Krynzel.

Johnson, who lives in the Phoenix area, went 103-49 with the Diamondbacks from 1999-2004, leading the NL in ERA three times and victories once. He was 5-1 in the 2001 postseason, including 3-0 in Arizona's seven-game World Series win over the Yankees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report