Johnson May Stay in Seattle for a While

Randy Johnson appears to be staying right where he is.

What happens after the season is another matter.

If the team had any thoughts about moving the Big Unit before the July 31 trade deadline, it probably won’t do so now.

Johnson, who has been openly angry with management over his contract, showed some of his old heat on the mound Thursday night, nearly pitching a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins.

“The guy is dominating,” catcher John Marzano said. “You don’t know what he could do. He could finish up with 20 wins. The way he’s been pitching lately has been unbelievable.”

“I thought he was going to get it,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said of the no-hit bid. “Randy’s on the top of his game right now.”

This was the second consecutive shutout for the 6-foot-10 left-hander. He lost the no-hitter in the eighth inning when he just missed fielding a sharp grounder over the mound by former teammate Brent Gates.

He finished with his third career one-hitter, to go with his one no-hitter.

In 1991 and 1993, he lost no-hitters in the ninth against Oakland after pitching the Mariners’ first no-hitter against Detroit in 1990.

After 21 starts, Johnson has a 9-8 record and a 4.44 earned-run average. He made 30 starts in 1995 when he was the American League Cy Young Award winner with an 18-2 record. Last season he was 20-4, his first 20-victory season.

Six weeks ago, the Mariners were ready to trade Johnson to the Dodgers. Then one of the team’s owners apparently decided it was in the club’s best interests to keep Johnson.

After team president Chuck Armstrong said the team would no longer discuss Johnson’s status, the pitcher responded by saying he wouldn’t talk to the media any more.

And he has stuck by his decision. Even after Thursday night’s gem he was unavailable.

If the Mariners don’t trade Johnson, they’ll get nothing in return except for a pair of draft choices.

“He hasn’t had a good season this year, but you still know what he can do,” Minnesota pitcher Brad Radke said. “He can shut you out in a heartbeat.”