BASEBALL Rockies, Marlins make 6-player trade
Pitcher Mike Hampton goes to Florida, while catcher Charles Johnson heads to Colorado.
DENVER (AP) -- Catcher Charles Johnson reversed his decision and approved a trade to the Colorado Rockies, his agent said Saturday, clearing the way for a six-player deal that sends left-hander Mike Hampton to the Florida Marlins.
Johnson, who had used his no-trade rights to block the deal earlier Saturday, changed his mind after getting an additional $1 million to make up for the fact that there is no state income tax in Florida.
"We got some tax elements taken care of in the transfer, so the monetary element would remain the same in Colorado," agent Scott Boras told The Associated Press. "My understanding is that this was the final step."
Rockies spokesman Jay Alves said the deal was not quite done.
"The trade has been reignited and we are talking again," he said. "We've got some things to work out yet."
A Marlins spokesman refused to comment.
Who's all involved
Johnson would go to Colorado along with outfielder Preston Wilson, left-handed reliever Vic Darensbourg and second base prospect Pablo Ozuna. Hampton and outfielder Juan Pierre are headed to Florida.
Hampton, who also had a no-trade clause, agreed to the deal earlier Saturday. Both players maintain their no-trade rights with their new teams.
The transaction raises the Rockies' payroll initially but provided long-term relief from Hampton's record-setting contract.
Hampton signed an eight-year, $121 million contract with Colorado in December 2000. He is guaranteed $84.5 million over the next six years, plus has deferred $19 million of his signing bonus.
The Rockies will pay $11 million of Hampton's remaining salary and the signing bonus.
Johnson has $25 million coming over the next three seasons and Wilson is owed $27.5 million the next three years.
While Hampton preferred a trade to Houston, St. Louis, the Chicago Cubs or New York Yankees, those teams considered acquiring him only if he agreed to give up a significant portion of his contract. The deal with Florida did not call for any restructuring.
Hampton, a 30-year-old left-hander, was 7-15 with a 6.15 ERA this year -- the highest in the major leagues among pitchers who qualified for the ERA title.
He is 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA since leaving the New York Mets to sign the richest deal ever with the Rockies in December 2000. Following a 9-2 start in 2001, he is 12-26 with a 6.62 ERA.
Johnson, a 31-year-old catcher, hit .217 this season with six homers and 36 RBIs in 244 at-bats.
It was the first of three deals the Rockies hoped to make to eliminate long-term obligations to Hampton, left-hander Denny Neagle and outfielder Larry Walker.
Working on Williams
The Rockies have been working on a deal that would send Walker to the Arizona Diamondbacks for third baseman Matt Williams, outfielder David Dellucci, right-handed reliever Bret Prinz and first baseman Erubiel Durazo.
Walker and Williams both have no-trade clauses. Walker gave the Rockies a list of teams in which he had interest, and Arizona was among them.
Williams, however, might balk because of family issues. Williams, headed into the final year of his contract, has full custody of his three children in the Phoenix area. He was traded by the Cleveland Indians to Arizona at his request.
The Rockies also were discussing a deal that would send Neagle to the New York Mets for outfielder Jeromy Burnitz and shortstop Rey Ordonez.