ANAHEIM ANGELS Colon on the clock if pitching stays subpar

Arizona's Randy Johnson may consider changing teams.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
CHICAGO -- The Anaheim Angels have resisted attaching any sense of urgency to Bartolo Colon's starts, but if the right-hander does not show some improvement tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays or in his next two or three games, it could greatly alter the team's strategy as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.
Starting pitching was considered a strength of the Angels, who signed Colon to a four-year, $51 million contract to be their ace.
But with Colon in a dreadful slump -- he's 2-7 with an 8.19 earned-run average since April 28 -- the Angels may determine that they lack the dominant, front-of-the-rotation starter needed to fulfill owner Arte Moreno's World Series aspirations.
That's why they are closely monitoring the Randy Johnson situation in Arizona.
The cash-strapped and last-place Diamondbacks have not publicly expressed a desire to trade the 6-foot-10 left-hander, who threw a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves on May 18, but that could change if Johnson, 40, determines Arizona won't be competitive in 2005 and agrees to waive his no-trade clause to go to a contender.
The New York Yankees covet Johnson, the Boston Red Sox are very interested -- though general manager Theo Epstein denied a television report claiming he received permission to speak to Johnson -- and the Angels are expected to pursue Johnson vigorously if he goes on the market and Colon continues to struggle.
Johnson had a 50-minute conversation with Arizona general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. in the dugout before Wednesday night's game against the Dodgers, fueling speculation he may be warming to the idea of a trade.
Johnson was coy with reporters, saying the discussion was about the 1966 contract holdouts of Dodger pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. He wouldn't address whether he would ask for a trade and has been vague on the subject in recent days.