Dodgers, Angels show interest in Big Unit

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LAS VEGAS -- The Dodgers and Angels have expressed varying degrees of interest in free-agent left-hander Randy Johnson, agent Alan Nero said today, but it will probably be several weeks before the 6-foot-10, 45-year-old left-hander signs.

‘Ned [Colletti] keeps saying they have to clear the deck,’ Nero said, referring to the Dodgers general manager. ‘My discussions with the Angels have been more peripheral. At this point, there are five teams that want CC Sabathia. What are the other four going to do?’

Both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics have also expressed interest in Johnson, who went 11-10 with a 3.91 earned run average, 173 strikeouts and 44 walks in 184 innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 after missing most of 2007 because of back surgery.

Johnson has a career record of 295-160 and needs five wins to reach 300.

‘He’s so motivated, and he wants to sign with a contender, so we’ll see,’ Nero said. ‘Negotiations are moving slowly. Nobody is in a hurry. There is a lot of interest, but so many things have to happen, like trades and free-agent signings. There’s a thing called supply-and-demand, and I think there will be a demand once things are more settled.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna