BASEBALL

Report: Yankees Shopping Big Unit

Randy Johnson could be leaving the Yankees after just two seasons. The Yankees have started trade talks with several teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, although it is too early to tell whether the discussions will lead to a deal.

Talks were confirmed yesterday by a baseball official who had knowledge of them and spoke on condition of anonymity because they are in the preliminary stage.

Alan Nero, one of Johnson’s agents, said yesterday he was informed of trade talks by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

“This idea that Randy doesn’t want to come back, that’s not exactly true,” Nero said. “I’m not aware of anything coming from our side that would force this. Whatever comes down, comes down, but it’s not because Randy has demanded it or because we’re participating in the process.”

Johnson has a no-trade clause, meaning the 10-time All-Star must approve any deal. Nero said it was too early to say whether Arizona would be the pitcher’s first choice if the Yankees do decide to trade the 43-year-old left-hander.

A five-time Cy Young Award winner, Johnson has been a disappointment with the Yankees despite a 34–19 regular-season record. He has a 4.37 ERA with New York — including 5.00 last season — and he is 0–1 with a 6.92 ERA in three postseason appearances with the Yankees, struggling with his arm angle and a slider that often has lacked bite.

Johnson had surgery October 26 to repair a herniated disc in his back — he had a similar operation in 1996 — and the Yankees said he might be behind other pitchers when spring training starts in mid-February. Johnson is owed $16 million next year, the final season of his contract, with $1.5 million deferred without interest and payable through 2010.

GOLF

Woods Named AP Athlete Of the Year

Tiger Woods had an answer for everything. When he missed the cut at the U.S. Open for the first time in a major — his first tournament after his father died of cancer — some questioned whether he could rekindle his desire to dominate. He never finished worse than second in stroke play the rest of the season.

Skepticism remained about his latest swing change, put to rest by a year that ranked among Woods’s best ever on the PGA Tour. He won eight times in 15 starts, six in a row to close out his season, two more majors to reach 12 for his career. About the only thing he couldn’t answer was how he was voted AP Male Athlete of the Year.

Woods won the award over San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, with tennis great Roger Federer a distant third. The 31-year-old Woods won for the fourth time in his career, tying the record set by Lance Armstrong, who won the last four years. Rounding out the top five were Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (40 points) and St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols (20 points).

— Associated Press