PHOENIX - Randy Johnson filed for free agency on Thursday after failing to reach a contract agreement to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 45-year-old lefty is five wins shy of 300 and “hopes to find a team where he can continue to pitch at a high level and contribute to another world championship,” agents Barry Meister and Alan Nero said in a statement.
The agents said they met in Phoenix on Monday with Diamondbacks chief executive officer Jeff Moorad and general manager Josh Byrnes “to explore every option for Randy to remain a Diamondback in 2009 and for the remainder of his career.”
“The Diamondbacks have a budget based on their club's financial situation and obviously viewed Randy's contract in that context,” the agents said. “Randy considered every reasonable compromise, including offering to take a 50 percent pay cut, all to remain a Diamondback. However, the economic situation did not lend itself to an agreement.”
Johnson made $16 million last year and went 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA. He struck out 173 and walked 44.
Byrnes, who said the sides had conversations through the week into Thursday, would not rule out still signing Johnson but added “something would fundamentally have to change in our position or their position or both.”
The Diamondbacks will not budge on their policy of not giving contracts that include player incentives.
“As a policy it's one we stick to and will continue to stick to,” Byrnes said.
He praised the spirit of the conversations.
“Both sides worked very hard to find an equitable deal,” Byrnes said. “We couldn't do it.”
Byrnes said the club envisions a rotation of Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis, Max Scherzer and Yusmeiro Petit next season.
“There's a chance we might try to find another person that would add to our depth,” Byrnes said.
Johnson and Toronto pitcher A.J. Burnett were the only players to file for free agency Thursday, the final day of the 15-day window.
The 171 players who filed can start negotiating money with all teams starting Friday.
A five-time Cy Young Award winner, Johnson won the NL Cy Young from 1999-2002 with Arizona.
The Big Unit was co-MVP with Curt Schilling in the 2001 World Series victory over the New York Yankees. He went 21-6 with a 2.49 ERA and 372 strikeouts that year.
Johnson has 4,789 strikeouts, second to Nolan Ryan on the career list, and pitched a perfect game.
Johnson came back for a second stint with the Diamondbacks in 2007 after a trade with the Yankees. He underwent the third back surgery of his career that year.
In January 2005, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Yankees.
Johnson and his family have long made their home in the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley.
Brewers pick up retired Torres' option
MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers exercised Salomon Torres' $3.75 million option on Thursday even though he announced his retirement.
The Brewers plan to place Torres on the voluntary retired list on Friday, which will remove Torres from Milwaukee's 40-man roster and keep the club from having to pay his salary.
Milwaukee also could have paid Torres a $300,000 buyout, but instead retains the rights of the 12-year veteran if he decides to play next season.
Torres, 36, was 7-5 with a 3.49 ERA and a career-high 28 saves in 71 relief appearances this year. He had a 44-58 career record with a 4.31 ERA and 57 saves for San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.
He issued a statement through the team Tuesday saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and faith.
Former Orioles manager Perlozzo joins Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - Former Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo joined the Philadelphia Phillies' coaching staff on Thursday.
Perlozzo wasn't immediately assigned a specific position. The World Series champion Phillies are seeking a third-base coach and bench coach for manager Charlie Manuel.
Steve Smith wasn't retained as third-base coach and Jimy Williams chose not to return as bench coach.
Perlozzo, who will handle infield instruction, spent last season as Seattle's third-base coach after 12 years with Baltimore as third-base coach (1996-2000), bench coach (2001-2005) and manager (2005-07).
Perlozzo also coached third base for the Mariners (1993-95), Cincinnati (1990-92) and the New York Mets (1987-89).
“I've known Sammy for a long time and I couldn't be happier to add someone with his experience to our coaching staff,” Manuel said.
Gardenhire gets 2-year extension from Twins
MINNEAPOLIS - Ron Gardenhire figures he has one thing left to do as manager of the Minnesota Twins.
The 51-year-old Gardenhire was already under contract for 2009 as part of a two-year extension he signed in October 2006, so this deal runs through 2011. He has won four division titles in seven seasons managing the Twins, who came within one victory of the playoffs this year.
Despite trading ace Johan Santana and losing clubhouse leader Torii Hunter in free agency, the Twins went 88-75 and nearly made the postseason, losing a tiebreaker to the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central title.
New York sells final Citi Field luxury suite
NEW YORK - The New York Mets finally sold that last remaining luxury suite at Citi Field.
Mets executive vice president David Howard said Thursday that the 49th suite was bought about two weeks ago.
When the team announced pricing for the ballpark's season tickets in mid-August, it said 48 suites had been committed.
The Mets' suites, which hold 16 to 22 people, sold for $250,000 to $500,000 apiece.
