Diamondbacks: : Five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson filed for free agency after failing to reach a deal to return to Arizona. The left-hander, 45, who is five victories shy of 300, made $16 million last year and went 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA. Monday, his agents said they told the Diamondbacks that Johnson was willing to take a 50 percent pay cut. GM Josh Byrnes yesterday said he would not rule out still signing Johnson but added that "something would fundamentally have to change."
Blue Jays: : Pitcher A.J. Burnett filed for free agency on the final day of the 15-day window, after telling the club last week that he would opt out of the final two years of his five-year, $55 million contract. Burnett went 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA last season and led the AL with 231 strikeouts.
Marlins-Cubs:: Chicago acquired reliever Kevin Gregg in a trade with Florida, a move that appears to end Kerry Wood's career with the Cubs. Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year who saved 34 games this year, had been the longest-tenured player on the Cubs. GM Jim Hendry said Wood was deserving of a three- or four-year deal and the Cubs are not prepared to offer him one. Gregg was acquired for minor league pitcher Jose Ceda. Gregg finished 7-8 with a 3.41 ERA and 29 saves. His nine blown saves tied for most in the majors. Hendry said Gregg had knee surgery and will be ready for spring training.
Yankees-White Sox: : New York acquired utility fielder Nick Swisher from Chicago for pitching prospect Jeff Marquez and infielder Wilson Betemit. The teams also swapped a pair of minor league right-handers as part of the deal, with Chicago receiving Jhonny Nunez and New York getting Kaneoka Texeira.
Et cetera: : The Twins signed manager Ron Gardenhire to a two-year extension through 2011. ... Former Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo joined the Phillies' coaching staff. Perlozzo wasn't immediately assigned a position.
Attorneys: Vick to return to NFL after prison term
nfl
Michael Vick's bankruptcy attorneys say the imprisoned NFL quarterback expects to return to football. Attorneys wrote in a disclosure statement that Vick "has every reason to believe" he will be reinstated by the NFL once he completes a 23-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction last summer. The attorneys filed the statement before a hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Virginia. Vick still has a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. But NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would have final say on his return. ... Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker said he's scheduled to undergo ankle surgery and will likely miss the rest of the season. ... Clinton Portis' sprained knee showed no improvement, and the Washington Redskins running back appears unlikely to play in Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Ladell Betts appears set to start in his place.
