HOUSTON – Call it a cruel tease.
Mike Piazza was standing in front of his locker in the NL clubhouse yesterday, chatting with reporters. A big hand suddenly stuck its way into the crowd of microphones and notepads.
“Mike, Randy Johnson,” the Big Unit said, mock-introducing himself. “We might be working [together] soon.”
Johnson paused.
“I mean today,” he said, referring to the All-Star Game.
Piazza laughed, and it was an obvious joke. With all the speculation about Johnson being traded, and with all the New York recruiting both the Mets and Yankees said they’d do, Johnson figured he’d have a little fun.
Beyond that, the Big Unit wooing sounds as if it’s been minimal so far. Asked whether the recruiting had started from the Yankees, Johnson said, “I haven’t heard anything.”
Over in the AL clubhouse, the message was clear: He will soon enough.
“I haven’t bumped into him, but when I do, I’ll definitely make sure to say hello and a few other things, too,” Jason Giambi said, smiling.
Other Yankees, particularly Mariano Rivera, were expected to join in the recruiting parade, though Derek Jeter reiterated his stance that he only would speak to Johnson if the Big Unit approached him first.
Actually, the biggest recruiters so far seemed to be the Mets, who appeared to be putting their shared-clubhouse advantage to good use. The Mets are enormous long shots to land Johnson – the Yankees and Angels are believed to be the frontrunners – but their players are at least making their best effort. Both Piazza and Tom Glavine said they spoke to Johnson about the merits of playing for the Mets.
“I told him I know a lot of great restaurants and his wife would enjoy the shopping and his kids would love the parks,” Piazza said.
Asked if he had given his sales pitch, Piazza said, “Why not? I’m a company guy.”
As for Glavine, whose locker was on the same row as Johnson’s, he said, “I talked to him a little bit, sell the other side of town.”
The recruiting of Johnson could pick up more steam in the wake of Johnson’s comments that he would consider waiving his no-trade clause if a deal would benefit the Diamondbacks and also send him to a contender. For now, the Mets have gotten started on selling their city, and the Yankees were poised to follow.