Angels Pursuing Johnson?

The Florida Marlins have expressed considerable interest in troubled Angel outfielder Jose Guillen, but an inability to consummate a two-team trade has motivated executives to be more creative by formulating possible three-team deals, one of which could net the Angels pitcher Randy Johnson.

Talks are in the exploratory phase, but according to baseball sources, the Angels, Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks have discussed a trade that would send Guillen to the Marlins, Johnson to Anaheim and a package of prospects -- and possibly a big league player or two -- to Arizona from Anaheim and Florida.

Negotiations between the Angels and Marlins apparently stalled when Florida refused to part with speedy center fielder Juan Pierre. The Angels want to trade Guillen, who hit .294 with 27 home runs and 104 runs batted in last season but was suspended for the final eight games of the regular season and the playoffs because of insubordination, and move center fielder Garret Anderson back to left.

The Marlins, knowing Arizona’s affection for their power-hitting first-base prospect, Jason Stokes, and the Angels’ infatuation with Johnson, expanded talks to include the Diamondbacks. Arizona is in danger of losing free-agent first baseman Richie Sexson, who was reportedly not thrilled by the team’s recent contract offer.

And with the Diamondbacks not expected to contend in 2005, they are expected to be more willing this winter to part with Johnson, the 41-year-old left-hander who was won five Cy Young awards and finished second to Roger Clemens in this year’s voting after going 16-14 with a 2.60 earned-run average, striking out 290 and walking 44 in 245 2/3 innings.

The Angels tried to acquire Johnson before the July 31 trade deadline, but their offer of pitcher Ramon Ortiz and first-base prospect Casey Kotchman fell well short of Arizona’s demands. Johnson has a full no-trade clause, but a source close to the pitcher said he would consider waiving it to play for the Angels, who won the American League West but were swept by Boston in the division series.

Several roadblocks, however, remain to a deal. Both the Marlins, who lost closer Armando Benitez to free agency, and the Diamondbacks covet Angel reliever Scot Shields, but with the Angels losing closer Troy Percival to free agency, Shields’ versatility and durability will be even more valuable to them in 2005. Said one Angel source: “Shields isn’t going anywhere.”

The Angels also remain very interested in center fielder Carlos Beltran, the jewel of this winter’s free-agent class, and any deal for Johnson, who is signed for $16.5 million in 2005, would preclude the Angels from pursuing Beltran.

Though the Angels have a strong interest in Johnson, it’s highly doubtful they would trade for him before acquiring a front-line center fielder, either through trade or free agency.