Done and Done: Johnson Heads to NY

The "Big Unit" wanted the Big
Apple. It appears to have finally reached fruition.

ESPN is reporting that the New York Yankees have acquired
five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson from the Arizona
Diamondbacks for pitcher Javier Vazquez, prospects and cash.

According to ESPN, paperwork needs to be submitted to the
commissioner's office before the trade is finalized.

On December 17, the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Los Angeles
Dodgers were working on a three-way deal which would have sent
the 41-year-old Johnson and pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii to New York,
outfielder Shawn Green and pitcher Brad Penny to Arizona and
Vazquez and prospects to Los Angeles. However, the Dodgers
backed out at the last minute.

Yankees president Randy Levine and Arizona's incoming chief
executive officer Jeff Moorad resumed trade talks after
Christmas without involving a third party and apparently reached
an agreement.

The Diamondbacks wanted money to offset the difference in
Johnson's $16 million salary and the $35.5 million owed to
Vazquez over the next three seasons.

According to the New York Daily News, the Yankees will sign
Johnson to a two-year extension for another $32 million.