PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers slugger
Shawn Green failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension by the
Thursday deadline, leaving the tentative trade in jeopardy of falling through.
The Dodgers had granted the Diamondbacks a 48-hour window, until 10 a.m.
MST, on Thursday to negotiate with Green.
"The window has expired. There is no agreement," major league baseball
spokesman Pat Courtney said in New York.
Neither Diamondbacks general partner Ken Kendrick nor Green's agent Greg
Genske returned telephone calls.
The New York Yankees, meanwhile, reached an agreement on a $32 million,
two-year contract extension for Randy Johnson, a prerequisite to the Big Unit
waiving his no-trade clause for a deal to New York.
Arizona is to receive pitchers Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, along with
catching prospect Dioner Navarro and $9 million in exchange for Johnson. The
Diamondbacks intended to send Navarro and minor league pitcher William Juarez
to Los Angeles for Green and $8 million.
Green has one year and $16 million remaining on his contract, which includes
a no-trade clause. The prospect of his waiving the no-trade clause without a
contract extension seemed unlikely.
If Green refuses the trade, it could create an awkward situation for his
return to a Los Angeles team that had tried in at least two deals to get rid of
him. Green would have been part of the three-team, 10-player trade among the
Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Yankees that fell apart last month.
If the Green trade falls through, Arizona could rekindle talks with
outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, who was scheduled to fly to Phoenix for an interview
last month. The meeting was then were canceled by the Diamondbacks.
Burnitz's agent, Howard Simon, said on Thursday that his client has no hard
feelings about those talks falling through and would be willing to speak with
the Diamondbacks again if they show interest.
Green's existing contract was negotiated by his then-agent Jeff Moorad, now
the Diamondbacks chairman.
Arizona said Moorad was not part of the talks with the Dodgers in to avoid
any appearance of impropriety.