YankeesGround.com | New York Yankees News, yankees Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>BRIAN SABEAN always understood the idea of bringing CC Sabathia to the Giants was unrealistic for a long list of reasons, beginning with the contract the organization lavished upon Barry Zito. </div>Zito's $126 million deal, with five seasons to go, strangles many possibilities. The general manager couldn't justify allotting one-third of his payroll, through at least 2013, for two pitchers. Not with such a sorry offense and not when he knows he absolutely must re-sign Tim Lincecum. So let's stay within the bounds of reason and consider possibilities that actually are logical and conceivable. Like Randy Johnson. He's available, interested, probably affordable and, most of all, abundantly useful. Johnson is on the open market because Arizona declined his offer to reduce his 2008 salary ($15.1 million) by 50 percent. It wouldn't be unfair for the Giants to offer a one-year deal with a base around $6 million, with incentives that could approach $10 million. Why not? Johnson was born in Walnut Creek, grew up in Livermore and was a part-time courtesy clerk at the local Ralphs Supermarket before going off to USC. He has family and friends in the Bay Area. He's five wins away from the 300-victory milestone and 211 strikeouts away from 5,000. If his late father, Bud, were alive, the Big Unit might play his farewell season here for eight season-ticket packages (with parking) and four Fastrak transponders. As it is, Johnson, who indicated in July that 2009 likely would be his last season, would be a sweet marketing candy for the Giants, who recognize the value of that and know how to sell it. Moreover, he still brings it. The 6-foot-10 left-hander has an unsurpassed mound presence and unnerves many opposing batters. In 30 starts last season, Johnson (11-10) struck out 173 batters in 184 innings. His earned run average after the All-Star game was 2.41. In his last appearance, shortly after his 45th birthday, he suffocated Colorado with a complete-game two-hitter. "He can still pitch," Sabean conceded to reporters in Las Vegas. "He's an intimidating force." Above all, Johnson seems like the perfect complement to this pitching staff. The future Hall of Famer could cast a shadow over Zito, alleviating some of the psychological trauma inflicted upon this sensitive pitcher who, to be frank, is a lot less comfortable with himself than he was in Oakland. One of the hardest workers of his era, Johnson also could lend stability to youngsters such as Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Lincecum. As good as Brandon Webb and Dan Haren are, they were better for having the Unit as a teammate in Arizona. Zito was supposed to be the stabilizing influence. He hasn't been and, really, there's little to suggest he will become the clubhouse sage. He has his own issues to resolve. Johnson, however, is as grizzled and laconic as they come. He has made mistakes, acknowledged them and survived them. Learned from them. He's a coach who can take the mound every fifth day and hit 94 mph on the gun. He's not Sabathia, but CC was never a realistic option, and now that he has taken that irresistible offer $161 million over seven years from the Yankees, there is no other 28-year-old pitcher with a Cy Young Award, from the Bay Area, willing to return to the Bay. Johnson is. He has five Cy Youngs and agents Barry Meister and Alan Nero, who have established a dialogue with the Giants and a bunch of other teams, including the A's. Though Johnson's attributes would play almost as well in Oakland as in San Francisco , the Giants have the greater need. They have stronger personalities, a broader clubhouse mix. The Unit would more easily be absorbed into the culture and, probably, better appreciated. Understand, Johnson wouldn't make the Giants an instant contender any more than the signings of shortstop Edgar Renteria and reliever Jeremy Affeldt, both of whom are, for now, solid members of a mediocre club. Johnson, though, offers greater dimension and a name worthy of the marquee. The Giants are in position to make a plea. How hard would it be to sell Johnson on making history in front of folks who watched him learn how to walk and talk and pitch? Sabathia was interested, willing to sniff the Giants, ready to come home. But there is another big lefty, also sniffing and ready. And he's a lot more affordable. Contact Monte Poole at mpoole@bayareanewsgroup.com

BRIAN SABEAN always understood the idea of bringing CC Sabathia to the Giants was unrealistic for a long list of reasons, beginning with the contract the organization lavished upon Barry Zito.

Zito's $126 million deal, with five seasons to go, strangles many possibilities. The general manager couldn't justify allotting one-third of his payroll, through at least 2013, for two pitchers. Not with such a sorry offense and not when he knows he absolutely must re-sign Tim Lincecum.

So let's stay within the bounds of reason and consider possibilities that actually are logical and conceivable.

Like Randy Johnson. He's available, interested, probably affordable and, most of all, abundantly useful.

Johnson is on the open market because Arizona declined his offer to reduce his 2008 salary ($15.1 million) by 50 percent. It wouldn't be unfair for the Giants to offer a one-year deal with a base around $6 million, with incentives that could approach $10 million.

Why not? Johnson was born in Walnut Creek, grew up in Livermore and was a part-time courtesy clerk at the local Ralphs Supermarket before going off to USC. He has family and friends in the Bay Area. He's five wins away from the 300-victory milestone and 211 strikeouts away from 5,000.

If his late father, Bud, were alive, the Big Unit might play his farewell season here for eight season-ticket packages (with parking) and four Fastrak transponders.

As it is, Johnson, who indicated in July that 2009 likely would be his last season, would be a sweet marketing candy for the Giants, who recognize the value of that and know how to sell it.

Moreover, he still brings it. The 6-foot-10 left-hander has an unsurpassed mound presence and unnerves many opposing batters. In 30 starts last season, Johnson (11-10) struck out 173 batters in 184 innings. His earned run average after the All-Star game was 2.41. In his last appearance, shortly after his 45th birthday, he suffocated Colorado with a complete-game two-hitter.

"He can still pitch," Sabean conceded to reporters in Las Vegas. "He's an intimidating force."

Above all, Johnson seems like the perfect complement to this pitching staff. The future Hall of Famer could cast a shadow over Zito, alleviating some of the psychological trauma inflicted upon this sensitive pitcher who, to be frank, is a lot less comfortable with himself than he was in Oakland.

One of the hardest workers of his era, Johnson also could lend stability to youngsters such as Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Lincecum. As good as Brandon Webb and Dan Haren are, they were better for having the Unit as a teammate in Arizona.

Zito was supposed to be the stabilizing influence. He hasn't been and, really, there's little to suggest he will become the clubhouse sage. He has his own issues to resolve.

Johnson, however, is as grizzled and laconic as they come. He has made mistakes, acknowledged them and survived them. Learned from them. He's a coach who can take the mound every fifth day and hit 94 mph on the gun.

He's not Sabathia, but CC was never a realistic option, and now that he has taken that irresistible offer $161 million over seven years from the Yankees, there is no other 28-year-old pitcher with a Cy Young Award, from the Bay Area, willing to return to the Bay.

Johnson is. He has five Cy Youngs and agents Barry Meister and Alan Nero, who have established a dialogue with the Giants and a bunch of other teams, including the A's.

Though Johnson's attributes would play almost as well in Oakland as in San Francisco , the Giants have the greater need. They have stronger personalities, a broader clubhouse mix. The Unit would more easily be absorbed into the culture and, probably, better appreciated.

Understand, Johnson wouldn't make the Giants an instant contender any more than the signings of shortstop Edgar Renteria and reliever Jeremy Affeldt, both of whom are, for now, solid members of a mediocre club. Johnson, though, offers greater dimension and a name worthy of the marquee.

The Giants are in position to make a plea. How hard would it be to sell Johnson on making history in front of folks who watched him learn how to walk and talk and pitch?

Sabathia was interested, willing to sniff the Giants, ready to come home. But there is another big lefty, also sniffing and ready. And he's a lot more affordable.

Contact Monte Poole at mpoole@bayareanewsgroup.com