Bidding for Johnson Heats Up Quickly

While the Angels focused most of their attention Monday on Mo Vaughn, holding lengthy negotiating sessions in Los Angeles with representatives for the free-agent first baseman, the competition for pitcher Randy Johnson heated up like a July afternoon in Dallas.

The Texas Rangers raised their three-year, $39-million offer to the free-agent left-hander, adding a guaranteed fourth year that could bring the offer into the $52-million range and providing stiff competition for the Angels, Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros.

New Ranger owner Tom Hicks said this was the team’s “best offer.”

The Arizona offer is believed to be in the four-year, $48-million range. The Angel offer is believed to be in the $12-million-a-year range, but they won’t say whether it is for three or four years.

This much is clear: Johnson may be 35 with a history of back problems, but it will apparently take a four-year deal to sign him.

“Randy’s decision is not going to be made on dollars alone,” said agent Alan Nero, who added that Johnson could make up his mind this week. “He has to base his decision on his family, not just finances.”

The Angels, because of their proximity to Johnson’s Phoenix-area home, their spring training complex in Tempe, Ariz., and their contender status in the American League West, are one of the favorites to land Johnson, and they also appear to be moving closer to a deal for Vaughn.