With the closing of a two-day negotiation window, the Arizona Diamondbacks’
efforts to obtain Shawn Green again saw unsuccessful results.
The negotiations came about after Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig approved a
trade in which the Los Angeles Dodgers would send Green, along with $8 million,
to Arizona in exchange for prospects. Green has a no-trade clause, but he was
willing to accept the trade, provided that he came to terms with Arizona on a
contract extension.
However, contract talks officially ended Thursday, with no agreement. The D’Backs
supposedly offered a three-year, $30 million extension, only $2 million less
than what Green reportedly sought. But Green accepting an extension with the
Diamondbacks would mean giving up a $16 million salary for the 2005 season, as
stipulated in his current contract.
The negotiations culminated nearly a month of attempts by both the Dodgers
and D’Backs to free up more money. Both franchises were on the cusp of a
three-way trade with the New York Yankees that would’ve sent Green and three
other players to Arizona and pitcher Randy Johnson to New York in exchange for
LA getting pitcher Javier Vasquez and prospects. But the trade fell through when
the Dodgers pulled out.
Since then, Arizona has talked directly to both New York and LA. Johnson
appears headed for the Yankees, and the anticipated prospects from that deal
would have gone to LA, had Green signed an extension.
Green is in the last year of a six-year, $84 million deal. It is uncertain
whether Arizona will attempt to reopen negotiations with him.