The Yankees said this week that seven of 51 suites at the new Yankee Stadium remain unsold, the same figure as in August.
Those suites cost $600,000 to $850,000 each, and only the lowest-price ones are still available.
The agents said they met in Phoenix on Monday with Diamondbacks chief executive officer Jeff Moorad and general manager Josh Byrnes “to explore every option for Randy to remain a Diamondback in 2009 and for the remainder of his career.”
“The Diamondbacks have a budget based on their club's financial situation and obviously viewed Randy's contract in that context,” the agents said. “Randy considered every reasonable compromise, including offering to take a 50 percent pay cut, all to remain a Diamondback. However, the economic situation did not lend itself to an agreement.”
Johnson made $16 million last year and went 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA. He struck out 173 and walked 44.
Byrnes, who said the sides had conversations through the week into Thursday, would not rule out still signing Johnson but added “something would fundamentally have to change in our position or their position or both.”
The Diamondbacks will not budge on their policy of not giving contracts that include player incentives.
“As a policy it's one we stick to and will continue to stick to,” Byrnes said.
He praised the spirit of the conversations.
“Both sides worked very hard to find an equitable deal,” Byrnes said. “We couldn't do it.”
Byrnes said the club envisions a rotation of Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis, Max Scherzer and Yusmeiro Petit next season.
“There's a chance we might try to find another person that would add to our depth,” Byrnes said.
Johnson and Toronto pitcher A.J. Burnett were the only players to file for free agency Thursday, the final day of the 15-day window.
The 171 players who filed can start negotiating money with all teams starting Friday.
A five-time Cy Young Award winner, Johnson won the NL Cy Young from 1999-2002 with Arizona.
The Big Unit was co-MVP with Curt Schilling in the 2001 World Series victory over the New York Yankees. He went 21-6 with a 2.49 ERA and 372 strikeouts that year.
Johnson has 4,789 strikeouts, second to Nolan Ryan on the career list, and pitched a perfect game.
Johnson came back for a second stint with the Diamondbacks in 2007 after a trade with the Yankees. He underwent the third back surgery of his career that year.
In January 2005, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Yankees.
Johnson and his family have long made their home in the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley.
Brewers pick up retired Torres' option
MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers exercised Salomon Torres' $3.75 million option on Thursday even though he announced his retirement.
The Brewers plan to place Torres on the voluntary retired list on Friday, which will remove Torres from Milwaukee's 40-man roster and keep the club from having to pay his salary.
Milwaukee also could have paid Torres a $300,000 buyout, but instead retains the rights of the 12-year veteran if he decides to play next season.
Torres, 36, was 7-5 with a 3.49 ERA and a career-high 28 saves in 71 relief appearances this year. He had a 44-58 career record with a 4.31 ERA and 57 saves for San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.
He issued a statement through the team Tuesday saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and faith.
Former Orioles manager Perlozzo joins Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - Former Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo joined the Philadelphia Phillies' coaching staff on Thursday.
Perlozzo wasn't immediately assigned a specific position. The World Series champion Phillies are seeking a third-base coach and bench coach for manager Charlie Manuel.
Steve Smith wasn't retained as third-base coach and Jimy Williams chose not to return as bench coach.
Perlozzo, who will handle infield instruction, spent last season as Seattle's third-base coach after 12 years with Baltimore as third-base coach (1996-2000), bench coach (2001-2005) and manager (2005-07).
Perlozzo also coached third base for the Mariners (1993-95), Cincinnati (1990-92) and the New York Mets (1987-89).
“I've known Sammy for a long time and I couldn't be happier to add someone with his experience to our coaching staff,” Manuel said.
Gardenhire gets 2-year extension from Twins
MINNEAPOLIS - Ron Gardenhire figures he has one thing left to do as manager of the Minnesota Twins.
The 51-year-old Gardenhire was already under contract for 2009 as part of a two-year extension he signed in October 2006, so this deal runs through 2011. He has won four division titles in seven seasons managing the Twins, who came within one victory of the playoffs this year.
Despite trading ace Johan Santana and losing clubhouse leader Torii Hunter in free agency, the Twins went 88-75 and nearly made the postseason, losing a tiebreaker to the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central title.
New York sells final Citi Field luxury suite
NEW YORK - The New York Mets finally sold that last remaining luxury suite at Citi Field.
Mets executive vice president David Howard said Thursday that the 49th suite was bought about two weeks ago.
When the team announced pricing for the ballpark's season tickets in mid-August, it said 48 suites had been committed.
The Mets' suites, which hold 16 to 22 people, sold for $250,000 to $500,000 apiece.
The Yankees said this week that seven of 51 suites at the new Yankee Stadium remain unsold, the same figure as in August.
Those suites cost $600,000 to $850,000 each, and only the lowest-price ones are still available.
